how early to arrive at st thomas airport

During the 1990s, the expansion of Hongqiao Airport to meet growing demand became impossible as the surrounding urban area was developing significantly, and an alternative to assume We usually tip them about $20. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. [14] The ultimate cost of construction was about $18 million. Good advice above about staying in your island clothes until getting through security. Do you have TSA PreCheck or another similar VIP status provided by your airline loyalty program or credit card? WebThe first overseas flight arrived an hour later, travelling from London en route to Montreal. This ruling has been in effect for a few years. We usually travel on Tuesdays/Thursdays as airfare for us is normally cheaper those days, so I cant compare to Saturdays. Taxi Cab Another plus for Saint Thomas is that it is considered to be the best shopping site in the Caribbean. . It may help to note the likely motives behind the advice. We always make sure to eat before we get to the airport. It is not an efficiently run airport, and you will indeed need to clear U.S. Customs. Parking at an off-site lot? Is four wheel drive needed in St. Thomas and should I buy the extra insurance? But if youre traveling from a new-to-you airport even a small, regional one youll want to allow yourself a little extra time, even if its just 15 extra minutes. This ruling has been in effect for a few years. If so, you may be able to skip some lines at the airport, saving yourself, in many cases, up to a good half an hour. Not checking a bag? Then theres likely no need for any extra time at the airport. Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: Jones-Dengler Marketing, LLC via The Vacationer is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. If you have time, take time out for some lunch at Tickles Dockside Pub or icy cold beers and delicious local food at Ashleys across the street from the terminal. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); How to Get to St. John: The Best Airfare Tips & Tricks, BVI Update: Relaxed Entry Protocols and Mask Mandates, A Unique Lens: Crystal Kayaking and Paddleboarding at Maho Beach. If, though, youre traveling with children, especially more than one child or a child thats elementary-age or younger, youll need more time. The simple answer is: Two hours for domestic flights, three hours for international flights. It is very stuffy in the airport. One air taxi type includes Air Sunshine flying to places like San Juan and Sint Maarten among others Caribbean locations. Within the U.S. at least 2 hours. Then its a few more steps to TSA. If you are a relatively new visitor to the St John, dont assume the 3-4 hour announcement is just some blah, blah, blah stuff. From there, its a few more steps to your gate. WebOur recommended arrival times are meant to allow plenty of time to check in (with or without bags) and clear security before scheduled departure. Always get the first ferry we can off STJ, and if its early, hit Magens for a swim, then a little lunch before we head to the airport with three hours to spare. So, the bottom line here is, the wait inside the airport isnt that horrible. Most guests arrive on St Thomas landing at Cyril E. King airport on St Thomas. We usually have them from a previous trip, but you could try the customs office on St John near the National Park Building. New Webcam Offers Great New Island Views! Conversely, as someone whos arrived two hours ahead of take-off for an international flight and found themselves panicked and arriving at the boarding gate just on time, its not recommended. Cyril E. King St. Thomas STT airport transportation. I know you all have received this little memo and are not a huge fan of this suggested wait period at the airport. Just flew back yesterday. Also I would like to mention that I love your newsletters in my inbox. International Flight No Checked Luggage: Check in at least 60 minutes before scheduled departure and be at gate at least 30 minutes before scheduled departure, St. Thomas (STT) With or Without Checked Luggage: Check in at least 3 hours before scheduled departure, American Airlines Minimum Time When Checking Bags, 90 Minutes Prior to Scheduled Departure: Caracas, Venezuela (CCS); Maracaibo, Venezuela (MAR); St. Thomas (STT), 75 Minutes Prior to Scheduled Departure: Buenos Aires (EZE); Dublin (DUB), 60 Minutes Prior to Scheduled Departure: San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU); All other international flights except the ones above, which require more time, 45 MinutesPrior to Scheduled Departure: Atlanta (ATL); Austin (AUS); Boston (BOS); Charlotte (CLT); Chicago (ORD); Cincinnati (CVG); Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW); Denver (DEN); Honolulu (HNL); Jacksonville (JAX); Kona (KOA); Lihue (LIH); Las Vegas (LAS); Los Angeles (LAX); Maui (OGG); Miami (MIA); Newark (EWR); New York (JFK); Orlando (MCO); Philadelphia (PHL); Phoenix (PHX); Pittsburgh (PIT); San Franciso (SFO); Seattle (SEA); St. Croix (STX); Tampa (TPA); Washington Dulles (IAD). VI But if he flies out of his home airport, which he knows well, he sometimes arrives just 45 minutes before his departure. Drinks may be involved. So, while 45 minutes could be plenty of enough time for a regional, small domestic flight, it is not at all recommended for an international flight, no matter how well you know the airport. There is considerable general aviation types of aircraft associated with this airport due to Ace Flight Center, an aviation school. But what very few tell you is that before the snow, ice and subzero temperatures arrive, there is a sustained period of early winter when this region makes the UK look bright, dry and cheery Subtract another 15 minutes, if the airport will be busy (2 p.m.). Also, food choices are very limited. Domestic Flight No Checked Luggage: Check in at least 30 minutes before scheduled departure, San Juan (SJU), No Checked Luggage: Check in at least 45 minutesbefore scheduled departure, Guam (GUM), No Checked Luggage:Check in at least 60 minutesbefore scheduled departure, UnitedAirlines Minimum Time When Checking Bags, 60 MinutesPrior to Scheduled Departure: Guam (GUM); San Juan (SJU); St. Thomas (STT), 45 MinutesPrior to Scheduled Departure: Anchorage (ANC);Atlanta (ATL); Austin (AUS); Baltimore (BWI); Chicago (ORD); Cincinnati (CVG); Cleveland (CLE); Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW); Dallas Love Field (DAL); Denver (DEN); Detroit (DTW); Fort Lauderdale (FLL); Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP); Honolulu (HNL); Houston (IAH); Jacksonville (JAX); Kona (KOA); Las Vegas (LAS); Los Angeles (LAX); Maui (OGG); Miami (MIA); Newark (EWR); Orange County (SNA); Orlando (MCO); Philadelphia (PHL); Phoenix (PHX); Pittsburgh (PIT); Reno (RNO); San Diego (SAN); San Franciso (SFO); Seattle (SEA); St. Louis (STL); Tampa (TPA); Washington Dulles (IAD); Washington DC (DCA). You can use curbside check-in if you have an electronic ticket (can scan it from your phone). January 13, 2021: Friends trying to travel to Switzerland for a ski holiday are stopped at St Pancras. This story was originally published on Feb. 19, 2017. Flightradar24 is the worlds most popular flight tracker. And, you can take my recommendations or not. https://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/destinationInformation/stt-airport.jsp. St. Thomas, Busiest Caribbean Airport. Her work appears in publications ranging from Global Traveler to Golf Magazine, Mashed to Forbes, and Bloomberg. In some cases, you might need three hours. Link opens in new window. One incredibly easy way to save time at the airport? Fly through the airport in 20+ cities with One way to "speed" up the process a bit is to engage one of the porters who are there to help with luggage, etc. On the other hand, you could make a wrong calculation in the other direction. If your flight gets delayed past 6:00PM remember that Customs closes at 6PM regardless. Carnival Cruise Lines; Cruise Critic Community. Transportation from St. Thomas to Virgin Gorda, then to St. John. Domestic Flight No Checked Luggage: Check in at least 45 minutes before scheduled departure and be at gate at least 15 minutes prior to scheduled departure. Thank you! As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Remember technically, if you arrive at the airport at 3 p.m. for a 3:45 p.m. flight, you dont have 45 minutes. WebThere are images of Nordic wintersyou know the ones, the snow-blanketed, Christmas card-like scenes that tourist boards would be proud of. Are you driving yourself to the airport? An Online Blog About the Daily Happenings of St. John, USVI. ), "The two-hour recommendation is fairly standard across the industry," says Heather Lissner, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport spokesperson. St. Thomas AirportShuttle Service To see St. Thomas, expect a 32 square mile island loaded with activities from snorkeling to shopping. Privacy Statement - You want to arrive at the airport about two hours before your flight is scheduled to take off. Make your travel day to the airport an event instead of a dreaded occurrence. Arrive at the airport at least an hour-and-a-half before your scheduled departure. 3. St. Thomas Airport Shuttle Service. To see St. Thomas, expect a 32 square mile island loaded with activities from snorkeling to shopping. St. Thomas Roundtrip Transfer is an available pre-booked service that offers relaxed and capable transportation to your destination. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. How "standard" is this advice? Book this private ground transportation when going for a picnic with your family at Brewers Bay known for its shallow waters. However, its not at all uncommon to arrive at an airport for an international flight as much as four hours ahead of take-off. Most airlines enable you to check in online, so there's no reason to be rushing to do this at the last second at the airport. And with a record-breaking summer for air travel ahead, it's time to settle this question once and for all. Additionally, you dont want to risk things and arrive even just 40 minutes ahead of take-off. How to Avoid Checked Luggage and 6 Reasons toNever CheckBaggage, Credit Cards with Best Delayed Baggage Insurance. Do not go to airport at 8PM for your 11PM delayed flight like we did. Having said that, we leave on the ferry that is 3 hours before our flight. Jared Celosse Youll want to factor in the time that it takes for you to park at the airport, pay for your parking (if youre pre-paying) and then walk or take a shuttle from the lot to the airport entrance. However, this time may be too much or not enough depending on Of particular note is that Alaska requires checked in passengers to be at the gate with valid boarding pass ready for boarding at least 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure: Being late may cause the cancellation of your reserved seats and/or your entire reservation.. If youre driving to the airport during rush hour or as everyone is going to or from work, youll need to account for that. WebSt. The $20 you pay for a porter on your way home will be the best money you will spend in the USVI. But these guidelines don't take into account the fact that you're dealing with people some with mobility problems, others who are nervous and would arrive a day before their flight if they could. Fantastic advice! If, for example, youre parking at one of the many off-site lots near Newark, youll want to add at least 30 minutes to your timeline, to park and then shuttle over to the airport. It does have that line, but you still have to wait in line to go through customs first with all your luggage (including checked bags), then wait in line to drop your luggage off at the TSA screening conveyor belt, then you get in line for Pre TSA. Though the median time is two hours before you fly, as revealed above, some airlines ask you to arrive at the airport a lot earlier or later than the airport guidelines. I agree about filling out the Customs form even before you get to the airport. In general, the minimum time youre going to need for a domestic flight is around 45 minutes before take-off. After registering, I can manage my newsletter subscriptions by visiting my Profile Settings page. Read our 41 Carry-On Essentials for Flights. Traveling Saturday morning, mid February. While it might not seem like it at first consideration, children can slow the airport process way down. How to Check In . You can head straight on to security, saving you anywhere from 10 to even 45 minutes if youre flying at a peak travel time. this was my first time seeing it and, although I love the regular airport bar, I wont make the mistake of opting for that one over this new one for my pre-flight libations again! One strange thing about the STT airport is you don't check your bag at the initial check in counter. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. Contact Us - If you find yourself frequently running late for flights, you want to check into what clearances like these can do for you. June 21, 2022 by Hillary Bonner. 8100 Lindberg Bay If you would like to see other offers, Click to See All of Our Recommended Travel Credit Cards.