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Tip for St. Thomas Airport
#52192
04/28/2015 11:42 AM
04/28/2015 11:42 AM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 22
trawler_kid
OP
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OP
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 22
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Transiting the St. Thomas Airport from Flight check in to US Customs and Immigration, agriculture, etc. can take well over 2 hours even on a non-busy day. There is a trick which many of the TTOLers probably know but I'll share. When you arrive ask your cab driver to find a redcap type person (often a female, so don't be thrown by that).
Even if you have only a carry-on this works quite well.
The expediter will get you to the front of your airline check-in counter, get you a US Customs and Immigration form and then move you to the front of that line. Then once through that line, you need to pick up your bags and they move them to the recheck zone and finally get you on the fast lane for security. The usually baksheesh for this is $20 for only a bag or two, more for a substantial collection of bags. Once again, this has nothing to do with your bags; it's a form of a local custom to promote full employment. Further, since many folks do it, if you play it straight and don't tip a "helper" , you will be on a line that gets LONGER by the minute as others move to the front.
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Re: Tip for St. Thomas Airport
[Re: trawler_kid]
#52193
04/28/2015 02:12 PM
04/28/2015 02:12 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,961 St. John, USVI
RickG
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,961
St. John, USVI
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Here's the trick that we use: carryon only, pre-printed boarding passes and pre-filled C&I forms. No need to visit the airline counter, skip the checked bag line for customs. We got through security in less than 30 minutes on Easter Sunday. The customs line for checked bags was longer than the line for immigration. There's a separate TSA Pre-check lane once you go through the TSA checkpoint, but the only benefit is keeping your shoes on.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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Re: Tip for St. Thomas Airport
[Re: sail2wind]
#52195
04/28/2015 10:31 PM
04/28/2015 10:31 PM
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,618 Woodstock, GA
RickinAtlanta
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,618
Woodstock, GA
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sail2wind said: can take well over 2 hours even on a non-busy day
We have never waited anywhere close to 2 hours. We rarely get there 2 hours early. BTW there is an actual charge for the porter, you can tip on top of the charge. We've had several occasions where we took 2 hours to get to the gate. In fact in 2009 the announcement was made that Delta was about to close the cabin while we were still in security check. It was about 30 minutes early. Also what is the actual charge for the porter as it's always been discussed here as a tip.
Last edited by RickinAtlanta; 04/28/2015 11:30 PM.
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Re: Tip for St. Thomas Airport
[Re: pastinaman]
#52199
04/29/2015 11:40 AM
04/29/2015 11:40 AM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,680 An island state of mind
tradewinds
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,680
An island state of mind
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pastinaman said: Is there a place to get the C&I forms before hitting the airport to fill them out beforehand? We usually grab extras either from the ferry ticket desk or at C&I at the ferry dock.
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Re: Tip for St. Thomas Airport
[Re: Manpot]
#52203
04/29/2015 02:44 PM
04/29/2015 02:44 PM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 859
Cleobeach
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 859
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Manpot said: Hate to say it but I think you are lucky..get there at lunchtime when many flights seem to leave and you be in long lines before you get through. I would always leave a 2 hour minimum more like 2 and a half..this last time through was a loooong haul. One thing we do to speed things up is get a second c and i form from the ferry company so we are ready to go right through to c and i at the airport.. I think the STT airport operates in its own universe, by its own set of very dysfunctional rules. Most of our VI vacations are on STJ (with a few trips to the BVIs) and I agree, that does sound like either luck or travel during off peak times. The peak times can be epic and unless you see the crowds spilling out into the parking area, I can see how someone would think 2+ hours is overkill. We started getting a porter 10 years ago and haven't looked back. I know that past two times, the self-check in was down so people had no choice but to wait in line. Next trip, we are flying home on a Monday in July. I'll report back on those crowds. (Or lack of crowds)
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Re: Tip for St. Thomas Airport
[Re: RickG]
#52204
04/29/2015 02:59 PM
04/29/2015 02:59 PM
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,166 Tampa, FL
Dmgators
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,166
Tampa, FL
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Rick, do they actually accept the printed electronic forms??? That just seems way too easy and logical! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
Debbie
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Re: Tip for St. Thomas Airport
[Re: Dmgators]
#52205
04/29/2015 03:06 PM
04/29/2015 03:06 PM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,680 An island state of mind
tradewinds
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,680
An island state of mind
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Dmgators said:Rick, do they actually accept the printed electronic forms??? That just seems way too easy and logical! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> I was just gonna ask the same thing <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
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Re: Tip for St. Thomas Airport
[Re: calsail]
#52206
04/29/2015 09:24 PM
04/29/2015 09:24 PM
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,925 Milton, MA
JudyG
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Traveler
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Posts: 2,925
Milton, MA
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calsail said: Even on a busy day thru AA we never have more than a 30 minute time from check in to sit down in terminal waiting area. We are there twice a year--August and March and it is never extreme. AA has self check as well as self bag check. However, we are always 1 1/2 hours early. Are we just lucky?? Very lucky and you are going in August (low season) and March (end of high season); also depends on what time of day. We have seen folks show up 1.5 hrs. in advance and barely make it.
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Re: Tip for St. Thomas Airport
[Re: Dmgators]
#52209
04/29/2015 10:31 PM
04/29/2015 10:31 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,961 St. John, USVI
RickG
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,961
St. John, USVI
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Dmgators said: Rick, do they actually accept the printed electronic forms??? That just seems way too easy and logical! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> Yep, printed forms are no problem. They come right off the CBP web site. We've never even had a question. Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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Re: Tip for St. Thomas Airport
[Re: RickG]
#52210
04/30/2015 01:54 AM
04/30/2015 01:54 AM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,680 An island state of mind
tradewinds
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,680
An island state of mind
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RickG said:Dmgators said: Rick, do they actually accept the printed electronic forms??? That just seems way too easy and logical! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> Cool, thanks! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" /> Yep, printed forms are no problem. They come right off the CBP web site. We've never even had a question. Cheers, RickG
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Re: Tip for St. Thomas Airport
[Re: RickinAtlanta]
#52211
04/30/2015 09:54 AM
04/30/2015 09:54 AM
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,166 Tampa, FL
Dmgators
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,166
Tampa, FL
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RickinAtlanta said:and what is the actual charge prior to a tip please since many have posted that a 2 hour clearance isn't unusual after all and a porter would help? Rick, I think it is $3.00 per bag. That of course, may be subject to change, as is the whole procedure with the porters. It has never gone the same once since we started using them several years ago. Always a good deal though, that's for sure!
Debbie
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Re: Tip for St. Thomas Airport
[Re: Dmgators]
#52212
04/30/2015 09:56 AM
04/30/2015 09:56 AM
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,618 Woodstock, GA
RickinAtlanta
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,618
Woodstock, GA
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Dmgators said:RickinAtlanta said:and what is the actual charge prior to a tip please since many have posted that a 2 hour clearance isn't unusual after all and a porter would help? Rick, I think it is $3.00 per bag. That of course, may be subject to change, as is the whole procedure with the porters. It has never gone the same once since we started using them several years ago. Always a good deal though, that's for sure! Thanks for the clarification Deb <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />
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Re: Tip for St. Thomas Airport
[Re: tradewinds]
#52214
04/30/2015 03:17 PM
04/30/2015 03:17 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 144 Ontario Canada
snowflakesRus
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 144
Ontario Canada
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Thanks for posting the link. Saving that one for sure.
Beth May 9-20 Hodges Creek, Marine Max Powercat 484!
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Re: Tip for St. Thomas Airport
[Re: trawler_kid]
#52216
05/03/2015 09:48 AM
05/03/2015 09:48 AM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,961 St. John, USVI
RickG
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,961
St. John, USVI
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trawler_kid, we did it in under 30 minutes Easter morning and about 30 minutes in January. Pre-printed boarding pass, pre-printed C&I form, carryon only - that's three lines you skip. Carryon only means you skip the line for the checked bagged scanners where the cruise ship people stack up.
Not everyone can go carryon only and the porter is a great resource for them.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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Re: Tip for St. Thomas Airport
[Re: GBCarib]
#52219
05/04/2015 11:26 AM
05/04/2015 11:26 AM
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Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 34 Pennsylvania USA
Dlucerne
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 34
Pennsylvania USA
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I love the idea of the red-cap porters and have already printed off my pre-printed US C&I forms for each of us.
What about the trip into BVI from STT via ferry...is there a way to print off some UK C&I forms and have them pre-printed as well to save time/hassle?
........................................................................................................ If I keep on drinking rum, the world will soon be quit of a very dirty scoundrel!
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