SJU - EIS luggage delayed

Hi - I'm up at 2:30 a.m. because I just realized our sunscreen (that I was planning on bringing down in our suitcases) is too large to go through security in our carry-ons. Our flight on Delta arrives into Atlanta at 7:45 a.m. and our next Delta flight is at 8:20 a.m. That is the flight to San Juan. In SJU, we have to switch airlines to Intercaribbean. If we check our bags, I don't believe they will make it from our first Delta flight into Atlanta onto the 2nd Delta flight to SJU given the short time frame.

Sooo, my question is does anyone have any experience with getting into SJU and not having their luggage? How would we get it to EIS via another airline if it was delayed?

Other alternative. . . leave the sunscreen and buy in Tortola. Anyone know how much a bottle runs and best place to buy? We need a lot as we will be there a week.

Thanks for your help!

I’ve had tighter connections where the luggage made it. They’re often pretty amazing. That said- I never ever check bags internationally . My personality Down there the clothes you need are so easily packable into carry on , I just don’t risk it. You can put some sunscreen into smaller containers but there will definitely be opportunity somewhere to buy sunscreen. You’ll pay more but alleviate all the stress of the “what if”. That’s my humble opinion anyway. Relax. Keep your bags with you. And buy what you need. (Sorry - not familiar with where )

If Delta allowed the connection to be booked the bags will make the connection the vast majority of the time. If the bags missconnect the cost of delivery the bags removes all profit from your ticket and pushes it to a loss. They don’t like losing money. If the bag does miss the connection you should be able to arrange in SJU to have it put on a later IC flight. The Delta app has a bag tracking feature that is excellent at reducing anxiety. You can help the process by having your bag clearly marked with your address and phone contact number. Make sure it’s your cell not home phone. In addition place a sheet of paper inside the bag on top with your travel/contact info including charter company. They have machines that excel at ripping external bag tags off! They are pretty good at getting the handles also!
G

Bring one small bottle of sunscreen in your carryon to get you through the first hours and buy when you get here..the stuff is available everywhere.

We also bring just one carry on each, No checked luggage, for two week sailing vacations and hotel the first and last night. The hotel gives us some wiggle room in case of any travel interuptions .

Some of the items Erica brings, she has to transfer into smaller legal 3 oz bottles to keep within TSA tollerances.

Other items, we pick up when we arrive in the BVI, and go to the market for our provisions. As to cost, we really do not care and just pick it up .

We keep life simple and easy and do not have to rely on checked luggage, lost, stolen, or late We ave everything that we need with us.

I will pack small legal sized travel bottles of items , and then add to them once we arrive at our destinatiion which is road harbor tortola .

Good news, is that there are a couple of Riteways , we use the one within walking distance of Conch Chsrters, at Road Reef. Another is in Road Town. We get everything in one place at one time. No running around looking for bargains.

As to SJU, after many years, this may, we are passing on SJU, and flying LAX, MIA, STT and then ferry from St. Thomas to Road Town. ( we will see how all that goes, but it all looks pretty easy )

But, all of the other trips, 16 of them, were thru San Juan, and then a flight to EIS. Never had a problem with planned schedules, But, it does happen . We packed the same, one carry on duffel, across the country, and then Cape Air ,
twin engine cessna to EIS. .

No suitcases, and just one carry on, since we really do not need a lot of extra clothes in the BVI. We do bring our own mask , snorkel and dive gloves, but the fins we pick up for free at the Bareboat Charter Company
since fins are really long and take up much needed space in our roller duffel.

With the large sunscreen , why not just toss it, and purchase a tube when you arrive.

No, we have never arrived at EIS, without our travel bags. But , if your bags arrive on a later flight, check with IC and see what their policy is. Can they deliver to you lodging or boat, or if you have to taxi to EIS to pick them up.

Contact your airlines, Delta, and Inter Caribbean should be able to advise you as to baggage transfer. Who knows, they might be able to accommodate you, and all will be well. Contact Delta and IC, and see what you can work out.









.

We are flying island birds and she said that having checked luggage doesn’t slow you up all that much (just the 15 min or so) on arrival. But checking bags in sju going home adds quite a bit of time. Just passing that along. Carry on is so much easier

If flying through San Juan put nothing valuable in your checked bags. Sadly there is a long history of thievery at that airport ( believe me I've been a victim)..not unlike how Heathrow earned the moniker " Thiefrow" until an undercover police probe caught them..One other thing to know about that airport..they wont load bags in the rain for fear of "lightning strikes". One more reason we fly through St Thomas..

As long as you have your address in Tortola the bag will eventually come to you.

Thank you all for the helpful advice!

Have a great time...our kids loved Scrub and the slide and pools. I am sure you 6 year old will love it as well

Thank you! I’m having sleepless nights over packing and travel to get there but we are certainly excited. I only read amazing reviews

Dont worry...I am confidant you will find everything you need at Scrub or they can get it for you in short order. They found a non regular battery for one of our cameras once and sunscreen is easy. Remember most of us have the perspective as nomad boat captains so we have to think through the provisioning, run a boat, and babysit a crew...my last venture out was a cross of the Hangover meets Weekend at Bernies.

to whatever degree you can do carry on that would be easier for the travel part but dont see a flaw in your travel plans with a checked bag or 2.

our first time to Scrub was in 2013 as part of a 2 boat 4 family 7 day excursion for a buddies 60th. There were 10 kids age 8 to 16 and Scrub was a highlight the kids still talk about. My buddy always wanted to do this so i set it up. About 3 months after we returned he was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and a year later passed.

We bought a tree for him at Soggy and it is the tree immediately outside the mens room. In May I have the honor of taking his boys to see it.

A long way of saying there is a lot of "randomness" in the islands and that to me is what makes it a special in an otherwise structured world. So I am confidant it will all work out for you as it has for us for many years. Not always as "planned" but always fun.

I look forward to your post trip report