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St. Thomas Airport Porters #66967
09/04/2015 03:58 PM
09/04/2015 03:58 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 192
WI. St. Thomas
TomSW Offline OP
Traveler
TomSW  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 192
WI. St. Thomas
My son and daughter will be leaving out of St. Thomas during the Christmas holidays and we thought that the porter help option would be a good idea. I've read the many post on this forum and generally understand how they work, but a couple quick reminders would be helpful.
Where do you find them and what is a common tip? Thanks.

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Re: St. Thomas Airport Porters [Re: TomSW] #66968
09/04/2015 05:12 PM
09/04/2015 05:12 PM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,675
An island state of mind
tradewinds Offline
Traveler
tradewinds  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,675
An island state of mind
It used to work great, give the porter $20 and go to the front of the line, but I think the secret is out. A few weeks ago, we went through the regular Customs line while the other 2 in our group got a porter because they had luggage. We made it through security a good 30 min. before they did. Your mileage may vary.

Re: St. Thomas Airport Porters [Re: tradewinds] #66969
09/04/2015 07:01 PM
09/04/2015 07:01 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 427
Mardi_Gras Offline
Traveler
Mardi_Gras  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 427
We flew out of STT last month on a Monday afternoon, what a Zoo! We didn't use the Red Cap Porters but sure wish we did, we arrived 2 plus hours prior to our departure but didn't have time to sit in the terminal once we made it through the gauntlet, we just went right to the plane boarding line. We saw many people using the Porters, they did make it through faster. I asked a porter what the fee was and I think it was $3 per bag. The porters are in uniform and easy to spot, just ask. But, as Tradewinds stated it really depends on how busy the airport is.

Good luck,

Tony

Re: St. Thomas Airport Porters [Re: tradewinds] #66970
09/04/2015 08:45 PM
09/04/2015 08:45 PM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,166
Tampa, FL
Dmgators Offline
Traveler
Dmgators  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,166
Tampa, FL
Quote
tradewinds said:
It used to work great, give the porter $20 and go to the front of the line, but I think the secret is out. A few weeks ago, we went through the regular Customs line while the other 2 in our group got a porter because they had luggage. We made it through security a good 30 min. before they did. Your mileage may vary.


Yeah, that sucked. Good thing I was "packin'" <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

[Linked Image]


Debbie
Re: St. Thomas Airport Porters [Re: Dmgators] #66971
09/05/2015 01:03 AM
09/05/2015 01:03 AM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 414
Memphis, TN
beerMe Offline
Traveler
beerMe  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 414
Memphis, TN
I usually see them hanging around right at the curb side.


Life involves risks, take some prudent ones (NOT with the BVI ferries)!
Re: St. Thomas Airport Porters [Re: beerMe] #66972
09/14/2015 07:35 AM
09/14/2015 07:35 AM
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,347
USVI
LocalSailor Offline
Traveler
LocalSailor  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,347
USVI
This lady is the porter at STT airport to call!

http://stthomassource.com/content/news/l...travel-pressure

Re: St. Thomas Airport Porters [Re: LocalSailor] #66973
09/14/2015 09:36 AM
09/14/2015 09:36 AM
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 850
C
Cleobeach Offline
Traveler
Cleobeach  Offline
Traveler
C
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 850
Quote
LocalSailor said:
This lady is the porter at STT airport to call!

http://stthomassource.com/content/news/l...travel-pressure


She sure is! I have her cell# penciled into all of our passports. Last time we were at the STT airport, she had an assistant working the cell phone and organizing her clients.

Re: St. Thomas Airport Porters [Re: Cleobeach] #66974
09/14/2015 11:12 AM
09/14/2015 11:12 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 365
NC
leeguice Offline
Traveler
leeguice  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 365
NC
Can not say enough about her and her relatives that will help you if she is not there.
Keeps you from having an unpleasant departure.

Re: St. Thomas Airport Porters [Re: leeguice] #66975
09/14/2015 01:05 PM
09/14/2015 01:05 PM
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,113
Petoskey, MI
CottageGirl Offline
Traveler
CottageGirl  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,113
Petoskey, MI
She sounds like the Kevin Cambell of the porter world!
I might be missing something but we've never experienced huge delays getting thru STT on departure day. We arrive about 2 hrs before flights. We do get do use the sky priority line at the delta counter. Where does the bog down happen? We're always sitting at the gate with way too much time on our hands.

Re: St. Thomas Airport Porters [Re: CottageGirl] #66976
09/14/2015 01:32 PM
09/14/2015 01:32 PM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 17,029
Tortola/ Sonoma, California
Manpot Online crying
Traveler
Manpot  Online Crying
Traveler
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 17,029
Tortola/ Sonoma, California
Flying in and out of STT several times a year I find the place starts getting very busy late morning, early afternoon..get there by 10 /10.30 and you'll cruise through.One tip..if you arrive by ferry from the BVI's get two customs forms from the ferry company and fill them both out so you can go straight to C and I without having to stop and write on those cramped little counters..

Re: St. Thomas Airport Porters [Re: Manpot] #66977
09/14/2015 02:10 PM
09/14/2015 02:10 PM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 402
St Thomas, USVI
K
Kimber Offline
Traveler
Kimber  Offline
Traveler
K
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 402
St Thomas, USVI
No forms to fill out at STT

Re: St. Thomas Airport Porters [Re: Manpot] #66978
09/14/2015 02:17 PM
09/14/2015 02:17 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht Offline
Traveler
JasonHelmbrecht  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
When I flew thru STT last Monday, they mentioned it was the first day that the immigration form was no longer required. The agent simply asked if we had anything to declare. Not sure how that works but it's definitely to the travelers advantage.


JasonHelmbrecht
Coconut Breeze Villas
Cane Garden Bay
reservations@coconutbreezevillas.com
www.coconutbreezevillas.com
Re: St. Thomas Airport Porters [Re: Manpot] #66979
09/14/2015 02:56 PM
09/14/2015 02:56 PM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5,861
Bradenton, FL
Winterstale Offline
Traveler
Winterstale  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5,861
Bradenton, FL
Quote
Manpot said:
Flying in and out of STT several times a year I find the place starts getting very busy late morning, early afternoon..get there by 10 /10.30 and you'll cruise through.One tip..if you arrive by ferry from the BVI's get two customs forms from the ferry company and fill them both out so you can go straight to C and I without having to stop and write on those cramped little counters..


Good idea, Mal!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />


[Linked Image]

Re: St. Thomas Airport Porters [Re: JasonHelmbrecht] #66980
09/14/2015 03:38 PM
09/14/2015 03:38 PM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,003
S
sail445 Offline
Traveler
sail445  Offline
Traveler
S
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,003
Well no surprise since our borders are wide open <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Re: St. Thomas Airport Porters [Re: sail445] #66981
09/14/2015 03:58 PM
09/14/2015 03:58 PM
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,100
Maryland
Twanger Offline
Traveler
Twanger  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,100
Maryland
Quote
sail445 said:
Well no surprise since our borders are wide open <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Re: St. Thomas Airport Porters [Re: Twanger] #66982
01/18/2016 10:55 PM
01/18/2016 10:55 PM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 207
East Tennessee
Annoddddd Offline
Traveler
Annoddddd  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 207
East Tennessee
Checking to see if the porter "fee" is still $20/person. ???

We have a group of 3 departing one week and then a group of 5 departing the next. I'm so glad I'm in the group of 5 that gets an extra week. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

We will assess the crouds when we arrive and see if we need to get a porter.

Also, do we need to complete forms in STT before heading back to US? In this thread someone recommends we grab 2 forms from the ferry. If only carry on luggage that's a huge help!

Thanks!

Re: St. Thomas Airport Porters [Re: Annoddddd] #66983
01/18/2016 11:16 PM
01/18/2016 11:16 PM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,321
Charlotte, NC
SuburbanDharma Offline
Traveler
SuburbanDharma  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,321
Charlotte, NC
STT airport no longer makes you fill out the little blue forms.


If I can't be a good example, I'll just have to be a horrible warning. [Linked Image]
Re: St. Thomas Airport Porters [Re: SuburbanDharma] #66984
01/19/2016 10:24 AM
01/19/2016 10:24 AM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 282
Oklahoma
Sugaree Offline
Traveler
Sugaree  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 282
Oklahoma
It was my observation at the very crowded STT airport last week that if everyone hires a redcap, no one is special.

The main line at passport control moved very quickly, while the line of redcaps was backed up out the door, and moving pretty slowly. I didn't see any benefit to having paid someone to "get you through faster". But your mileage may vary. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Re: St. Thomas Airport Porters [Re: Annoddddd] #66985
01/19/2016 10:43 AM
01/19/2016 10:43 AM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 165
Lake Norman(Charlotte), NC
SailorSteve Offline
Traveler
SailorSteve  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 165
Lake Norman(Charlotte), NC
I gave a porter $20 for 2 people and he said thank you and happy new year! $20 per person sounds very high to me.


[url=https://www.TickerFactory.com/]
[Linked Image]
Re: St. Thomas Airport Porters [Re: SailorSteve] #66986
01/19/2016 03:11 PM
01/19/2016 03:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 312
Canton, GA
Felix Offline
Traveler
Felix  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 312
Canton, GA
The porter charge $3 per bag and is kind of a crap shoot whether it'll save you any time. I've learned to just check it out when I arrive and decide accordingly.

You DO NOT have to fill out customs forms in the STT airport anymore, which makes the Customs/Immigration line go much quicker. However, now there is often a line to drop your checked luggage, in addition to the line for TSA. It's fairly easy to peek in the doors and check out the line situation for both the porters and the gen pop, and then decide if a porter is worth it for you, based on the number of bags you have and how much time you have to spare.

I'm usually dragging my iSUP, so I lean towards using a porter - I also have Delta status & a known traveler number, so the rest of it is a breeze smile

Felix


* What we do in life echoes in eternity *

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