The summer travel season is right around the corner, so today I would like to share some tips about how you can get through the St. Thomas (STT) airport fast when you are traveling back home.
Leaving through the St. Thomas airport is a multi-step process. You have to go through Customs, Agriculture and TSA. If you are checking a bag, you also have to stop at the counter. On busier days, the lines can be out the door and down toward the taxi stand. Nothing is more stressful than the thought of potentially missing a flight on departure day, so here are a few quick tips on how to get through the St. Thomas airport faster.
Most people are surprised that they have to clear through US Customs when leaving through the St. Thomas airport. The reason is because the US Virgin Islands is outside of “customs territory” per the United States government. It can be a relatively quick process that typically includes quick questioning by the Customs agent. These lines during busier times, however, can be quite long, but there are two ways to advance to the front of the line – Global Entry and porters.
Global Entry
Global Entry is a program of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection service that allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers to receive expedited clearance upon arrival into the United States. There is a lane inside the customs area specifically for passengers with Global Entry. You must have your Global Entry card with you – physically, not a picture on your phone – and everyone with you must have that card. You cannot bring a child, spouse, etc. with you in the Global Entry line if they do not have a physical Global Entry card when traveling from the St. Thomas airport, for example. Travelers with Global Entry are able to skip Agriculture when traveling out of St. Thomas, so that’s another time-saver.
Global Entry costs $120. You will have to do a quick interview and submit fingerprints before approval. Some travel credit cards will reimburse you for the cost to obtain Global Entry. If you travel often out of St. Thomas, Global Entry can be very beneficial.
Porters
If you do not have global entry, you can pay a porter to bring you to the front of the Customs line. Porters charge between $3 and $5 per bag, and will help transport your luggage. During the busier months, you may still have to wait when using a porter, but your wait time will be significantly shorter. You can easily identify porters by their red shirts. If you are checking a bag, grab a porter before heading to the airline counter.
Steps to Leave the St. Thomas Airport
- If you are checking a bag you stop at the airline counter first. They do not take your bag. They simply tag it at the counter. If you are not checking a bag, you will skip this step.
- Go through Customs. If you have Global Entry, skip number 3.
- Go through Agriculture. Absolutely everything goes through this machine, including luggage, purses, pillows, basically anything you are carrying will go through this machine.
- Drop off your checked bag. If you are not checking a bag, go straight to TSA.
- Go through TSA (security). There is a separate line for travelers with pre-check.
Want to know more about what can and what cannot go through Agriculture? Check out the following story.
Want to learn more about St. John? Take an island tour with me!
Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour
See the island of St. John with a resident. See the nooks and crannies that many visitors miss. Explore the beaches, historical sites, perhaps a tiki bar or two, and much more. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.