TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Is STT airport TSA back to normal?

Anyone go thru STT TSA lately. Is TSA back to normal?

No. Did it yesterday. Took a couple of hours. Line was more than the entire length of the building.

Ellen

Our friends did this a few days before we flew home, and we did the same— it worked for both of us: arrive at STT before the airline desk opens. There aren’t that many flights, and many airlines don’t open their desks very early. For example United on Sundays doesn’t open until 11 am! We were the first people in line at United and then sailed through customs. We had to wait two hours past security for our flight, but it was fine.

And I read earlier, the ferries from CA weren't running to Tortola … and we have to catch a ferry from RH, is that still the case?

slug

I've been told that if you have Global Entry, you can skip to the front of the customs line at STT. There is a small sign near the entrance to the customs office between the lines.

The ferry's do run from and to CA. Departing CA, nothing has changed. Arriving CA, the ferry will stop at RH to clear immigration/customs and then continue to CA.

Hi Jason,
Customs at the Airport or at CA ferry station?

Rick G posted a pic from earlier today. The line was as long as the airport.

Thanks for the clarification Jason!

Airport

Last Saturday we took the 8am ferry from Tortola to Red Hook then a taxi to arrive at STT around 10:30am. We had no line whatsoever to check bags, clear customs and go through security.

Our captain told us to take the 8am ferry because lines at STT get really bad from noon-5pm. While it sucked docking the cat a little earlier, the logistics were a breeze on our return home.

Thanks, info about taking the 8AM ferry very helpful.

We did the same. 8 am ferry to Red Hook, customs at Red Hook, cab to STT. No wait at airport, other than waiting for United desk to open.

Anybody have any info on when C&I will open again in CA?

Both the airport and ferry terminal return to normal on Friday, 28 February.

What year?

Thanks again Jason ,,, and yup, let's hope they stick with that.

Here's the official announcement:


Travel Advisory Update
U. S. Customs Operations at CEKA and Blyden Terminals
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Update Issued 26 Feb 2020
The Virgin Islands Port Authority is pleased to announce that repairs to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection screening areas have been completed at the Cyril E. King Airport Terminal and the Edward W. Blyden IV Marine Terminal on St. Thomas. Normal operations will resume at both terminals on Friday, February 28, said VIPA Executive Director Carlton Dowe.

To me all indications are they ran into some unexpected asbestos during some renovations.

Could easily be. I had heard locally that it was mold remediation but I think asbestos makes more sense since it was in 2 locations at the same time.