TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Please confirm for me...

Arriving Sunday....flying thru San Juan... it says that San Juan requires a negative test 72 hours before... mine is the 5 days prior since we are going to the BVI's. Will I have an issue picking up my luggage, checking in to Cape Air and then going back thru security to my gate? I think I read that there is not an issue... just confirming...Thanks...

If you are asked for test results, you just need to explain that you are in-transit and not leaving the airport.

No - you will need to present your BVI travel approval to Cape Air but that’s all - you are not leaving the airport so you are good to go.

OK...but Jetblue sent us a memo saying that we have to fill out a form for San Juan and that 72 hour test result is needed... I guess I can just show them our flight info on Cape Air to show we are continuing...

If you weren’t claiming luggage, probably not an issue as you would just be connecting via sterile concourses. But as you exit baggage claim you are entering PR aren’t you?

We flew into STT the last week of February. There was a checkpoint outside after deplaning, and before baggage claim. USVI portal confo QR code,temperature check, and a paper copy of the negative WuFlu test had to be presented. If you were connecting in STT, you would have needed to comply with USVI protocol.

Obviously Five days is outside of 72 hours! And when checking into your flight to SJU the airline is likely only concerned with SJU PR arrival requirements. Are you on separate tickets, or one ticket with connecting segments? That may make a difference.

PR is not the USVI and has different rules. In PR when you exit the baggage claim area, it's likely you will be asked about the required testing protocols. You simply state you are in-transit and they will allow you to pass back up to check into your next flight.

This is directly from guests who traveled 6 weeks ago and I have not heard of any changes.

We are on separate tickets. We are checking bags this time just to make things easier for us...don’t want to fight for overhead compartment space...just want to get in our seat and avoid any extra contact with anyone...
Thanks for the info.....I figured we would have heard about any issues by now from people if there was a problem!

There is the possibility that your checked luggage won’t make it on time or fit on your Cape Air flight. If at all possible try to do a carry on.

We don’t have big luggage...just 2 carryon roller sizes..plus 2 small items....we have 2 hours between flights....

I would carry those onboard. Far less trouble than the SJU bag shuffle.
G

Jason and macaroni:

I am certainly aware that Puerto Rico is not USVI. I was simply explaining how it worked in St Thomas. Control there was by uniformed military in camo fatigues. And yes, I also know that much of this is Security and WuFlu theater.

Surprisingly, Our departure on AA from Miami did not have any pre-boarding announcements about entry requirements. Our friends from Atlanta on Delta did experience such. However we witnessed people in line upon arrival in STT being detained as they did not have paper documentation. Not an experience that I would like to have!

It is too late for macaroni to do anything about it now, I wish him good luck, safe travels, and ask he shares his experiences.

There's nothing for macaroni to do. PR does not have those requirements.

Thank you... I was getting worried.... so I just tell them I am connecting if they ask after I get my luggage?? Everything has been so easy, even though I have been stressing... the portal, the testing... it all worked out.... very easy! So do not want to have to worry about the PR transit!!!

Yes, just let them know and they will direct you back upstairs to check into your next flight.

Arrived on a completely full flight from jfk to San Juan
Got our checked bags and told national guard we were connecting
No issue. Let us right thru after showing our cape air reservation
Long walk to check in and then gate
Only 4 of us on flight
In Tortola, got tested. It hurt a bit then went thru immigration and customs
Then waited for boat to take us to vG
Then taxi to our villa
All easy
It’s beautiful today!

Thank you for posting this. I looked on PR government website as well as SJU airport website and there was no mention of "in-transit" passengers being exempt from PR entry tests that I could find.

It was exactly as Jason said.....we did wait a long time for our bags but made our flight with no issue.....I didn’t even wait on the line with people going thru showing them the testing. A worker told me to just go around everyone to the front and tell me we were connecting.....

Glad it worked out so well for you! Travel in these crazy times is such a hassle. Sure wish it wasn’t these days.

But if anybody could do that, what’s it all about? Or, is it just more insane security theatre?