TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Transit through SJU on separate tickets

We're traveling on separate tickets: ATL to SJU (Delta points) and SJU to VIJ (purchased Cape Air). Because they're separate tickets, DL told me I need to fill out Travel Safe. But I just tried and none of the options fit. Anyone have experience with this?

Just put your staying one day and use the airport hotel address. Could actually come in handy if you get stuck overnight. I will mention if you have checked bags there could be a issue I did not think about but occurred on my last return. We were booked on intercarribean from EIS to SJU. They left every checked bag in Tortola for weight. We were not informed until arrival in SJU. No big deal as we were on one ticket. We simply put a bag claim in with American on arrival in Charlotte. The bags arrived a few days later. There were about a dozen travelers on separate tickets who were in a heated argument with the airline rep. He told them they would deliver there bags on SJU that evening but was not offering to get them to the US. I have no idea the resolution as we bolted to catch our flight as they were also late.
G

George--as you well know, that is the poster child for traveling on a single ticket. If you miss your connection, they also have no obligation to get YOU home either.

Cape Air & DL have a baggage agreement so I had planned to check the bags all the way through in both directions. We're leaving out of VIJ so I guess I can somewhat monitor whether the bags make it on board or not. I've never considered the scenario you bought up George. My husband has traveled the heck out of DL so we usually fly for free. Cannot combine a free ticket segment & paid ticket segment into one ticket..that I know of. Guess it's the risk. Hope our good travel insurance will cover us if it happens!!

If you can check the bags through you are home free!
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You technically don't need the PR Portal, I did the same trip, same airlines a couple of months ago but to EIS instead of VIJ.

Delta never asked for evidence of the portal. When you get to SJU, have your connecting flight information available at baggage claim. Just show it to the National Guard they will direct up to the Cape Air counter to recheck your bags. We had no luck even as a Million Mile and Diamond Delta member checking bags thru to Cape Air. No big deal to recheck them but I had planned a long layover.

Jason, both Cape Air & DL have told me when I check-in in ATL to show them my ongoing ticket and they'll check through. We only have 2 hours in SJU so that will make it really tight if we have to retrieve bags, recheck and go through that crazy security line. Add it to the stress pot, along with Omicron and you've gotta want this bad...and we do!!!! Thanks for your help!

We have Cape Air coupons which, according to their website, can be combined with a separate ticket on United, Jet Blue or American. We called several times and were told the software for the two former would allow this, but not American's software.

Coming down, American could not check our bags through and we had to pick them up and recheck them, which became tricky when our arriving flight was delayed. Made worse because I had frozen steaks they made me completely unpack; only carry food if your bags can be checked through.

We're going back on United, so I enquired at Cape Air Beef Island about checking our bags through. The two people working the desk said it is not possible, regardless of what their website says. YMMV.

Checking bags all the way through on different tickets is complex but actually can usually be done if, and it’s a big if the agent involved is experienced and well trained. Sadly they are few and far between. It never hurts to ask however when you check in. Most agents simply don’t want to do it. I once had a agent tell me it was impossible to get two bags checked for me in a similar situation even when I handed her a printout on how to do it. I was able to get a supervisor who did it in about 90 seconds.

George, the printout of the instructions on how to check thru luggage...is it available on a google search??

Thank you all for sharing & advice! Both DL & Cape Air are saying today that we need to retrieve and recheck. Oh well, at least it won't be a surprise. We have 2 hours.

We have done it with less time but you have to literally be on a mission...once you get your bags from baggage claim, immediately go over to the Agriculture Inspection and get your stickers. It is even better if you can have someone go get in line at Cape Air, while you do this. Then go check in and check your bags. Best if you have TSA precheck too. You should be fine if your flight in is not delayed.

No, my situation was a transition from a non revenue segment to paid ticket segment.

I have tried this itinerary, Cape Air canceled our flight twice at last minute. No explanation and they were not much help.

Ok. Let me know how that works out. You might get lucky and find the right person when you check in.

Hi George. l'm new here, but it seems like there's some good, timely BVI info on this forum. We're planning a 20 day dream charter in March. We're booked IAD-SJU on UA and then SJU-EIS on InterCaribbean. You said you were on 'one ticket.' How'd you do that? InterCarib didn't come up on any of my searches on the travel sites or on AA and UA's site. Only found them when checking the EIS airport site. We're going for 24 days, so I'd like to book a bag all the way through to EIS. We built cushion into our start so if it arrives a day late in EIS that's no big deal. But do you know if it's possible to book it all the way through? If not, do you know if SJU has a bag transfer station inside security? How has been your experience with InterCarib? I realize you're not a travel agent but any wisdom appreciated.

I booked straight through on American to Intercarribean on the AA website. I don’t think your market has flights arriving in SJU in time for the connection. I plugged it into AA and they have a 680 dollar fare but you overnight in SJU plus have to connect in CLT. I enjoy a SJU overnight but don’t like the connection.

I think DCA has Jet Blue / Cape Air combination as well as Silver combination directly into SJU...we used to those before we started chartering Island Birds from SJU to EIS