TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Maneuvering SJU airport

We have a group heading to virgin gorda in May. We are arriving in SJU on delta and southwest. Going to VIG by cape air. Is a porter a good idea to expedite travel? Do we have to go through security again? Traveling with a small child and seniors who have problems with mobility. Thanks.

A porter Is a good idea, particularly if you are unfamiliar wih the airport.

San Juan airport we found to be pretty easy for two people. Throw in small child and seniors with the constant changes due to construction and if you are checking bags... Yes, it sounds like your group would benefit from a porter.

I came in on USAir at gate D5 and flew out on Cape Air on 1 April. All Cape Air flights have moved to gate C23 (previously A1). It was quite simple to transit between the two gates without exiting the secure area. There was construction on Concourse C, with perhaps half of the businesses open. I don't believe that there are any porters within the secure area however.

Thanks for quick reply. You were very helpful.

If anyone is not arriving with an airline that "code-shared" (I believe that is what it is called)...in other words....for example...Southwest doesn't code share with anyone that I know of in SJU. And, that means you have to get your bags and go to the gate like you are checking in all over again. If you must retrieve your bags you are going to wish you used a porter. Just my opinion.

Please don't shy away from requesting mobility assistance for the seniors, which ever airline they may be flying. Boarding, and deplaning, will be much easier for THEM and everyone around them. Perhaps do the same if you are flying with the small child. When you check in for your flight to SJU, make it a priority to request gate assistance at SJU. That information is sent with/on the passenger manifest to the arrival airport ( SJU). Mention to your cabin attendant inflight that you have requested " gate assistance" on arrival, you should not then be needing to " find' it on your own when you arrive.

Leave the surprises to chance, and the surprises will bite you when the chance presents.

Breeze

If you do have to retrieve checked luggage at baggage claim, you might consider this tip: After retrieving your checked bags, go back in the same direction you came from(escalators or stairs), there is an elevator on the same level as baggage claim, take it one floor up, when exiting the elevator you will then walk to the Agriculture Inspection Station and ticket counters and then on to TSA and your concourse.

When leaving baggage claim, do not go toward the glass windows facing the parking lot or street , if you do you will end up exiting the building completely. It is a long hike outside the building and up a set of stairs to get back into the terminal building.

Best advice as mentioned previously hire a porter once you get to baggage claim or use the mobility services.

Good luck,

Tony

Simple, simple answer....
If you want this to be a vacation, rather than a stress-out ... get the porter

How do you hire a porter at SJU?

We are hoping to manage carry-on only next month - we land via United at around 3 and have Seabourne to EIS at 5:25p.

You are correct that SW does not interline bags. This makes loading and unloading aircraft much easier. You will have to pick the bags up at baggage claim and recheck them. This can require up to 3 hours if it's a cruise day. The routes to SJU are former AirTran flights and they did interline so you might check if perhaps they still do it in SJU.

Hi Tony, there is an elevator right outside the glass doors inside the round column. One you get upstairs, the are doors to get right back in our walk outside, which is nice if you have come from the winter cold.
Bridget, porters are almost always waiting in the baggage claim area. If not they should be just outside the doors.

Thanks Mike, I'll look for that next time.