Enough time to change planes in BGI, SJU?

Old Oct 31st, 2007, 11:32 AM
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Enough time to change planes in BGI, SJU?

Hi,
I'm going to The Body Holiday on St. Lucia in late December. This is my first Caribbean vacation, and I picked the destination after reading various posts in this forum. (Terms: solo female traveler, spa vacations) I also learned that leaving only 40 minutes to change planes in San Juan may be cutting things too close.

I'm traveling on American & American Eagle and won't check any luggage, will have just the two carry-ons (1 rolling suitcase & my computer).

My alternate plan has me changing planes in BGI (Bridgetown, Barbados). I'd have 1.5 hrs to do so. Is 1.5 hrs enough time to change planes at BGI? Is the American terminal laid out similarly to San Juan, with the AE flights nearby?

For my return flight, all flights offered on my travel date go through San Juan; only choice is timing. Return flight gets into San Juan at about 5 PM on a Thursday. How likely is it that I'll get through customs at San Juan in less than an hour, to make the connecting flight at about 6 PM? The next flight doesn't leave until almost 9 PM, which means having to be in the San Juan airport for 4 hrs (including however long it takes to get through customs). What do you advise?

Thank you,
Teresa
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Old Oct 31st, 2007, 12:42 PM
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Going through BGI seems to be going south to come north to St. Lucia. Will you be o.k. with a longer time in the airplane? As for SJU: Going out depends on which gate your flight into SJU arrives at and if you are on time. The higher the gate # the further away from the Am. Eagles. You really don't have a full 40 minutes. The American Eagles board from the lower (ground) level at the far end of the airport. (gates 1-2) They load by busses, usually 1/2 hour before plane time (check your tickets for boarding time). SJU isn't a big airport and if everything is on time for you you may be able to make the connection with only a mildly elevated heart rate. Only 40 minutes is cutting it real close. Coming back is tougher to minimize. A lot of the Am. Eagle planes arrive in the mid-late afternoon and the immigration hall could be very busy. Getting from the aircraft to the bus and walking seemingly forever to the immigration hall takes time. After immigration you will have to go through customs. You won't be waiting for checked baggage so you will be able to waltz through: if they don't take you aside to search your bags. Once you are out of immigration and customs you have to go through screening again to reenter the terminal gates area! They are working on streamlining it but as of Sept. the airport was still under construction for this process. There are two mediocre restaurants in the terminal, some shopping to while away your time but plan on taking a bad novel to read or watch a movie on your computer while you wait.
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Old Oct 31st, 2007, 12:45 PM
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If your flight is on time, 40 minutes is probably enough time to change planes in San Juan. I'd feel more comfortable with an hour, but it's a small airport, and it's usually not a problem since there are no entry formalities. Just like changing planes at any other small airport. You'll probably have to gate-check at least one of your carry-on bags if you continue on a small plane to St. Lucia. You might have to walk the length of hte airport to get the American Eagle flight, but the airport isn't really that big.

You should have plenty of time to change if you switch to the Barbados option. (And if you are on Air Jamaica, this might just be a stopover .. you might not even change planes but rather just continue onto St. Lucia.)

Going back might be a bit tight in SJU, but it depends on how many people are on the plane. I think you'll probably make it, but I'd hate for you to get stuck in the airport for 4 unnecessary hours.
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Old Nov 1st, 2007, 05:20 AM
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As said, going down, changing planes in San Juan is not a problem. Just walking from one gate to next. The American Eagle gates all leave from same area (gate 1), you take a bus to the plane. If you "hustle" and plane is reasonbly on time, you will make it.

Coming back, I like to allow 1.5 hrs to make connection but have done it in 30 mins. The rate limiting step is baggage and if you have no checked luggage, you should be ok. (for roller bags they will "gate check" but they give them back to you as you deplane and before you board the bus back to the terminal).

On a Thursday nite the later flight should not be full so you could "gamble" on making the earlier flight and then they would put you on the later flight if you missed it.
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Old Nov 9th, 2007, 11:37 AM
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Thank you so much for your responses! Just as I was booking the flights, someone pointed out that AA now has non-stop service to St. Lucia. There aren't any Saturday flights, but Sunday to Thursday works. Non-stop service reduces my travel time by about half (8 hrs on the plane vs. about 14 hrs with layovers). Now my only worry will be what to do to keep myself amused between the midday check out and my 5 PM flight home! (Yes, I know the front desk will likely hold my luggage for a couple of hrs.)

Again, thanks for your responses.
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Old Nov 9th, 2007, 01:04 PM
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leavingsoon
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But which airport? You realize that the flight you'd take from BGI would put you in at one end of St. Lucia, a jet from the mainland would land at the other airport. They are quite far from each other and you could end up doing a half day drive depending on where the resort is.

Just something to check up on.
 
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