Turks and Caicos BEWARE!!!

Old Jul 28th, 2013, 03:46 PM
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Turks and Caicos BEWARE!!!

Well, I just had a great week in Turks and Caicos. THe Hotel we stayed at, Grace Bay CLub was excellent. GBC was a great place with friendly people, great rooms, outstanding service, a great beach and superb amenities. We went to many restaurants and they were all good. We fished, Jet Ski'd, snorkeled, gambled, etc. All was good.

NOW THE BEWARE...The airport when you check for your departure has ONLY ONE Metal detector, so there is only one lane for passengers. Now that might not be so bad, except on Saturday, they have 11 flights, between 1:25 and 5:30 going through one entrance line. The average wait outside for everyone is more than 1:15 minutes. You get to wait outside in a covered boarded up area where the heat is awful. The reason for the wait is that since they want to have all flights leave on time, if your flight is about to take off, you get moved to the front of the line. SO if you think you are close and will get to the gate ahead of time, the answer is that everyone with a plane boarding time before yours will be moved in front of you, thus the length of the wait time! For my 4:35 flight, I got to the metal detector at 4:25. Be careful no to complain, as I did, because you will get a lovely secondary up close and personal screening. For us folks with airline status, it doesn't matter if you are gold, silver, Platinum, 1K, exec platinum, etc., because there is only one lane and there is nothing different for us.

The best advice is to sit in the small restaurant after checking in, wait until 30 minutes before your flight, get in line and wait for them to move you to the front.

I did a bunch of research prior to my trip to T&C but saw nothing posted like this. They are supposedly building a new airport, but at this time, it would be easy to have an air conditioned place to wait and only bring the people boarding, or simply add another line. I clearly will not be going back until this is resolved, or I will try not to fly on Saturday. Obviously Saturday is a key day for vacationeers, so that wont change. I think the Government and the Airlines have a big problem and no one seems to want to spill the beans! Consider them spilled!
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Old Jul 28th, 2013, 03:50 PM
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I think "Beware" is a bit extreme!
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Old Jul 28th, 2013, 04:05 PM
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If you think being 70 years old and waiting in 100 degree heat and not getting a straight answer is not enough for beware, then I apologize for the strong warning!
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Old Jul 28th, 2013, 04:44 PM
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Who did not give you a straight answer ? You never asked , it is your 1st post..perhaps if you asked ,we would have told you. " Beware sounds " like something extreme!
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Old Jul 29th, 2013, 03:30 AM
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Most Caribbean airports are a pain. TCI just recently exploded in the last 3 years as a destination with added flights they are trying their best to expand and catch up.

Actually, Miami airport is MUCH worse. Provo makes sure you don't loose your flight no matter how long it takes to get through.

Miami could care less if you make your flight or not (even when their fault!)

So, if you can afford GBC, you could have afforded VIP service, which is offered until the airport can be expanded.

You get the front of the line check in, a special room with a/c , no crowds, includes drinks. Straight to the plane with no gate waiting. These issues have been addressed here and on Tripadvisor many times. (of course there's a charge)

There's also an outdoor upstairs lounge you could have watched planes take off and land.

Here's the thing about the airport, no matter How crowded it is, how crazy it seems, you're not going to loose your flight.

I can't think of other airports that do that.

When you become well travelled (you might be) you know getting there and leaving can become an adventure.

BEWARE is quite out of proportion. Now if it's enough to keep you away from the worlds most gorgeous beaches, then you'll miss out on quite a few, as other airports (and some other islands require even additional travel by car, ferry, etc) then you'll miss out.

We have posted here many times to avoid Saturday's (or leave earlier flights, 8:30) if airports bother you.

Sad part is if that's the part of your vacation you choose to dwell on, 3 hours out of a week, then I guess the glass is half empty.

I would go through that any day over Miami airport.

And if you decide not to return because of that, then lucky me, less time to wait at the airport.
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Old Jul 29th, 2013, 03:45 AM
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Unfortunately I guess you missed the discussions of this problem both here and on tripadvisor. It's been discussed many, many times. A lot of the islands have a serious issue with departures. Try leaving from Montego Bay or Aruba on a weekend. You barely make your plane, and as Blamona pointed out, sometimes no one cares if you do.

Anyway, now you'll know not to plan a weekend departure, although this can be a problem during busy vacation periods, too.
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Old Jul 29th, 2013, 03:46 AM
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A last comment: I have used the expedited service at Turks for my elderly inlaws. It's fabulous, and worth every penny.
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Old Jul 29th, 2013, 05:46 AM
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Thank you for the warning gu-pig. I'm sorry you either didn't know about the expedited airport service or if you did know that you chose not to use it. As blamona says, many Caribbean (and non-Caribbean!) airports are a pain and at least the Provo airport makes sure you get on your flight. If you had been running late I imagine you would have been grateful you were bumped to the front of the line. We always try to avoid Miami but if you want to go to the Caribbean then there's not much choice about using the on-island airports.
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Old Aug 1st, 2013, 04:43 AM
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What is the expedited service? Does Aruba have this? I think the poster is just trying to inform everyone. I do credit for this island to make sure people do not miss there plane. AT least they care--the lines are long and difficult at Newark and other U.S airports as well. We were warned about that due to financial cut backs back in January.
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Old Aug 1st, 2013, 06:51 AM
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VIP air service is exclusive to TCI. Don't know if any other airport does it.
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Old Aug 1st, 2013, 10:01 AM
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The VIP service is called VIP FLYERS CLUB. I think Turks may be the only location. The service isn't cheap. First person of a family or group traveling together pays $200. The others are $75 each. You are met curbside, helped through check in, then led to the front of the security lines and finally into an air conditioned room offering WIFI, TV, beverages, and snacks.

There are only 10 or so seats available in the Flyer's Club lounge, so if you are interested - particularly in season- you need to book ahead. My elderly MIL wasn't wowed by the amenities offered in the "club" room, but really appreciated everything else about the service.

You can also pay for a less expensive option, which fast tracks you through security, but I think doesn't permit access to the club room.

And on another subject: If you travel enough and really hate the long lines at U.S. and some international airports, look into the GLOBAL ENTRY program. You fill out a bunch of forms online, submit them, then are given an interview with a TSA representative, usually at an airport or a business office. Once approved, you're given a card which lets you bypass the customs lines at major U.S. airports and some abroad. We have these cards, and they are worth their weight in gold, esp. at JFK!
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Old Aug 2nd, 2013, 06:04 AM
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Thanks. I can deal with it, but it drives DH crazy. It is "are we having fun yet." "I hate to travel what fun is this?" Worse than a child--do you need to qualify for it as you are unable to stand for long periods? What is the basis of the interview and what determines approval? Well I usually fly out of PHL or Newark.
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Old Aug 2nd, 2013, 06:09 AM
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Hi all - new here and wondering if Sunday departures, in September, have the same long lines as Saturdays??
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Old Aug 2nd, 2013, 01:11 PM
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Go on the website for Global Entry and it will answer all your questions much better than I can. It has nothing to do with physical limitations. The interviews can even be arranged at your office if you have enough people. Mine was arranged by a friend/travel agent at her home. The interview consisted of a couple of questions about where I'd been and my international travel plans. That was it. Took all of 10-15 minutes. You just have to present a current passport as an ID.

To SissyM1949: I have been told that weekend and Monday departures often have long lines in Turks, though this can vary a bit with the time of year. If you can arrange to leave on a weekday ( not MOnday) I think you may do better.
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Old Aug 2nd, 2013, 01:14 PM
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A last note about Global Entry: I misstated it when I said you skip customs lines. There is a kiosk devoted to travelers with global entry cards. It uses new technology with fingerprint recognition, and you have to show your card to get through that. But we've never had to wait very long for it at all.
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Old Aug 4th, 2013, 02:48 AM
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And now with global warnings issued it's even worse, they have just added more time because every single piece of luggage is being checked and gone through.

The problem with contrition is they created a hallway line with no ventilation nor fans. Add that this august is extremely hot, and it's creating a heat stroke environment. Make sure to have water with you during the line.

TCI is still worth it though!

8-)
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Old Aug 4th, 2013, 09:49 AM
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Unfortunately what Blamona says is now true at many major U.S. airports, too. Just heard back from friends who came through JFK last night. They said it took them a very long time to get through security, so be prepared!
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Old Aug 5th, 2013, 04:14 AM
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That is because we are on high alert right now due to the "chatter" of the embassy's abroad. That should calm down soon I hope.
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Old Sep 13th, 2013, 06:56 AM
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gu_pig:
We recently traveled to TCI (July 1 through July 13) and I will be writing a report accompanied by pics soon, but, I wanted to share with you and the rest about similar experience. This is our 3rd time in Provo, and we absolutely love it. Nothing else we've experienced compares to it (at least by our account), but we had similar issues, mind you that we had along with us an elderly couple (83 and 80) one of whom was sick (with lung cancer and ...issues). We had requested wheelchairs for both (provided at the airport) and asked that we get help to 'process' through check in as we were traveling with 3 little kids (one of whom 16 months old) as well. They couldn't/didn't help at all and we put up with the heat, the Saturday crowds, and the back and forth. In the end we made it, we did not miss our flight despite the fact many ahead of us (business class customers) were complaining and trying to cut through, etc. When arrived in Miami, our crew was separated (wheelchaired people going at other location) resulting in a not so great experience, far worse than what you described as a 'beware' for TCI. I would urge you to rethink about TCI because it is truly an excellent destination. My wife and I made a decision to travel to TCI every other summer and stay at the same resort (The Sands) for the convenience, the fact that we made great friends with the ..staff (we had the same cleaning crew every time we went) and the waitresses at Hemingway's who they remembered our childrens' names and hugged them and treated us like royalty.
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Old Sep 13th, 2013, 07:35 AM
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ChrisiL...well said ! Don't you just love Caroline at The Sands restaurant?
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