TSA at STT

[patr]

Okay people, what is the problem with those TSA people at St Thomas airport?

We usually fly home on Saturday, but this past trip we flew back on a Thursday, hoping that the lines would not be long, hot, miserable and just downright unbearable. It did not make one iota of a difference!

Why is it, you can check in, get through customs (lots of custom agents and they move folks pretty quickly), but when it comes down to that screening line, there always seems to be tons of TSA staff just wondering around aimlessly, in and out of that little room in the back, but they only have one or maybe (if you're lucky) two lines operational?

I have never seen another airport with this problem anywhere else. Sure we've stood in some lines other places during peak travel times, but they seem to move folks through pretty efficiently.

St Thomas is utterly ridiculous. Everytime, we look at each other and exclaim, "NEVER AGAIN!" (of course, we don't mean it) But it is super frustrating and it just seems such a shame to end such a relaxing and blissful vacation on such a sour note. After finally getting through security, we need another vacation!!

We are considering taking an early morning flight next time to try and avoid all that madness. Does anyone have any experience with those? Please tell me it is much better.

Sorry for the rant,
We always dread the end of vacation for the obvious reasons, but this situation just compounds those feelings.

[Berlingirl]

Oh can we understand. We left this past Saturday...waited for hours in the heat...my brother and his family missed their flight to Atlanta. Need I go on...lines for check in, lines for customs, lines to drop luggage, lines at TSA. Unreal slow. NO A/C...then our flight was late due to some "tech problems" at the airport. Worst yet in 10 years. How is that possible and why??? Thankfully, it was overcast all day we were leaving...it would've been torture to endure it all with the sun shining.

[RickG]

The pain, oh the pain. Oh, I get their early and have painkillers at the bar. Over the years the only way to speed the process has been to use a porter.

Cheers, RickG

[nascarfan59]

I think this helps us appreciate STJ better because of the battle to get there and back. It seems island time is in effect, even at the airport.

[VaGirl]

After hearing the stories, we decided to "bite the bullet" and get there early. That seemed to work. We were at the Spirit counter by 11 am, 1st in line, headed right into Customs and then through the TSA madness. Like Rick said, plenty of time then to go off to the bar to drink and think about what I was going to miss.

[Teresa_Rae]

And then to add insult to injury, once you get through the awful lines, you have to sit there (depressed that you're going home) and watch other people's smiling faces as they get off their planes and start their vacations!