USVI-On-Line

Wanted to post an update. Yesterday at check in I saw porters appraoching groups with alot of bags and heard them say, "We will get you right to security." Later witnessed one group being taken right up to the desk near the metal detators and wisked to the line. I think I read here that this practice had been stopped.
The lines for check in at Delta were non existent so we just did the regualr way. But its definitely something to consider.

We left about week and half ago and I was surprised at the LACK of porters. Last year quite a few and we used one. I noticed that the porters did get the luggage up to the front but the folks still had to stand in the long lines. The layout of the airport is different and I'm not sure of the value. We wheeled out luggage through the lines this time. It wasn't that bad.

But the big boy sweated a lot.

We grabbed a porter and went right in! I saw people being brought around the back and decided that it couldn't hurt to try! Boy was I glad I did! It was wonderful not to have to wait in that long line!

We were encouraged to use a porter when we left last May, and we are happy we did. We had too much "Stuff" to carry it by ourselves through the Cutoms and TSA lines. Although we were not wisked to the front of the line, it made the experience much easier. The lines were not too long and we had plenty of time. We too gave our porter a portrait of President Jackson. That seems to be the going rate.

JIM

I totally forgot about the porters till we were already through the doors to go through customs.

Cat and hubby were still at the Delta counter when we were in that line and when we got through security, they were sitting at a table in the bar area sipping on cool ones.

Next time, I will not forget!

nothintolose

Our experience was different in June. We used a porter just because we had so much junk with us. (I SWEAR we are going carry on only in October...yeah right!). Anyway, he helped us with our bags, put the tags on for us and went into customs, where he waited off to the side while we went in the regular line. He then walked with us to security and loaded the bags into the belt area, and then asked for $2/bag.

The airport was not busy so maybe that is why we went in the regular line? I was just happy to have someone help lug everything!

We had the same experience as the Liamsaunts. The porters just stood off to the side but the airport was also quite empty at that particular time.

We were there on a really busy Saturday! That is probably why we went around the back. I gave them more than the $2 a bag since we only had 3 bags. I felt bad for them. He had three other groups so his cart was really full but I was so happy not to have to wait anymore! It was June and HOT! We had already waited in a line of about 100 people and the line for sustoms was all the way back to where people come off the plane to get their luggage. We would have missed our flight if we had to wait in that line!