USVI-On-Line

Yesterday we used a Porter at STT for the first time and we will never do it any other way. Little or no waiting at the airline desk; little or no waiting at the customs desk and right on to the security screening. The only problem was since everything went so smoothly, we had to wait for almost 2 hours to board. Last year we only had to wait about 30 minutes, but then we stood in a lot of lines.

We have the name and telephone number for the young lady who was our Porter if anyone would like to use her. We will not post her name here since we have not been able to contact her by e-mail, but we will be glad to send it to you by Private Message.

Rachel, the private taxi driver, lined us up for her and she (the Porter) gave us her business card.

If you've never used a Porter, try it--you'll like it.

I bet that is the same porter Rachel hooked us up with this year. She was great and so is Rachel. Rachel stopped at a store for us on the way to STT airport which was so nice. We will absolutely use a porter again next time. We have her card, somewhere!
I would love to see them open a fun eatery at the airport. Waiting to go home is so painful

The only time we did not use a porter was this June, on a Sunday morning, when no one was in the airport. We got there earlier than ususal and apparently hit it in between pushes. When it was a full airport, a porter was the ONLY way to go.

JIM

I bet that is the same porter Rachel hooked us up with this year. She was great and so is Rachel. Rachel stopped at a store for us on the way to STT airport which was so nice. We will absolutely use a porter again next time. We have her card, somewhere!
I would love to see them open a fun eatery at the airport. Waiting to go home is so painful

Probably was the same one and she was great. Last year it took us an hour to an hour and a half to get through the airlines line, the customs line and the security line. Saturday it took us, maybe, 20 minutes and it was all because of the porter. The lines were still there, but we weren't in them.

Would a porter be necessary if you have carry on, or is it only if you are checking your bags? We have used Rachel the last 2X and will do it again next May .

Initally I thought one would not need a porter if they only had carry-on, but you will still need to go through the airline line and the customs line which is the longest and most time consuming line. Therefore, I would still get a porter even if I only had carry-on.

Last year we went home on Sunday which is a quiet day, but this year we are returning on Saturday so I think I will speak to Rachel about a porter.
Thanks guys

If you are leaving out on Saturday afternoon, get a porter.

We too left on a Saturday, in February, and used a porter. Didn't have anyone specific to ask for, just pulled up in a taxi (Christopher's) and when we got out we were asked if we needed a porter. Having had the knowledge from the forum I immediately said yes. The gentleman was wonderful. Didn't catch his name but he took our luggage and got us thru an unopened line at customs and security. It was amazing. Just zoomed past everyone else. Definitely did NOT want to make eye contact with any of the people in the lines. I could feel each and every person in line just glaring at us. Would definitely recommend this whether doing carry on or not.

We try to print our boarding passes and fill out our customs forms ahead of time. With no checked luggage you just go straight to the security line. The porters do seem to help you skip to the front of the security line, but that only save 5-15 minutes - we just do the line if we are pre-checked-in

If you have a group with kids or grandparents a porter makes life MUCH easier.

Cheers, RickG

We printed our boarding passes at Connections Saturday morning. When we arrived at the airport, our porter told us they would no longer be accepted. It didn't make sense to me, because we used them on the trip down. But, I handed her our passports, she took everything to the counter, and returned with the boarding passes printed by the USAir clerk. Anyone else had this happen?

I had been against porters taking people to the front of the line but I caved at used one in June. It was a Saturday afternoon and the airport was mobbed. We made it from the taxi to sitting in the the terminal in less than 15 minutes. It was worth very penny and I will do it again in a second.

pjayer wrote:We printed our boarding passes at Connections Saturday morning. When we arrived at the airport, our porter told us they would no longer be accepted. It didn't make sense to me, because we used them on the trip down. But, I handed her our passports, she took everything to the counter, and returned with the boarding passes printed by the USAir clerk. Anyone else had this happen?

That's scary and the first time I heard it! Were you checking luggage?

Cheers, RickG

RickG, we checked three bags going down and coming back. She didn't give an explanation and I didn't ask. I was just grateful to not be standing in that long line. Maybe she was mistaken or we misunderstood what she said.