An experience here will make you want to call an emergency meeting with your liquor cabinet. TSA is a pain in the butt, but they really take it to a whole new level at this location.
I get it, island was devastated by a hurricane, and this is the best you can do, but when 88 people miss their flight the day before your flight and American Airlines has to send another plane to get them, you know you're in for a long one.
There is no TSA precheck, if you think you're going to be slick and slide through this way, think again you have no privileges. Everyone is equal and has to go through the SAME process which is:
1) Physical pat down
2) Getting screened for metal with a hand wand
3) Taking apart all of your luggage and going through each item in it
4) swabbing random items in your luggage for chemicals
5) swabbing you for chemicals
6) swabbing your shoes for chemicals
8) Check your hair for hidden items
9) Patting down your dogs if you have them (yes all 3 of my fur babies were physically examined for contraband items)
10) Then you go past the bomb sniffing dog
You still have to take off your belt, shoes, jackets, and everything out of pockets so those can be physically examined. The new TSA is a wooden hall of horrors that is now before US customs and it blocks the American Airlines Priority and 1st class check in desk which we could have used but didn't know it was there.
The best was the argument I had to wait to pass between three TSA employees on what process I would go through next. It takes so long you sit in your designated chair and wait while they do their thing. My hubby and I showed up 5 hours early to get through this mess as it was advised by American Airlines to not miss our 3:15pm flight because we had connecting flights stateside.
Pro Tip: Hire a red cap porter for your check in luggage at curbside. If not you will have to take your check in luggage with you through this really long and cumbersome process.
While very annoying, these flights may be the safest going anywhere in the US, EVERYTHING is examined. This is the price of living in paradise.
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