St. Thomas Airport Tips — How to Avoid the Chaos (2026 Guide)

Leaving St. Thomas Airport (STT) can be confusing—and if you’re not prepared, the lines can easily exceed 2 hours. In this video, I walk you step‑by‑step through exactly what to expect when departing from St. Thomas, including: The extra customs steps required when flying back to the mainland U.S. Why the airport recommends arriving 4 hours early Where to go first when you arrive (and what NOT to do) How the process differs if you have or don’t have Global Entry Real wait times we experienced at customs, bag drop, and TSA How Global Entry saved us about 2 hours and got us to the gate in just 40 minutes We flew out of STT on March 20, arriving a little under three hours before departure, and I’ll explain exactly how we moved through the airport so efficiently—while others waited more than two hours. If you’re traveling to St. Thomas, USVI, this video will help you avoid long lines, reduce stress, and leave the island without surprises. Be sure to subscribe to see more of our travel videos!