checking in at cape air is a breeze, couple flts a hr and planes to sju are 8 passenger cessna's so not a lot of people to check in. once you've checked in you go through customs/immigration and airport security will the masses. how long? depends on how many other flts are leaving then.

our normal rule of thumb is to allow minimum of 2hrs to check in, customs and security for mid afternoon fts. we used same standard for a december 12:30 and ticket agent told us we could take the 11:30 and have plenty of time and we did, and extra 30 min to wait.

there were 4 of us connecting on a delta flt at sju as standby so couldn't check our bags through. so we had to: claim our bags in sju, exit airport, reenter, go through a usda clearance and get a green sticker for bags, check in at delta, and go back through a very long security line. all that that took almost an hr and a half. your family member should try and check bags through if can our will be snap in sju if only has carryon, you go directly from cape air arrival gate to dept gate without going back through security. also since he/she won't be going on to us, won't need a usda sticker.

if the cost of not making cape a flt is missing sju connection, then to be safe i would take 6am ferry stj to redhook and then cab to airport. if all's smooth, be there a little before 7. if crowded, know you did right thing, if not ask the ticket agent if there's an empty seat and time to catch the 7:30 flt to sju. if you must wait, sju is much better than stt airport.

papabou