I don't think I would EVER check a bag without having a carryon, too. Doing so really tempts fate. I've had my luggage "misplaced" by an airline for eight days. At least I had a change of underwear, a toothbrush and one other set of clothing I could change into while my travelling clothes were in the washer. The last thing I want to do when I arrive for my vacation is spend a bunch of time shopping for clothes that may or may not fit and I won't like nearly as well as the ones I packed.

Do take a small carryon with you. The first time your checked luggage gets lost you'll be happy you did!

Never had this happen in the VI. Happened in Europe but not in the 8 times we have been to the VI.

But it DOES happen in the VI, too. Make sure you bring a carry-on with some essentials and hope for the best!

Do you really need anything more than a carry-on for a week in paradise?

All I take is a carry on for a week in paradise...and I still have too much.

I have had luggage take a day to catch up with me a few times between San Juan and STX, especially golf clubs. Never go to the VI without a carry on and never pack something that you would miss a lot if your bags are lost. One nice feature of booking your flight using an American Express card is that there is an option that pays for delayed or lost luggage - it is very worthwhile. The charge is $11 per ticket and you get reimbursed $500 per ticket for bags that are delayed more than 6 hours and $1,000 per ticket for bags that are lost. AmEx must make money on the program, but my wife and I are way ahead so far.

we used to really push to do everything in carry-ons whenever possbile but 9-11 changed that.

Not being able to take razors, nail clippers or a few other things in carry-on finally made us just relax and check all but one small carry-on (with swimsuit, one change o f clothes, and minimal toiletries).

Since then we have wondered why we ever lugged everything with - much nicer not to carry so much and we really aren't slowed down much getting our luggage at the airports.

We did lose luggage once in over twenty years of major traveling and that was when we changed to a different flight and airport at the last minute for the last leg home. We pretty much knew the luggage wasn't going to make that one since it wasn't even tagged to the right airport 🙂

I've had the 'lost bag', 'late bag' problems, as most travelers do. I always carry-on one bag (a roll-aboard) with all my Rx medications and at least 2 days of clothing,and when necessary my laptop (yes, even to St John). If I must check a bag, I pack it with only spare clothes and books (books are just so heavy). I am a champion packer and can put 3 weeks of stuff in two legal carry-ons. I do hate over-head space hogs and try very hard to not be one. In defense of not checking bags - despite 9/11 and new rules, I waited 50 minutes for my Priority Elite tagged bag at Newark airport in March of this year - one of the few times I checked a bag. At 11 PM, the delay was trying for both me and my driver. So, while I agree 'bag free' is a wonderful feeling, I'll settle for laptop free and drag my roll-aboard with me rather than deal with the panic of having nothing there when I arrive. Once again, different strokes.

DITTO - DITTO - DITTO.!!!!! Never leave home without a sm. carryon. Good Luck.

If you are making a connection in San Juan it is not unusual to have your luggage delayed. The smaller planes flying from San Juan to the VI just can't handle all the luggage if the flights are fully booked. They opt to take the passengers and leave bags behind.

Bring a carry on with a change of clothes, tooth brush, etc.

We keep spare items for our guests because baggage gets delayed coming to the VI.

Jim

We have a connecting flight to STT from San Juan. How long of a luggage delay are we talking here?

Also, does anyone have any experience with taking a wedding gown on a plane? Will they let you carry it on and hang it?

Thanks again guys!!! 🙂
Kasey

Delays with luggage from San Juan to STT or STX is usually not that bad. Flights are so frequent that they will arrive on the next flight or later in the day. If you're flight is the last flight then well... I guess you would wait until the next day.

I connected from San Juan to St. Croix and my luggage followed by 3 days. I would make arrangements to have your wedding dress as a carry on. You can call the airline and check with them the best way - guess it would be like a guitar or something. I think you can take a garment bag as a carry on - best to check with the airline.

Also, if you do take it as carry on - some airports are very big and distances between terminals can be long - you might ask for a cart to take you and your dress/etc. from one terminal to another.

Good luck and congrats!

Linda

During the busy season luggage doesn't always make it onto the next flight particularly if it is full and they have to bump more bags. Sometimes American Eagle hires a cargo carrier to fly the back up of luggage over.

While delayed bags usually catch up the next day, we have had guests waiting for two or three days. Christmas is the worst.

Jim

I always see women carrying their wedding dresses on with them. I don't know where they stash them, but you can'tmiss those HUGE white bags.

Just got back yesterday from St. Thomas. USAir lost 1 of our bags on the flight down. A crying teenager without a bikini can be a pretty miserable way to start a vacation. The bag showed up on the next flight and was delivered to the hotel before night fall. But that wasn't soon enough. We had suffered much distress over the missing bag and the USAir staff who acted as if it were no big deal. Well, maybe they deal with it everyday, but we don't. We were very upset with their lack of concern.

We learned a very valuable lesson...split your necessities between two bags and maybe you'll have what you need when you arrive.

Don't count on them to reimburse you either. The paperwork we were given said you have to mail receipts for your out-of-pocket expenses. They will only reimburse you $50 for the first day and $25 for each additional day up to a maximum of $150. Our empty luggage costs more than $150.

A few years ago my luggage spent a night in Atlanta and another on STT, was camping at Cinnamon so that meant no tent... not a bad place to be homeless! Because of that I learned you can swim in the right underwear and nobody's the wiser, I learned about the Maho 4-hr worker program and spent October pruning catch-n-keep and have a lifelong friendship with a helpful taxi driver. Plus, I just took a job on STT, am trading the lovely Rockies for the sea in 5 weeks.
Wouldn't have traded the "stuff" for the experience!

I used to be a flight attendant on a major carrier. Many times I had future brides bring their dresses aboard and I always accomadated them-- as long as they were polite about it. Alot depends on the person working the flight. From my experience as long as you are nice about asking and don't demand it they will be happy to find space for your dress. Good Luck!!

Cathy! Did you get my email I sent you a week or so back? Let me know if you still want to meet up when I get down there mid-August. 🙂 I bet you are getting pretty excited, as am I!