Need help re: connection at SJU from Tradewinds to United (Chicago)

amsmulko

SBH Insider
Hi,
I am taking Tradewinds from SBH to SJU arriving at 2:30pm. My United flight to Chicago leaves at 4:30.
I have never been to SJU and do not know how long transit, security etc will take. I also don't understand what gate Tradewinds lands in in relation to the gate for the United flight.

I appreciate any help.

Thanks!
 
Hi,
I am taking Tradewinds from SBH to SJU arriving at 2:30pm. My United flight to Chicago leaves at 4:30.
I have never been to SJU and do not know how long transit, security etc will take. I also don't understand what gate Tradewinds lands in in relation to the gate for the United flight.

I appreciate any help.

Thanks!
Since it’s your first with Tradewind I would pay for their PRemium service. They will meet you and lead you and get your bags take them thru security and take you to the airline and all. Their gate is really far from the major airlines.
 
Coming into SJU from St Barth will be through Immigration in Terminal D, not the Tradewind gate in Terminal A. Tradewind escorts people from Immigration and Customs to the Checkin area between Terminal B and C, probably more to keep them from getting lost than anything else, so paying for VIP probably isn't worth it. It's at most a 10 minute walk from exiting Customs to the USDA APHIS checkpoint by the Checkin area. It's more of a hike to JetBlue in Terminal A.

The Blue icons are TSA checkpoints. The Green icons are USDA APHIS scanners. The Yellow icons are checkin counters. Immigration and Customs takes up most of the big Grey area between D and C. You're going to exist out somewhere around the middle of the Grey area. You'll reach the Checkin area close to the leftmost Green icon. I don't know if United will be in the left or right Checkin area. The TSA checkpoint is between the two Checkin areas. I think that United uses the C gates, as does American.


This map was accurate as of the last time that I was in SJU, 11 months ago.

Capture.JPG
 
We went thru SJU on 2/24 & 3/6...I saw a sign for Tradewind in the concourse where we exited from landing from CLT, when we left to fly back, I passed a Cape Air sign...confusing to say the least.

And for anyone who is entering SJU, make sure you go thru the fruit & vegetable check with your luggage BEFORE you try to check said luggage & have the stickers on your bags...lesson learned, but the one we used last year was closed with no signage where the replacement was ! And if flying AA out of there, there are NO chairs except for handicapped, & not many of them to be had. This is the same as was before the hurricanes. AA staff there not so friendly or helpful.
 
Will print this out to take with us to compare what is online now for SJU, I think one of the USDA Aphis scanners is definitely closed or was on our recent dates, the other was in part of a store about 50 feet from where the out of order one was ! Not so hard to put a sign on that door with an arrow !
 
I’m sorry Nancy but that’s not my experience last month coming from SBH to SJU. The Tradewind parking area and terminal was very far from immigration- a good 15 minute walk. Tradewind got our bags and took them thru security. It was another 10minute walk to get to the AA counter and then the gate. It’s not so easy navigating those terminals for the first time and the premium service is worth it.
 
The advantage of the meet-n-greet service is that you don't mess with the bags, just give guy your baggage stubs and the bags just end up on the plane........plus, if there are seats on an earlier plane, they can often get you on it :)
 
Thanks All!
I will only have carry on bags if it makes a difference.
Ania

KEVIN - Thank you so much for the detailed message.
 
Last edited:
I think that Tradewind & United now have an “interline” agreement so that you can check your luggage from SBH to Chicago . . . you should have minimal movement of luggage.
 
Not to belabor this, but I must have been dreaming last month when Tradewind parked as far from the main terminal as can be and still be in San Juan. I don’t care what the schematic shows, we were in a deserted and vacant terminal which took forever to get to immigration and then to the ticketing area. I would NEVER take Tradewind again.
 
No bus from the plane to the terminal? I’ve always been on an air-conditioned bus which brought me to an elevator next Immigration.
 
Nope. The plane parked, we got out and took an elevator up to a large vacant space. Nothing around, no chairs or anything for my wife to sit on. Waited 30 minutes for help and a wheelchair. The pilot and co-pilot felt sorry and waited with us. The walk to immigration was really far.
 
We were coming from pier in Old San Juan Andy not from SBH. Have been thru this airport many times never a good experience.
 
When arriving in SJU from SBH the Tradewind pilots and staff that take you on the bus from plane to terminal will escort you through all checkpoints and walk you to your gate.....it is a far walk but they are with you all the way...and it is no extra cost...you only pay for VIP service if you need it upon arrival into SJU on your way down if you have checked bags
and we have always been taken to the terminal on a nice air conditioned bus..
 
We had the same experience as shihadehs described. With no extra charge, Tradewwinds accompanied us all the way to our connecting airlines and the walk from the terminal where we lasnded was very short to the terminal where we were departing. Don’t spend any money on VIP service.
 
Top