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JohnT · Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 9:52 pm Post subject: Airport Time

Hate to post a downer experience, but leaving Aruba on 10/5 was just NOT pleasant. On advice from Aruba Eddy Ramou and published reports in the free newspapers, we got to the airport 4 hours before our flight.
Long story short, it took us a full 3 hours (worst time in years). The Washington mess is contributing to abnormally long lines at the airport. This will probably continue as long as there is a budget standoff. Lines everywhere...even a line to get into the "luggage room", then another LONG line before you met a US customs agent. Hopefully, it will not continue too long, but if you're leaving on 10/12, it doesn't look good.
Our flight then left about 50 minutes late...waiting for stragglers caught in the mess. People who boarded on time after 3 to 4 hours were less than sympathetic to the late arrivals. The last two complained about seats and several waiting on the plane called "throw them off". Tempers flare easily!

carolrd · Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 5:11 am Post subject:

Thanks for the heads up John.

Carol Cool

~Amy~® · Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 7:01 am Post subject:

Not a nice way to end your vacation but glad you made your flight! Hopefully things will be back to normal again soon.

Sasha · Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 12:02 pm Post subject:

I hope so too! We leave for Aruba on Friday and head back to the US on the 21st. Hopefully by then the govt will be back to work.

Corrine · Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 12:22 pm Post subject:

Those Saturdays will kill ya every time! So sorry!

I usually do Friday to Friday, it is usually a little easier.

Ricky & Lucy · Member Joined: 12 Dec 2007 Posts: 33

John I had the same experience last December (on a FRIDAY).

Might be good for a new STICKY -

"Date I left AUA and time it took to get thru US Customs"

.

~Amy~® · Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 1:53 pm Post subject:

We always try to fly back mid-week (Mon-Thurs.) Flying back on a Tuesday on the upcoming Nov. trip.