You know when they say you arrive at the airport three hours early? You know how we all laugh and think ‘yeah, sure?’ If you’re going to visit Aruba, they really mean it at Queen Beatrix International Airport, which is Queen Beatrix International Airport.
If your flight is during peak hours, usually between 11am and 4pm, or on holidays, the official recommendation is three hours and you should heed the warning. Really. I would probably add a half hour, I know we’ll do that next time.
The first row you’ll find in a long line of lines will be your airline’s check-in line, this can be an almost manual process or a long tedious wait while your boarding passes are issued and your checked luggage is taken away (don’t worry, you’ll soon find your suitcases). If you can register online, I highly recommend this. If you can travel light and just keep going, this will also save you time (we don’t because my husband refuses to).
I cannot stress this enough. There were very unhappy people who arrived at the airport two hours before their flight and had no chance to do so. One family paid another family $100 to take their place in line. It is not a joke. Hey, a way to make money if you don’t have a budget!
After completing your airline check-in, you’ll join all your fellow travelers in an even longer line, sometimes snaking around the airport terminal, to have your passport and boarding passes checked by Aruban Security. This line can take more than an hour.
From this point, it is approved for processing through Aruba Immigration (Departamento di Integracion, Maneho y Admision di Stranhero or DIMAS). After DIMAS, you will go through Aruba security and arrive at the terminal.
In the terminal you will find duty free shops and food courts. I found them expensive, expensive even in Aruba terms and definitely for any other airport. We went to Sbarro and spent $40 on pizza for three people.
You will also find more lines. Oh, you’ve just completed Aruba processing and now you’re in the hands of US Customs. You’ll have to find your checked baggage, each airline is kept separate so there shouldn’t be a problem. You and your bags will then join a queue for US customs processing. The best thing about it is that there are no customs once you return to the United States.
After clearing customs, you, your carry-on and your checked baggage will go down a corridor and at this point, your checked baggage will be deposited on a carousel to meet you at your plane. The conveyor belt has, you guessed it, a line!
Your lines are not ready because you then have to go through US security. This is your final processing line.
So to check you have the following lines:
* Airline check-in for you and your luggage
* Aruba passport and boarding pass check
* Aruba Immigration
* Aruba security check
* US Customs
* US Safety Review
I’m tired of writing it.