How early at TAB with web check-in and only hand luggage

[Daniel]

Hi,

I booked my Caribbean Airlines return flight from Tobago to Trinidad at 8.35 AM. I will only be carrying hand baggage and I am planning to do the web check in the day before. How early should I be at the airport then? I will be staying in Parlatuvier.

Thanks,

Daniel

[Carol G]

Hi Daniel,
A couple of questions....have you checked that web check-in is actually available for Tobago and works?? If Caribbean Airlines has changed this; great! Could you post a reply; would love to be able to use. We have only been able to use the web check-in on the way down from Toronto. Are you staying over in Trinidad for a while or will you be making connections to return home?..I assume that would change the time ahead required. Do not know the time requirements for flights to South America. Maybe someone could give Daniel some advice. One last thought; I think you said in previous posts that you will not have a rental....do you have a ride lined up for the trip to the airport? Depending on a bus or road taxi, probably will not work. Have a great trip.
Cheers, Carol

[Clyde Alleyne]

Hi Daniel, CAL now allows web check-in from Tobago up to 36 hours before departure. If you can print off your boarding pass printout you should be able to bypass the check in counter and go direct to security. Arriving there 40 minutes before departure (ie by 7:55 AM) should be safe. Boarding times vary - it can be from 15-30 minutes before departure depending on the passenger load and other factors. But if you can't print your web check in document in Parlatuvier, then you will have to go to the web check/bag drop counter and request your boarding pass. So you should plan on arriving at the airport by 7:35 AM to be safe. Hope this helps. Clyde

[Daniel]

Hi Clyde & Carol,

I will be flying from Tobago to Trinidad on a Saturday, and then from Trinidad to Venezuela the following morning. My original plan was to fly out of Tobago near noon, but then I thought it'd be a good idea to get to Trinidad early and, perhaps, do a little sightseeing that day since I've never been to the country.

The thought of waking up early to catch an early flight is stressful for me. I wrote to Caribbean Airlines last weekend asking them how late I could be at the airport, and I was told that, whether or not I did the web check-in and only had hand luggage, I had to be at TAB, at least, 90 minutes before because flights were closed at exactly an hour before of departure. So, if my flight leaves at 8.30AM this means I have to be at the airport at least around 7AM, meaning that I'd have to leave Parlatuvier at around 6AM.

I hope the whole hiring a taxi beforehand that early on a Saturday morning works.

Thanks guys,

Daniel

[Clyde Alleyne]

Hi Daniel,
Caribbean Airlines simply gave you the "Official Line" about being at the airport 90 minutes before departure. They actually close the flight 40 minutes before the scheduled departure time and take on standby passengers. So if you are running a little late from Parlatuvier and it looks like you won't get there before 7:30 don't worry - you will still be OK. My wife and I travel between Trinidad and Tobago every month, and we normally plan on arriving 1 hour before departure to check in. With hand baggage only, web check in and a pre-printed web check this gives us an extra 20 minutes as we can safely arrive at the security checkpoint for the departure lounge 40 minutes before departure.
Clyde

[Daniel]

Thank you, Clyde. I am planning to change my flight, if possible, to the 10AM flight anyway, but you are conforming what I had read on the Caribbean Airlines website.

I am not going to stress about this anymore. If I cannot change it, I'll make my best to be there at 7.30AM, however, and like you said, according to the Caribbean Airlines website, domestic flights are closed 40 minutes before the scheduled departure.

I am looking forward to my trip next week.

Thanks again,

Daniel