How much time is needed to clear customs and get checked in

[SPEllis]

We are arriving in POS at 2:30pm on a Monday and are wondering how long it takes to get through customs/immigrations, and how long it takes to get to Caribbean Air terminal. I hear we have to check in at least 90 minutes before our flight to Tobago. We have not yet made our flight reservation to Tobago because I don’t want to miss our flight.

[Steve Wooler]

Hello

Welcome aboard!

I've never flown into POS, so can't speak from experience - but hopefully one of our readers who come in that way will be able to advise more accurately. However, it will largely depend upon how busy the airport is at that time. There's only one terminal at POS and it's pretty small by international standards, but given the nature of things, I would advise booking your transfer flight a good 2.5 hours after the scheduled arrival time of your flight. If you get through earlier, Caribbean Airlines will put you on an earlier flight across to Tobago, availability permitting - but at least you will have guaranteed seats on your scheduled transfer flight if things get delayed.

[Andy K]

Book a Tobago flight for around 5:30 pm.
In case there are several flights arriving around the same time, immigration will be crowded and you may take
1 1/2 hours or more to come out. My wife took more than 2 hours just recently and i was wondering if she was buying out
the duty free shops
Otherwise i second Steve's statement. If you arrive early, CAL will put you on an earlier flight to Tobago for no
extra charge.

Enjoy your trip !

[SPEllis]

Thanks for the info; the one thing we do not want to be is stressed about get our connecting flight. That's not the reason for the trip. Also we are flying into Piarco International Airport; do not know if this is a different airport than POS. Thanks again for the help!

[Ronald]

Hi

No it is not a different airport.
POS is the name on a ticket to Trinidad and Piarco International Airport, POS = Port of Spain
TAB is the name on a ticket to the Airport in Tobago, even if the airport itself has changed name

[Joanne Green]

Trinidad (POS) airport has one of the SLOWEST immigration systems in the Caribbean!! Check to see what other flights are arriving at the same time. We fly Continental from the US & there is an American Airlines flight that lands at about the same time. We have stood in line for nearly an hour, which is total unaccaptable!! You need to check in for your flight to Tobago at least 1 hr. in advance. Hope this helps.

[Brian Taylor]

ha-ha, we stood longer trying to enter new york last year
steph

[Richardus]

Just to share our experience, we were through and waiting for the next plane so fast they put us on an earlier flight over to Tobago. That was during "low" season in June however. They always say give yourself at least 1.5hrs in any airport.
Always better to sit for an hour in the airport than be late and have to sit for many hours.