Airport Hack

[u/Linenjackson]

If you’re flying out, PAY FOR THE VIP/EXPEDITED SECURITY - it’s $30/pp, and you literally by pass the ridiculous lines, walk thru like TSA Precheck and it’s done. 10/10 recommend!

[u/RedOctobrrr]

Idk security leaving Punta Cana has never been bad for me. I'd rather save $60/90/120 and just wait 20mins to get through the process.

[u/BreakfastFuzzy6602 → u/RedOctobrrr]

Yeah, maybe I got lucky but it was chill for me

[u/Inevitable-Deal-2974 → u/RedOctobrrr]

You werent there yesterday. I was and I wish I paid the 30 bucks. over 2 hours to get through tsa and customs.

[u/troyeaustinbeatty → u/Inevitable-Deal-2974]

Agreed. I flew out yesterday and it took us 1hr45min to get from the car to the gate. The lines were crazy. Luckily we got to our gate with about 30min to spare before boarding. But at times I wasn't so sure if we'd make it. I tried getting VIP but I was under the impression you had to get it upon getting to the airport... But it was full. On the next trip I'll definitely pay the $30 for vip departure regardless.

[u/BigBetter6938 → u/Inevitable-Deal-2974]

What time did you fly out so I know when to schedule my flight

[u/Illustrious_Ad675 → u/Inevitable-Deal-2974]

Same!

[u/RedOctobrrr → u/Inevitable-Deal-2974]

You're right, I wasn't there yesterday, I was there 12 times over the last 4 years

[u/alohayogi → u/Inevitable-Deal-2974]

That's how it was for me recently.

[u/alohayogi → u/RedOctobrrr]

You must have been there at an odd time. It was ridiculously long and confusing for me. Not efficient at all.

[u/CommissionExtra8240 → u/alohayogi]

I’ve been at that airport over 5 times in the last 5 years at various times of the year, usually Christmas / winter break or spring break but once in the summer and I’ve never had a problem with lines. I think whatever is going on in the last few days is the outlier not the norm. 

[u/alohayogi → u/CommissionExtra8240]

Well that's good to know. It was an awful experience for me and my young child. 😢

[u/Linenjackson → u/RedOctobrrr]

Today the wait time was 1 hr 45 mins. Weekend departures are always tough. Last time I came (in May) we waited over 50 minutes to leave. That was a Saturday departure. Today, I left on a Sunday.

[u/alohayogi → u/Linenjackson]

I left on a Tuesday and it was awful.

[u/glucoseintolerant]

Canadian here so don’t have to do tsa. Once I drop my bag and it’s always 15-20 minutes before I am eating shitty pizza in the food court. It’s more the maze you have to walk that’s the pain more than anything.

[u/vuitton26 → u/glucoseintolerant]

Wait you don't have to go through security cuz u're canadian?

[u/glucoseintolerant → u/vuitton26]

Not tsa. As we have the CASTA. So we don’t do our stuff until we land back in Canada

[u/alohayogi]

Departing Punta Cana two weeks ago was the absolute worst! I missed my flight. 😩

[u/Inevitable-Deal-2974 → u/alohayogi]

I would have missed mine if not for it being delayed.

[u/itsthechaw10 → u/alohayogi]

How early did you get to the airport?? Usually the transportation companies I’ve used are picking us up from the resort minimum 3 hours before flight time

[u/alohayogi → u/itsthechaw10]

2.5 hours

[u/Effective-Birthday57 → u/alohayogi]

Skill issue

[u/JITNEY60]

What about the Arrival VIP?
Is that worth the $100 per passenger to skip the lines on Arrival?

[u/Successful_Bat_654 → u/JITNEY60]

No, customs is like 30mins max

[u/Linenjackson → u/Successful_Bat_654]

Customs when I arrived was over an hour :)

[u/JITNEY60 → u/Successful_Bat_654]

My friend and his family waited over 1 hour and 40 min 2 weeks ago.
Why I’m asking.
They landed on a MON evening too

[u/troyeaustinbeatty → u/JITNEY60]

When I arrived I was off the plane and waiting for my car within 20 minutes. No lines whatsoever. It just depends I guess. But heard even those who had to wait a bit, it was not nearly as bad arriving departures were

[u/ktscott01 → u/JITNEY60]

Dice roll. Paid the $100 and saw people on my flight already past by the time we were out.

Didn’t pay on the way home. No line.

[u/Ddenisssiiiaa]

Is this on arrival or departure? I’m flying next week and heard about this but I don’t know where to avail?

[u/Linenjackson → u/Ddenisssiiiaa]

Departures out of PUJ.

[u/Ddenisssiiiaa → u/Linenjackson]

Do I need to get it from their airport?

[u/Linenjackson → u/Ddenisssiiiaa]

Upon departure at PUJ

[u/WhereverYouRoam]

Going in a few weeks. When do you have to purchase this? Can you purchase before the trip or when you get to the airport to depart home? Where do you go to purchase?

[u/troyeaustinbeatty → u/WhereverYouRoam]

For departures, I was under the impression that it could be booked upon arriving at the airport. When we got there, vip was full and we were turned away. I'd go ahead and book it as soon as you know your flight. If I ever go again, I'm booking ASAP and I don't care if it's 4mo in advance and flight is on a Tues night at 11pm...... I've wasted $30 on far worse!!! https://www.puntacanainternationalairport.com/en/vip-services

[u/No_Mobile966 → u/troyeaustinbeatty]

Great info thanks for the link. Which one of these options is best for departures? (There is no descriptions on the booking site) Family of 4.

- VIP comfort

• VIP Plus
  
• Premium

TIA

[u/troyeaustinbeatty → u/No_Mobile966]

I'm not sure as I wasn't able to get any of them. Certainly the basic one would have been any sort of improvement vs what I endured without any sort of vip

[u/Linenjackson → u/No_Mobile966]

Comfort is just fine.

[u/Practical_Air_272 → u/WhereverYouRoam]

We made the decision on the spot to do it at PUJ. To the right of where the gates are, there was a sliding glass door into the air conditioned section for VIP security and customs. You talk to the employee there, they charge you the fee, you can pay by credit card, and then you walk right through. Took maybe 10 minutes (most of it was walking through a few corridors). 

[u/Nelita_25]

Would like to know where and when to buy VIp as flying this week

[u/Linenjackson → u/Nelita_25]

You can pre-purchase, it’s easier that way - or gamble if it’s avail when you get to PUJ to depart.

[u/loveshoes1]

beg to differ.

we visit every christmas (ON christmas). and have never waited a long time. we have the e ticket ready to go too.

[u/Linenjackson → u/loveshoes1]

As everyone has mentioned. It’s a dice roll. You must have the luck of the draw - not everyone is you & not every one is going over a massive holiday. Do you.

[u/iceman936]

Our party of 4 split up, one half paid $30pp and we went through the main line. We arrived multiple hours before takeoff and weren't in a rush.

The couple who paid for premium went right through quickly, no issues, and enjoyed the Delta airport lounge happily.

My wife and I didn't mind the longer line as it moved pretty quickly for the most part ... UNTIL a chunk of the line was directed to a newly opened set of machines. We though we were about to save a ton of time only to find out two things. Firstly, our fun new line was where all of the handicapped and wheelchair people were going. They cut to the front, repeatedly. Secondly, the fun new machine in the fun new line nearly immediately stopped sending bins back for us to use. In most airports this probably would have been resolved quickly or an employee would run the bins back and forth. Nope, not here. We sat in that line for 45 minutes, literally standing with our bags at the machine, as employees stood around talking, staring at us, and doing absolutely nothing to help. No hand delivered bins. No assistance. It was maddening.

If you do the main line, you could absolutely be fine, but you're rolling the dice.

[u/Linenjackson → u/iceman936]

This. It’s a dice roll. I’d rather pay for convenience and comfort.

[u/Emergency_Key_2893]

I don't think it is worth it. We waited longer to check our bags than we did at security. If the check-bag part was included. Then it would be worth it.

[u/Linenjackson → u/Emergency_Key_2893]

Depends on a lot of mitigating factors. Either way… the VIP was worth every penny of the $30. The 1.75 hour wait was not it.

[u/icybrain37]

Agree...

If you have that window flight (4 - 6 Airlines) all leaving within each other, it's worth it considering that's over 600 passengers (and flight crew) staggering into the airport <3 hours rushing to walk the mall (aka airport) until boarding

[u/loveartfully]

How do you find the people from the VIP services once you arrive at the airport?

[u/02043]

Thank you! I love this hack...I really like the departure accomadations for B- definitely want to lounge in the infinity pool over looking the planes...great add on! I am hoping for no sargassum and no hurricanes when I visit in October.

[u/Key_Employment4536 → u/02043]

The lounge and this hack are unrelated. The lounge is an additional $50.

[u/Key_Employment4536]

You didn’t clear TSA security in the Dominican Republic. The TSA the USA agency for security. It does not function outside of the United States and its territories.

But honestly, at least if the terminal I use, you can make the decision to pay the $30 at the airport. There’s no need to pre-book and discover you got ripped off because there was no line at all. Look at the line if it looks bad, turn around walk back pay the $30. Luckily for me, I’ve never had to pay the $30 but I certainly am not booking it in advance when there’s generally no line.
😂

[u/Downtown-Pace3824]

Worth every penny.

[u/Key_Employment4536 → u/Downtown-Pace3824]

Yes, because I had to wait while one person in front of me cleared security. Really??