Originally Posted by MAN Pax
I'm planning my next AONE3 and am looking to max out on BA tier points on my NA sectors. As I'll be travelling in DEC/JAN I'm looking at trips to SJU and BGI in addition to a LAX-JFK trip.
I'd like to know if anyone has managed to turnaround at BGI and their experiences. When I visited this May from the UK it was pretty chaotic with a lot of work being carried out - I couldn't see a transit sign and may have missed it. Also, is this going to give me a problem with the US immigration - nipping in and out of the country?
Yes, I did JFK-BGI-JFK as a same day turn-around as part of the Oneworld Explorer this past March. Besides being a long day, it was quite easy. I had approximately 4 hours between flights. I cleared immigration and customs in Barbados without difficulty. I was honest about my reason for visiting and they did not have a problem with it. I then checked in for my return flight and hung around the airport. When the BA Terraces lounge opened, I went there and was admitted by virtue of being Oneworld Sapphire and traveling in J on an international flight. They gave me no push back about lounge access, but it is nothing special of a lounge.
I also received no added attention from Immigration or Customs at JFK, although I fully expected that I would. I find being honest about the reason for the trip, however silly they will think it to be, is the best course of action. That said, I assume you'll be traveling on a U.K. passport, which could make it a different story (not sure why it would, but who knows).
In any event, it is a very doable day trip.