zrs70

One must go thorough customs, right? How is 45 minutes a valid connection? Or is it pre-clearance, done in STT?

guv1976

You will clear Customs at STT. It's technically "pre-departure inspection," not "pre-clearance," since no immigration check is necessary.

Aliquot

STT is in the United States so you don't have to "clear customs". If I remember correctly I think there is some sort of inspection before you board, but you will definitely arrive as any other domestic flight does.

HkCaGu

The US customs zone only includes 50+DC+PR. Traveling between that and all other territories is subject to customs inspection and duties.

For immigration, flying PR-CONUS there are random ID checks and flying from VI-PR/CONUS there is a mandatory ID check.

Unlike GU/MP/AS which have their own customs agencies, VI uses USCBP as its own (like some cities pay the county sheriff for policing). The USCBP collects customs duties from foreign imports on behalf of the VI govt, and also pre-clears VI-PR/CONUS travelers (and duty-free limit is something like $1.6k instead of $800 arriving from foreign points) on behalf of the US govt.

So definitely flights arrive CONUS in a domestic/pre-cleared manner. Just walk to the next gate.

nw6338

I wouldn't do a 45 min connection in ORD. Just took STT-ORD a few days ago and we were nearly an hour late due to headwinds. I'd book the later connection or look at routing through MIA or CLT perhaps.

carlosdca

Was your continuing flight from ORD not delayed?

nw6338

ORD is home now so no onward connection

mvoight

Headwinds between STT and ORD, wouldn't affect all of the flights out of ORD.