First Class Aruba VIP Airport Service Review (Plus What to Expect at Aruba’s Airport)
Flying into a new country for the first time can be intimidating — especially if you don’t know what to expect at that country’s airport. If you’re flying into Aruba for the first time, and you want to be prepared and know what to expect, you’re in the right place! This post will cover everything you need to know about arriving and departing the island by plane.
We’ve been in and out of Aruba’s airport nine times over the past few years, and just recently we experienced one of the best airport services in Aruba called First Class Aruba, which is a VIP airport hosting service. It made a huge difference in our airport experience, and we can’t wait to tell you all about it. But even if you’re not interested in this service, keep reading, because we’re covering the entire arrival and departure process from start to finish.
RELATED POST:
➟Where to Stay in Aruba
➟Aruba Entry Requirements
➟Airport Transportation Options in Aruba
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What is First Class Aruba VIP Airport Service
First Class Aruba is a VIP hosting service that will expedite your process through the airport in Aruba. You can use this service for your arrival, your departure, or both — although we recommend just using it for your departure.
This service will fast-track you through the airport by allowing you to skip all lines. You will have a personal guide with you from start to finish, and use of the airport’s VIP lounge is included! Aruba does have a reputation for lengthy departure times, and some people find themselves waiting up to 4 hours to get to their gate. The VIP service eliminates all that stress by getting you to your gate in about 45 minutes, sometimes less.
First Class Aruba VIP Airport Service Review
We used First Class Aruba on our last departure from the island just to provide this review for you, but after using the service once, we know we’ll use it again. It took about 30 minutes for us to get from the front doors of the airport to the VIP lounge, where we leisurely waited for our flight.
When we first arrived, we were greeted immediately by a dedicated guide. She met us right at the door and had a tablet with our party’s name on it. All First Class Aruba representatives wear a black suit with a purple scarf or tie, to make them easy to identify.
The personalized attention we received from our guide significantly reduced the stress we often feel when traveling through Aruba’s airport. We handed the guide our passports and followed her closely as she led us to the front of each line and handled all passport handoffs and communication with the other airport employees.
Once we were past each phase of security and customs, we were walked to the airport lounge closest to our gate, where she informed the staff that our VIP service came with lounge access. This is where we parted ways, but she was sure to leave us with plenty of reassurance on when our flight would board and which gate to go to. We tipped her and thanked her immensely for her help. We were left in the lounge, dazed and speechless over the quick experience, and wondering why we had waited so long to try this service.
Is First Class Aruba VIP Airport Service Worth It?
We don’t think First Class Aruba’s airport service is necessary for arrivals to the island, but it’s absolutely worth it for departures! First Class Aruba does come at a premium price of 190 USD per adult, but we highly recommend it if you can find some room in your budget.
Using this service for our departure transformed the often stressful and time-consuming airport process into a luxurious and pleasant experience for us. And most importantly, it allowed us to end our trip on a high note, so our week of soaking up island vibes and leaving our stress behind was not in vain.
If you’re on the fence about using this service, we hope our review will encourage you to try it! When booking this service through Viator, you’ll be asked for your full name(s), passport information, and flight details. You’ll receive a confirmation email and then another email closer to your trip with details on where (and when) to meet your guide.
What to Expect at Aruba’s Airport
Aruba has one main airport called the Queen Beatrix International Airport. The airport code for Aruba is AUA. It’s a simple airport with just one runway and eight gates. Most flights arrive midday or in the evening, usually around the same time.
It takes about an hour, sometimes less, to get through the arrival process, but it can take nearly 4 hours to get through the departure process. Departures take a considerable amount of extra time, especially for Americans, because all US Citizens go through customs in Aruba. This does eliminate the customs process when landing back in the US, but it also adds time to the departure process.
The airport has two VIP lounges, a few quick-grab food establishments (including Auntie Anne’s, Sbarro, and Panda Express), a coffee shop, a bar, and plenty of souvenir shops. The bar, called One Happy Bar, is actually a popular Instagram spot because of its ‘designated crying area’ sign, which is meant to be humorous for the travelers departing the island.
Aruba Airport Arrivals
As soon as you step off the plane, you’ll approach an escalator that will take you to the Arrival Hall on the airport’s third floor. There, you’ll walk down a long carpeted hall before approaching passport control, which is an automated process where you’ll scan your passport and have your photo taken.
Next, you’ll go down an escalator and join another line where you’ll wait to speak with an Immigration Officer. This is where you’ll present proof that you’ve completed the Aruba ED Card, which is required for all persons traveling to Aruba, regardless of age. It must be submitted within seven days of arrival to the island.
When it’s your turn to check in with the Immigration Officer, they’ll stamp your passport, ask you a quick question or two, and send you on your way. You’ll then take another escalator down to the first floor where you’ll find baggage claim.
The baggage claim area is easy enough to navigate, but it can be a bit chaotic. There are only 3 baggage carousals, and most planes arrive at the same time, so you’ll need to be patient as you wait for your bags. If you’re traveling with only a carry-on, you can walk right past the carousals to the final security line. This is also where the duty-free shop is located.
You’ll have your bags scanned one last time in this final line, but you won’t need to remove shoes, laptops, or anything like that. And often passengers are simply waived right through without a final bag scan. Either way, this is a very fast process and should take less than 20 minutes even with a long line.
Once you’re past this, you’ll walk straight outside, where you’ll find all the transportation options to your hotel. The car rental counters are just across the road in front of you, the taxi queue is to your left and the bus stop is to your right. If you pre-book a private transfer or a hotel shuttle, your driver will likely be right in front of you, holding a sign with your name on it.
Aruba Airport Departures
Unlike arrivals, the departure process can take a long time to get through. Depending on the time of day and season, it can take nearly 4 hours to get to your gate once you arrive at the airport. Even the standard practice of arriving 3 hours before an international flight isn’t good enough when departing Aruba.
The security process for departures is slow. American citizens will also go through preclearance customs in Aruba, which adds even more time to the process (although it saves time when landing back in the US).
When you arrive at the Departure Hall at the airport, you’ll immediately find each airline’s desk and kiosk, where you can check in and check your bags. If you checked in online and you’re traveling with a carry-on only, you can skip this part and walk straight to passport control on your left (follow signs for ‘All Gates’).
The first line is outdoors, where you’ll wait to have your passport and boarding ticket looked at by an airport security officer. Next, you’ll be directed back indoors to the line for passport control. Aruba’s passport control area is automated, so you’ll scan your passport and get your photo taken when you reach the front of the line. Once cleared, a set of doors will open so you can pass through.
Next, you’ll approach the security line. You’ll have your luggage scanned and you’ll walk through a body scanner. You may be asked to remove laptops, liquids, and shoes. This is the standard security process that you find at most airports.
Next, you’ll exit the security area into a large hall filled with souvenir shops and restaurants. There’s even live music being played on the weekends in the center of the room. At first glance, it appears that the airport process is over and you’re nearing your gate. But don’t be fooled! If you’re an American, you must follow signs for ‘USA Gates’ and ‘US Baggage Reclaim’ to go through customs before reaching your gate.
The customs process will likely be the longest line you encounter, so don’t spend too much time shopping or eating. You’ll need to collect your checked luggage and wait in line to present your passport and answer declaration questions to a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer.
As mentioned, before you can clear customs, you’ll actually need to reclaim all of your checked bags. If you’re traveling with a carry-on only, you’ll skip this part. But assuming you do have checked luggage, you’ll want to look for your airline’s name listed on one of the walls. Once you locate your airline, you’ll see rows of neatly lined luggage. Find the luggage that you checked in when you first arrived at the airport, and take it with you to the customs line.
The customs line can be long and it moves slowly. If you don’t have anything to declare, and you have Mobile Passport or Global Entry, let an airport agent know and you’ll be directed to a different line.
Once you get through customs, you’ll need to drop your checked bags off again. You’ll see several conveyor belts with airline names posted next to them. Drop your bags on the belt with your airline’s name on it, and then continue to security. That’s right — it’s up to you to get your bag on the right plane, and you need to go through security one more time.
Once you get through this last and final security checkpoint, you’ve finally finished the process and you can head upstairs to your gate! You’ll know you’ve reached the end when you see the escalators next to a colorful wall painted with the gate numbers.
There are eight gates in total. When you reach the top of the escalator, Gates 1 – 4 are to your left and Gates 5 – 8 are to your right. There’s a VIP Lounge on each end as well.
Aruba VIP Lounge
Aruba’s airport has two VIP Lounges located at opposite ends of the gate area. Any traveler is welcome to use the lounges, regardless of ticket class or airline. No advanced reservations are accepted though, so you simply show up and pay on arrival.
Lounge access is $44.50 per person. It includes unlimited access to the lounge, along with a small buffet of food and an open bar. And remember, if you book First Class VIP Airport Services in Aruba, lounge access is included in the price! Certain credit card holders can also get in for free using their membership or priority pass.
Renting a Car in Aruba
Our favorite tip for visiting Aruba is to rent a car. Unlike some countries, driving in Aruba is not intimidating. The roads are easy to navigate with only a few large roundabouts. The signage is clear, and the speed limits are low. Parking is also free in most areas.
If driving yourself just isn’t your thing though, Aruba has plenty of other options. You can choose from a wide variety of different transportation options to get you from the airport to your hotel, and from there, you can use taxi services or the public bus to get around the island. Most Island Tours also offer hotel pick-up and drop-off!
Final Thoughts: Airport Services in Aruba
Aruba’s airport is modern, large, and easy to navigate. We’ve never had a bad experience there, especially on arrival. That said, the departure process can take quite a long time, which can be stressful after such a relaxing vacation. In most cases, travelers will spend hours in line, waiting to get through the various checkpoints before reaching their gate.
So while we don’t recommend using VIP Airport Services in Aruba on arrival, we do highly recommend it when departing. When you’re booking your next flight to Aruba, consider using First Class Aruba’s VIP Airport Service to take your tropical vacation to the next level!
Aruba Resources
- Need a place to stay? Head here!
- Ready for an island experience? Find one here!
- Interested in fast-tracking the airport? Look here!
- Considering a car rental? Click here!
- Want to book an airport transfer? Book it here!
- Looking for Aruba’s entry requirements? Here you go!
- Visiting from another country? Stay Connected!
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Thank you for reading our post! We hope it helps you plan the perfect trip! Check out our other guides here and follow us on Instagram (@AntisocialTourist) or on Facebook to see our latest adventures!
