The Aruba Airport wants to ensure all passengers traveling to and from Aruba are well prepared for smooth travels. Here’s some tips and tricks for a pleasant experience for travelers entering and exiting the Aruba Airport.
Airline Updates
Always verify airline requirements and any travel updates leading up to your travel date. Download the App of your airline for easy boarding pass access, ad hoc flight, and gate changes on the day of travel.
ED card
The Aruba ED Card (Embarkation/Disembarkation) is a mandatory step for every passenger entering Aruba, including babies and kids, and needs to be filled out and approved in advance.
What to bring
Make sure you are packed for success and bring important travel documents and other must-haves like prescription drugs, sun protection and travel insurance. More packing tips can be found here
Global Entry
To avoid long lines at domestic and international security screening points, you can enroll in Global Entry (for US travelers only). Travelers must be pre-approved. Make sure to start the application process well ahead of time, as this includes an in-person interview and rigid background checks. Find the Global Entry application form here
VIP Arrival Service
Don’t want to lose a valuable minute of your Aruba vacation? Our VIP Concierge Service provider can fast-track you through the arrival process and arrange for airport pick up transportation.
Check in time
Make sure to arrive at the Aruba Airport 3 hours before your scheduled departure time.
Travel efficiently
Enhance the overall process of going through customs and security controls and keep travel documents as passport and boarding pass at hand, dispose of all liquids before entering the screening post, wear shoes that are easy to take on and off and make sure to place all electronics and belts separately in a bin.
VIP service
There is a VIP Concierge Service operator that provides fast-track travelling VIP service at the Aruba Airport and includes skipping the majority of the authority lines and access to the Airport’s VIP lounges.
What can’t I take home?
You are not allowed to bring any flora, fauna or other natural treasures unique to Aruba back home with you, including any and all seashells. Find a full list of inadmissible items here.
This section contains information to make your travel through our airport more comfortable and efficient.
Sections in the document:
When packing your baggage and carry-on items you should keep a few things in mind. Also have a look at this page for a list of inadmissible Items.
Carry-on
Make sure you put all your important personal belongings like travel documents and medications in your carry-on luggage. There are restrictions on liquids, gels and aerosoles you can carry. Most airlines limit the size and weight of carry-on items, for more information contact your airline.
Labeling
When packing your baggage and carry-on items, make sure you label all of your bags and suitcases. This label should contain your name, address and phone number.
Weight
Airlines limit the weight of your baggage. Excess weight may result in penalty fees. For information on weight limitations please contact your airline.
Locks
Please leave all carry-on items unlocked while passing through screening points. Locked items can cause screening delays when they have to be opened for inspection.
There are certain items that you are not allowed to take with you when you travel by airplane. Items like weapons, sharp objects, certain tools, flammable items, explosive items, and some sporting goods are prohibited. Do not take these items with you to the airport. A complete listing of these inadmissible items can be found on this page.
General
Aruba Airport provides full Pre-clearance services towards the United States. For all departures towards the United States the check-in time is three hours before scheduled departure.
The check-in time for other destinations varies from two to three hours. For more information about the check-in times contact your airline. Contact information can be found here.
Peak Hours
The busiest days/times for US-bound departures is Fri-Sat-Sun from around 11:30 am and continues untill aproximately 15:00 pm. If you are travelling during above mentioned days/times,please reserve extra time for check-in and processing.
When dropping a departing passenger off at Aeropuerto Internacional Reina Beatrix, please remember that the zone in front of the terminal building is a no-parking zone and for immediate loading and unloading only. We advice to park your vehicle at the airport parking area. Do not leave your vehicle unattended at any time whilst in front of the terminal. For security reasons, unattended vehicles are towed immediately at the owners cost.
When picking up an arriving passenger at Aeropuerto Internacional Reina Beatrix, please remember that the zone in front of the terminal building is a no-parking zone. Park your vehicle at the airport parking area. For security reasons, vehicles that are left unattended in front of the Airport terminal will be towed immediately at the owners cost.
Transportation on Aruba
More information about transportation on aruba can be found on the Public Transportation page.
At the checkpoints all carry-on items are scanned for inadmissible items. The following advisories help you pass the checkpoint faster.
Attire
Please minimize the metal you wear when travelling. Avoid wearing big belt buckles, clothing with metal buttons, lots of jewelry, and metal in the toes or heels of some footwear, since these can set off security checkpoint metal detectors. It is advisable to put keys, coins, watches and other metal items in your carry-on baggage until you clear security.
Shoes
All shoes have to be screened. Please remove your shoes at the checkpoint and put them in a tray or on the belt of the x-ray machine. Your cooperation with this process will speed up the screening process and will get you and your fellow passengers through the screening faster.
Gates
The gates at Aeropuerto Internacional Reina Beatrix are easy to find. From the check-in areas, signs guide you through immigration and screening to your gate. The airport’s departure area is divided into two sections, US-bound departures and non-US departures.
Travelling towards the USA
Gates 5,6,7 and 8 are the standard gates for US-bound flights. At busy times gates 1,2,3 and 4 can also be used for US-bound flights. The entrance to the US-bound departures area is located to the right of the arrivals hall.
Travelling towards all other destinations
Gates 1,2,3,4, A and B are used for flights towards all non-US destinations. The entrance to the international departures area is located to the left of the arrivals hall.
General Electronics
Mobile phones, PDA’s, CD players and other electronic devices should be placed in your carry-on bag for screening.
Laptop Computers
Laptop computers should be taken out of their case and placed on the x-ray belt. It is a good idea to attach a label on the bottom of your laptop with your name, address and telephone number.
Film
It is advised that you put film in your carry-on baggage. If you have concerns about your film, request that it be hand-inspected by a checkpoint security screener.
In check-in baggage
Avoid packing foods and beverages in your check-in baggage. Certain foods and beverages have a density that can not easily be read by the screening equipment. Packing these items in your check-in baggage will result in your luggage being opened by security for inspection.
Restricted items when travelling to the USA
When travelling towards the USA, you have to comply with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
USDA, APHIS, places limits on agricultural items brought into the United States from foreign countries because many items can harbor foreign animal or plant pests and diseases that could seriously damage America’s crops, livestock, pets, and the environment.
APHIS requires that travelers entering the United States from a foreign country declare all: Fruits Vegetables Plants and plant products Meat and meat products Animals, birds, and eggs.
Your declaration may be oral, written, or both and must cover all items carried in your baggage and hand luggage. If you are returning from abroad, you will be given a Customs Declaration form on which to declare your agricultural products. You will also be asked to indicate whether you have visited a farm or ranch outside the United States.
APHIS officers inspect passenger baggage for undeclared agricultural products. Failure to declare any items may result in delays and fines of up to $1,000. Agricultural products of U.S. origin, such as fruits, vegetables, meats, and birds taken out of the United States, cannot always be reentered into the country. These items should be declared upon returning. Consult in advance with APHIS inspectors.
Food Products (Prepared)
You may bring bakery items and certain cheeses into the United States. The APHIS web site features a Travelers Tips section and Game and Hunting Trophies section that offers extensive information about bringing food and other products into the country. Many prepared foods are admissible. However, almost anything containing meat products, such as bouillon, soup mixes, etc., is not admissible. As a general rule, condiments, vinegars, oils, packaged spices, honey, coffee and tea are admissible. Because rice can often harbor insects, it is best to avoid bringing it into the United States.
Some imported foods are also subject to requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Passengers traveling with medication and/or medical issues should be aware of the following guidelines.
Medication
Please keep all necessary medication in your carry-on baggage. Please do not pack medication in luggage you intend to check-in with your airline. All medication, related supplies and supplements in their original packaging are allowed through security checkpoints once they have been screened. These include:
Medical Documentation
If you have medical documentation regarding your medical condition, you may present such information to the security checkpoint screener to help inform them of your situation. This documentation is not required and will not exempt you from the screening process.
Please notify the screener if you have any implanted medical devices, such as an artificial hip or knee, bone shafts, cranial plates, shrapnel, staples, pins, or metal parts that may set off the metal detector alarm.
TIP: For more information please visit this website provided by the Transportation Safety Administration.
Persons with disabilities
Wheelchairs
All Airlines provide wheelchair assistance to their passengers. It is best to request this at the time of booking, but it can also be requested at the check-in before the flight.
Physically Challenged Persons
The airport terminals of Aeropuerto Internacional Reina Beatrix are equipped with the required facilities to accomodate the physically challenged.
TIP: For more information on the possibilities for persons with disabilities please contact your airline
For screening purposes please leave gifts unwrapped while travelling through our airport. Wrapped gifts may have to opened for screening.
All animals, with the exception of service dogs, must be kept in their travel carriers while inside the airport terminal. While outside the terminal building all pets must be on a leash.
