Arrivals pickup guide

STTCell Phone Lot: Location, Time Limit & Tips

Picking someone up at St. Thomas (STT)? The No dedicated free-standing cell phone lot — use the Dale A. Gregory Transportation Center's free 15-minute grace period insteadis the free designated waiting area where drivers park at no charge while their passenger's flight lands and bags are collected. Below you will find exact directions, the time limit and fee rules, how to know when your passenger is ready, and what to do if the lot is full.

Where is the STT cell phone lot?

The STT cell phone lot is called the No dedicated free-standing cell phone lot — use the Dale A. Gregory Transportation Center's free 15-minute grace period instead. STT does not operate a separate cell-phone waiting lot like larger mainland airports. Drivers picking someone up should head to the Dale A. Gregory Transportation Center, the airport's new multi-level parking garage that opened in 2024–2025 directly across from the terminal at 8074 Lindbergh Bay, St. Thomas, VI 00802 — it's connected to the terminal by a covered, ADA-accessible pedestrian walkway. Pull a ticket at the gate and park on any open level.

Open the No dedicated free-standing cell phone lot — use the Dale A. Gregory Transportation Center's free 15-minute grace period instead in Google Maps for turn-by-turn navigation to the lot entrance.

How long can I wait in the STT cell phone lot?

First 15 minutes free; the garage is open daily 6:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m. (matching terminal hours). After the free waiting window expires, $4 for 16 minutes–1 hour, rising on a published sliding scale to a $20 maximum for 5–24 hours (see the parking rate card on viport.com). To stay within the limit, wait for your passenger's “at curb” text before you leave rather than heading to the terminal the moment the plane lands.

Capacity: The No dedicated free-standing cell phone lot — use the Dale A. Gregory Transportation Center's free 15-minute grace period instead holds approximately 300 vehicles. On busy travel days the lot can fill up, so arrive early and have a backup plan.

How do I know when my passenger is ready?

Track the flight on the airline's app or a flight-tracking site — STT arrivals from the mainland U.S. clear no additional customs (domestic status), so passengers move from gate to curb quickly. Ask them to text the moment they're at baggage claim; that's your cue to enter the garage so you stay inside the free 15-minute window.

As a general rule, ask your passenger to text you only after they have their bags and are physically walking toward the arrivals curb — not when the plane touches down. Checked-bag passengers typically need 15–25 minutes after landing for baggage claim at domestic airports, and 45–60 minutesafter landing at international gates where customs adds extra time. Once you get the “at curb with bags” message, pull out and head straight there — a precise pick-up beats circling every time.

STT cell phone lot tips

Because there is no free unlimited waiting area, the practical move is to time your arrival: track your passenger's flight status and only pull into the garage once they've landed and are heading to baggage claim, so you can meet them and be back out within the free 15-minute window. A previous temporary free day-use lot in Lindbergh Bay (opened 2023 during construction) closed once the permanent garage opened and is no longer available.

• Have the flight number ready. You can track any U.S. flight for free on FlightAware or Flightradar24 — search by flight number to see the live gate arrival time and baggage carousel, not just scheduled wheels-down.
• Agree on a text trigger in advance.Tell your passenger: “Text me ‘bags and outside’ when you are standing on the curb with everything.” That single message is your cue to pull out — no guessing, no phone calls while driving.
• Do not leave the engine running unattended. Most cell phone lots prohibit unattended idling vehicles and some may be towed. If you need to stretch or use a restroom, look for any on-site amenities before the lot, or use a nearby gas station or convenience store.
• Check the arrivals board. Many cell phone lots have on-site flight information display screens — use them alongside your phone to confirm the flight has actually arrived at the gate before you start the clock on baggage claim wait time.

What if the STT cell phone lot is full?

If the No dedicated free-standing cell phone lot — use the Dale A. Gregory Transportation Center's free 15-minute grace period instead is full when you arrive, you have three practical options:

• Pull into short-term or daily parking. Most STT parking garages offer a free or low-cost grace period (typically 15–30 minutes) and have covered, comfortable waiting areas. Check the rate boards before you commit to staying longer.
• Do one slow loop of the airport road. A single circuit of the terminal access road takes 5–8 minutes at most airports. By the time you complete the loop, a space may have opened up, or your passenger may have texted that they are almost ready.
• Wait in an adjacent surface lot or road. Some airports have overflow areas or nearby public streets where brief waiting is tolerated — check local signage. Never stop on the terminal curbside or in a no-stopping zone; officers will direct you to move immediately.

Frequently asked questions