Air Travel Tips

This page contains information about security measures at the airport, guidelines for passengers travelling with medication or medical issues, duty free shopping at the airport and guidelines for importing foods, pets and other products to Aruba. All information is meant to make your travel experience at Reina Beatrix International Airport as relaxed and efficient as possible.

Find the best flight deals to Aruba!

Security Measures

All passengers need to go through a security checkpoint at the airport. Passengers with flights to the United States will find the security checkpoint after passing the U.S. Customs & Border Protection facility and dropping off their luggage. Passengers with flights to any other destination will clear security right after passing the Aruba immigration.

At the security checkpoint all carry-on items are scanned for inadmissible items. Please see below a short summary that will help you comfortably pass the checkpoint.

Minimize the metal you wear when traveling. Avoid belts, jewelry, clothing with metal buttons and/or metal in your shoes.
Coins, keys and jewelry must be placed in a tray or in your carry-on baggage.
All shoes have to be screened and you will be asked to take them off and to put them in a tray.
Laptops should be taken out of their bag and should be placed in a tray for screening.
It is illegal to take out any conch shells, sea stars, turtle eggs and/or any form of coral.
No liquids, gels, and/or aerosols are permitted except when packed in a clear transparent resealable 1 quart (1 liter) size plastic bag. Liquids, gels, and/or aerosols in containers of 3.4 oz. (100 ml) capacity or less per container are allowed to be placed in the plastic bag. The contents in the plastic bag must fit and the plastic bag must be completely closed/sealed. The plastic bag must be taken out of the carry-on baggage and should be placed in a tray for screening.
The following items may pass the security checkpoint, if declared, in case they are not placed in a clear transparent reseal able quart (1 liter) size plastic bag and/or are over 3.4 oz. (100ml):
- Baby formula/milk (to include breast milk) and baby food in containers if a baby or small child is traveling.
- Medications (liquids, gels, and/or aerosols).
- Liquids (to include juice) or gels for diabetic or other medical needs.
- All other liquids, gels, and/or aerosols may be transported in checked luggage.
For screening purposes please leave gifts unwrapped while traveling throughout the airport. Wrapped gifts may be opened for screening.

Medical Considerations

Passengers traveling with medication and/or medical issues should be aware of the following guidelines.

Please notify the security checkpoint 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.

Please keep all necessary medication in your carry-on baggage and do not pack medication in your check-in luggage. All medication, related supplies and supplements presented in their original packaging are allowed through security checkpoints once they have been screened. These include:

Medical prescriptions or dispenser should be properly marked with a professionally printed label or pharmaceutical label identifying the medication or the manufacturer's name. If your medication doesn't have a professionally printed label, you will need to obtain a doctor's note.
Over-the-counter medications.
Vitamins.
Herbal Supplements.
Insulin and insulin loaded dispensing products (vials or box of individual vials, jet injectors, pens, infusers, and preloaded syringes) properly marked with a professionally printed label or pharmaceutical label identifying the medication or the manufacturer's name.
Unlimited number of unused syringes when accompanied by insulin.
Lancets, blood glucose meters, blood glucose meter test strips, insulin pumps, and insulin pump supplies. Insulin pumps and supplies must be accompanied by insulin with professionally printed labeling or pharmacy labeling identifying the medication or manufacturer's name. It is recommended that used syringes be transported in your checked baggage. However, when used syringes need to be in your carry-on baggage, please ensure they are in a hard, plastic-capped container for safety and containment.

If you have medical documentation regarding your medical condition, you may present such information to the security checkpoint screener. This documentation is not required and will not exempt you from the screening process.

Persons with Disabilities

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.

The airport terminals of Aeropuerto Internacional Reina Beatrix are equipped with the required facilities to accommodate the physically challenged.

For more information on the possibilities for persons with disabilities please contact your airline.

Food & Beverages

Avoid packing foods and beverages in your check-in baggage. Certain foods and beverages have a density that cannot 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.

The following items can be taken aboard your flight in your carry-on baggage:

Canned foods and food items that are not spill able.
Snacks and candy in factory-sealed bags or reseal able containers.

Certain food items can't be brought into Aruba or only with strict limitations. Please take a look at below list for more information:

Meat and meat products; these items need to be declared and need to be registered at the Veterinary Service. Only meat and meat products of approved countries may be imported. For more information, please contact the Veterinary Service at +297 585 0400 or by email
Plants; these items need to be declared and need to be registered at the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries. For more information please contact the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries at +297 585 8102 or by email.
Drugs and medications; transport and possession of drugs is prohibited. For more information about bringing medication, please also read above paragraph called medical considerations. If you regularly use medication it would be advisable to ask your doctor for a medical passport. To import medication authorization of the Inspection of Medication might be required since some medicines may be registered as drugs. In order to receive authorization to import certain medication a signed letter from your physician at the center where you are treated need to be received by the Inspection of Medication. The letter needs to included the following information:
- Information about the patient
- List of medication
- Contact information (address) in Aruba
- Travel dates
- If medication will be imported to Aruba
- If medication needs to be provided to the patient in Aruba.
For more information please contact the Inspection for Medication at +297 5841199.

Animals: for more information please take a look at our traveling with pets page.

When traveling towards the USA, you have to comply with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Please don't bring in any prohibited agricultural products such as certain fruits, vegetables, plants, plant products, meats, meat products, animals, birds and eggs. If you have agricultural items with you, please declare them on your custom declaration form which you need to present at the U.S. Customs & Border Protection facility at the Aruba Airport. Failure to declare these items can results in delays and civil penalties.

You may bring bakery items and certain cheeses into the United States. 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.

Duty Free shopping:

Non-residents older than 15 years can import the following items without additional charges:

200 cigarettes or 50 cigars
1 liter of distilled beverages or 2.25 liters of wine or 3 liters of beer
Gifts up to a value of Awg 400,-. If the total value of goods per passenger exceeds Awg 400,- it should be declared on the custom form.

Packing Your Baggage

Make sure to put your important personal belongings like travel documents and medications in your carry-on items. There are restrictions on liquids, gels and solids you can carry, for more information please see the security measures section above. Most airlines limit the size and weight of carry-on items, for more information contact your airline.

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.

Some airlines limit the weight of your baggage. Excess weight will result in penalty fees. For information on weight limitations please contact your airline.

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.