TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin best way from austin tx.to st.martin

our daughter and grandaughter want to join us for a week this fall--but having problems finding a flight to sxm without a lot of multiple connections--any ideas?

You can do it in two legs with one connection through CLT or MIA on American depending on the dates. What are your exact dates?

AUS typically requires an overnight on AA. AA AUS-CLT, overnight, CLT-SXM. Depending on the dates, it may be possible to do a red-eye rather than overnighting in CLT.

Depending on the dates, it's possible to do it same-day on DL, but there's a tight connection in ATL.

I would look at several East Coast cities that fly direct, JFK/EWR/CLT/PHL/MIA. just to name a few. But I bet they will all require an overnight. Maybe ATL as well. I would pick an airport that has an onsite hotel. It may entail flying on different airlines for each leg and booking the flights separately.

Is driving to DFW an option?

That's what I was thinking. Lots of connections from DFW on AA.

I have nothing in this discussion - being from Canada - but used to travel to Dallas and San Antonio. SAT is about 1.5 hrs from Austin, Dallas is 3.5 hrs? from Austin
I mention this as I think there is a couple from San Antonio who go in Feb to SXM - they wrote a trip report this winter [stayed at a Laure unit?]

Maybe their travel route might help as SAT is closer to Auston than Dallas

J&B

Problem with SAT is that a couple of flight choices would require overnight in CLT. Others have 2 stops, which is what they are trying to minimize, or they have long layovers which makes for a long day travelling. DFW, being a hub, gives them more flight options with less flight hours.

That was my thinking, trying to avoid additional connections and/or overnights. Possibly on the way down, they could drive to DFW and spend overnight at a hotel where they could leave their car for free.

Unfortunately, AA may be the best bet from AUS if you want to limit connections and overall travel time. We fly from SAT with one stop in MIA on AA leaving at 06:20 and arriving SXM at 14:33. Connection is somewhat tight with 1hr12mins in MIA. Looks like AUS has a similar connection leaving at 06:30. Check google flights. The straight morning shot to MIA is not always scheduled for everyday of the week.

You're right about American being the best option and it states that that Austin flight has a 90% on time rate. They would have 1.15 minutes between flights. Certainly doable.

We live in Austin, have been to St. Martin 14 times, just returned home less than a week ago - given this we have tried several airlines over the years & the best we have found was Jet Blue - flight leaves Austin at 6:00 a.m. with a connection at JFK & then a non-stop from JFK to St. Martin. We have done AA, U.S. Air (when it existed) & Delta. We have been the most pleased with Jet Blue & the New York connection. Our flights to St. Martin were on Saturday, May 28, return flights were on Tuesday, June 7. No need for them to drive to San Antonio, Dallas or Houston. Please feel free to pm me if you have any questions.

There's a nonstop from Austin to JFK on Jet Blue?

Yep - Flight #794 - leaves Austin at 5:45 a.m., arrives JFK at 10:26 a.m. on certain days of the week & same flight number leaves Austin at 6:00 a.m. & arrives at JFK at 10:41 a.m. on the other days - the 6:00 a.m. flight is the one we took on May 28 on our way to St. Martin - had about a 2-1/2 hour layover - enough time to grab a coffee & a bite to eat.

Wow, ok, good deal! Sounds like that is a real good answer to the original poster!

If you are willing to make the drive to Houston, we always fly AA. IAH-CLT-SXM. You can go through Miami, but I would avoid MIA!!! Customs and TSA are a joke there. CLT is a much better choice in my opinion. Sure be nice if United flew direct from IAH.

Actually, we came back through Miami on June 7--wow, one week ago today! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" />--and TSA on the way down was very quick, and C & I on the way home was also very quick! No big X on our customs form, no lines at baggage claim, good deal! We were IN our car in the parking lot within one hour of when our plane landed.. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Good for you! I have never had that happen in my travels through MIA, always long lines at both TSA and C&I. Seems like the 9 am flight to MIA out of SXM is the worst I have seen.

Actually, that was the flight that we were on. We breezed right through!

very appreciative of the helpfull responses .would not expect less from this forum.my texas girls are working on a plan --based on this forums info.thanx again