TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Airport Boarding Pass e-Gates

The boarding pass check points before you go up the stairs have been replaced with electronic gates.

https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/58...nger-processing

I was excited, reading this, until I saw that you STILL will have to see another person, and go through another line, before security.. I don't get it..

I think the immigration and border patrol person is the same one you've always had to go through before you go though before security. This seems to eliminate only the human contact downstairs, which didn't take more than a few seconds anyway.

They are in the process of installing electronic kiosk for the exit immigration process as well. They already have them installed in the arrival area of immigration, but they are covered up for now. When we were there last month, they had just started running the power for the kiosk upstairs before security. Eventually, when they start using the kiosk for immigration purposes, that will mean the end of stamps in the passport.

I know it slows things down somewhat, but now they are taking more jobs away from the local residents.

I do not see the point of the terminals. I believe the original purpose of that station was only to confirm that the departure tax was paid. But now, with almost all payments prepaid, the whole point is kinda overkill.

The customs/security sections are unchanged.

...and re: job loss. Maybe put that person upstairs to open another security line...or in arrival passport check...