TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Update on PHL

Came through Philadelphia Airport last night and thought I would submit an update on this "non favorite" airport to many that use it to and from SXM.
Though we won't use PHL again until next month when we go to Sint Maarten, I can only say that anyone arriving in PHL that needs to catch another flight to final destination going home needs to know:
1. You will need at least an hour and if your final flight is out of Terminal "F", you will probably need a lot more than that.
2. Construction and personnel attitude have not changed at this airport in 30 years. Shuttle to "F" needs to dodge baggage carts and other buses (long ride).
I know that many of us don't have much choice but be prepared.

We were involuntarily switched by AA from PVD-CLT-SXM to PVD-PHL-SXM and the reverse on the way back. Wasn't happy at the time but I guess connecting in PHL when GOING to SXM might be better than when returning...but I never had the love for CLT returns either.

All because of too many AA FF miles....

Thanks for the update. Maybe it will improve by Feb. LOL

Funny, I used to HATE Charlotte and after encountering a Gestapo immigration officer once I swore to never use it again...and then always routed through Philly, Miami, Atlanta, even JFK and Boston just to avoid Charlotte.

Returned through Charlotte last week and it was SMOOTH SAILING for us. Well, other than a freaking $17 margarita at the Tequileria!

I have never minded CLT going to or returning from SXM. I also don't have a problem with MIA either. Just a way of getting to a place I love.

AA changed our Jan.3 flight times, leaving us 1/2 hour between flight out of ORD. We have to drive 3 hours to Chicago to fly to Philly to stay overnight to catch the early flight to SXM. But it is always worth the hassle to get back to the Friendly Island!

I LOVE going through Miami so that I can hit the Cuban food stall!
Ham croquettes! Cafe con leche! Cubano sammich!

Yep, those Cuban sandwiches are good. Love all the mounted fish displays too.

Thanks for the info. In January our kids were originally returning on AA thru PHL with a reasonable layover but a month ago AA changed our flights which found them leaving PHL to DSM 5 minutes before their SXM flight landed. Cancelled the return and rebooked on Delta. Had never been thru PHL.

When i booked AA frequent flyers which often have overnighters enroute we wanted Miami, Charlotte and Philly last.

We got Philly overnight going down and Philly same day going home which AA has switched to CLT sameday going home. Which we are more happy about. Wish they wiukd have made it Miami bithways as we got a good gig with Staybridge Suites and a Millers ale House in the parking lot. Warm.

I had a return flight through PHL on a Thursday next February which I booked with 1 hour, 35 minutes to get back through security and to the F terminal. I knew it would be tight, but since I was going to be alone, thought I would give it a try.

AA changed the layover last week to 1 hour, 17 minutes and I said no way. Called AA and the first agent said he could not do anything since the change was less than an hour. Told him I knew the airport layout and it would not be possible. He put me on hold and when the call timed out 20 minutes later, I called again. This time a different agent said no problem and I am now booked through CLT with more than enough time to spare.

Are you talking returning from SXM?? Under an hour and a half is NOT a legal international connection time. The first agent should have changed the flight for you without any problem, but glad you got it changed on the second call..

We have 1 hr 45 min layover in PHL from PIT. Hopefully that is enough time. Although that is in July. Who knows what AA will do with our schedule.......

The layover time issue is with returning flights from SXM to home base. A 90 minute layover going to SXm should not be an issue.... but you are very correct. A July flight is VERY much up for a schedule change