TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin SXM Airport Terminal

What is the status of the terminal at the airport? Are you arriving and departing from the terminal or are the tents still operating?

Tents are gone but the terminal is not at all fully functional or completed.

You do everything in the terminal now but still have to bus to and from the plane. No jetways operational that I saw.

Jaybird--no jetways, correct, which is a challenge for those who are not real mobile.

Carol, we came off the plane on stairs which is a challenge with carry on luggage. I'm sure it's even more of a challenge for those with mobility issues. When boarding on the flight home we walked up a ramp. No stairs. I had not seen that before.

Yes, I had a problem last year with going down the stairs, carrying a bag. I was very grateful for a worker who came up the stairs and got my carry on bag and carried it down for me. The ramp has been used in the past only by Jet Blue. Until they get the jetways operational, they need to get the ramps available for ALL flights. Just my opinion.

There is something to be said for checking bags and not doing a carry-on. Course there are things you just don't want to check.

Well, since you fly first class, you can check a whole lot more than I can for free. But what is in our carry-ons is stuff I would never check regardless.

We fly first class, and still don't check bags. It's just easier to be able to get off the plane and not have to worry about hauling bags around. Of course, we used to have to wait for checked bags in SXM, but with the new covid protocols and reduced number of passengers, that probably wouldn't be an issue now. It's a bit of a PITA to have to buy sunscreen, shampoo, and such on the island, but for me, the convenience of carry-on only is worth it.

Only thing we don't check are medications and electronics. Those fit in a small carry-on that is easy to carry.

We often fly BUSINESS to SXM and do check our bags but I will openly admit that carry-on in the First Class Cabin is not an issue to me, and of course, free is good considering the price of those up-front seats in the first place.

The main cabin baggage carry-on issues were created by the airlines themselves when they decided to charge for checked bags, but I am and have long been of the personal opinion that carry-on bags in the main cabin should be strictly limited and the limitations strictly enforced by the airlines.

If the airlines did their jobs in the first place and forced people to follow the rules it would make that side of travel far nicer for everyone and people wouldn’t be trying to cram two weeks worth of everything they own into an overnighter.

We generally check bags unless we are on a short trip - 4 or 5 days or less and we can pack in soft-sided duffel bags - and I have no issues with the baggage fees since the added weight does have bearing on the fuel costs, or so I’m told.

JUST MY PERSONAL OPINION!

We always check bags, but bring one small carry-on for the two of us.

We pay more for either boarding first, more room, or business class,
since some people board with several bags and grab all the overhead space.
This does happen in First/Business class also.

If the airlines enforced the rules, it would be a lot easier and certainly less stressful.

I really don't care that much about the issue of carry-ons, per se. As I said when I started this line of posts, my problem is that it is almost impossible for one with mobility issues to deal with a carry on bag when you have to go up and down the stairway to the plane. I wish that SXM would get the ramps for all gates so that I could use a ramp.

Sorry, just following the conversation.
Yes, I agree it could be a problem for everyone to get safely
on and off the planes.

If the airlines charged for overhead carry-on but checked bags for free things would move much more quickly