TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Saturday March12, Travel day

Saturday was our travel day home, after 6 weeks. Of course Saturdays are always crazy, but the airport was worst than I have ever seen it. The mob was unbelievable. Totally packed, with people sitting on the floor everywhere. So much noise, you could barely hear any announcements.

On top of that, American had oversold all its morning and afternoon flights, so they were constantly looking for volunteers to get bumped, to the only flight they had seats left on. The flight to Philly. They got NO volunteers for like 2 hours of announcements,
and we were not in a hurry to get home, so we spoke to the gate agent and took the $1200 / person , grabbed lunch, and hung out.... but will not go home on a Saturday ever again!

So sorry to hear Wayne what you Folks went through , hence no second time.

As you know, Saturday is a zoo and AA seems to be having issues of late. They cost me a day coming down last week. Glad you got something for your trouble. Too bad the SXM airport construction is so far behind as that does not help the situation at all. Good luck.

Wow, $1200 a person!! Did they announce it was that much? I would have taken that in a shot!!! We haven't flown on a Saturday in a LONG time.

No Carol. All the announcements said they needed 1 volunteer, and they would pay $800. But after 2 hours I went to the gate agent and said I would only do it if they paid us each $1200. She turned to her supervisor, and she immediately said yes, it was fine.

Ok, that was kind of stupid on their part, as almost everyone is travelling together and it's a big deal for one person to stay and the other to go. If they had offered $600 each for two people, they probably would have gotten them! Good for you though!