TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin On coming home……

We left BSV and SXM on Thursday, 4/28 much as I hated to go……

This was a very different kind of trip for us in that we were both experiencing mobility issues so many of our typical activities were verboten but it still didn’t make the trip any less enjoyable or the leaving any easier.

BSV will, if you desire, schedule Covid tests to be done in your unit which was incredibly easy and painless. They scheduled the appointment and it was perfect with the nurse being right on time and the results available almost immediately.

At the appointed departure hour we loaded the luggage into our trusty chariot (which we had gassed up the night before) and headed out to meet our car rental company owner who accompanied us to the airport and even got a wheelchair escort to meet us curbside. Lesley, you are the BEST!

PJIA was an absolute circus when we got there but that’s par for the course at 1pm when the multitude of larger planes are coming and going. They said we should arrive three hours before departure and we did. Thirty minutes later we were totally checked in and at the departure area and ready to hurry up and wait. But I will add, not that we had much choice, using the wc service did whisk us through those very long lines for the different departure areas. Given the fact the operating airport is under construction, the departures could probably be a lot worse. Not complainin’ - just sayin’………

Our JB flight was into Newark and I’d guess it was perhaps 2/3 full. Better than half the roomier up front seats were empty which was odd and we got lucky each way in that we sat two across in those roomier three across up front seats .

The flight itself was totally uneventful - just the way you want it to be. Our EWR arrival was not! We had again arranged for wheel chair service and we asked the attendant where we would get the chair. He told us to exit the plane and wait tight there at the very beginning of the jetway and they would be there. WRONG!! We and another person waited 34 minutes until the chairs finally arrived. It all worked out in the end but it just seems to me JB doesn’t have their act together at EWR. The wc courier was very sweet and saw us through border controls and our global entry definitely helped us avoid that huge line. She knew right where the elevators were and by the time we got to the baggage carousel our bags were there waiting for us. She saw us to the sidewalk and waited right there until our driver found us. So very worth the generous tip my DH gave her.

I found and booked a great fare for our November trip but given the JB issues there I’m rethinking that good fare. Or not?

Excuse my ignorance but what is wc service?

Never ignorance. I was tired and used the two letters to avoid keying the words ‘wheel chair’. Tired or lazy? Maybe both! 😊😊

Pat, I always love your posts, they are so entertaining. We needed a wc for my DH and I'd tell them as soon as we boarded and again prior to landing, most times it worked out, but we have been stuck a few times with no one there to meet us. I have had to commandeer a wc and get us to our next departure. I always write the airline with the problem and they give me miles for compensation.
Thanks for all your great posts, always a pleasure.

Ok. Thanks for that clarification.

Thank you, Ellen. Hope all things are good in your world. Any AXA plans on your horizon?

I worked at a Florida airport for a short time and the wheelchair service is provided by a private company, not the airline. I have seen there been a few times that there would be multiple flights landing and there not being enough of those wheelchair folks to quickly service every flight. There were many times when luggage for a wheelchair passenger takes a long time to get the carousel and that further delays the service to get to another passenger.

Unfortunately, at least at the airport I worked at, it was a minimal wage job and they make their money on tips so it is hard to hire and retain employees plus the workload will vary every day so scheduling is a hit or miss.

Based on the experience I had working with the people that worked as wheelchair aids, they were all great people who truly enjoyed helping their clients to the point of waiting with their client when the family member was running late to pick them up curbside.

Enjoyed your reports as always Pat.

Thanks for your daily reports and taking us along.

Pat--Glad you arrived home ok. I have whined incessantly here about the wheelchair service by AA in Miami. We shall see how it is again in June.

So glad you took us along on your trip and hope maybe you and John will be able to be a bit more mobile in November.

Pat, I always enjoy reading your posts. The wc issue is also in Atlanta. That is our hub and it is miserable. I fail to understand what people do not understand about one being unable to walk up the jetway. I also do not understand what we are herded to a corner and must wait for all wheelchair people to get off before proceeding onward. I do understand that our Carrier, Delta , does not hire the wheel chair staff, so they have no control over the lack of service. Last year, they were going to leave my husband at the plane til one of the stewards stepped in. Compare that to the marvelous service at SXM airport. They even carried my husband down the stairs. Got a wheel chair for me (not requested) and treated us like real humans! Kudos to SXM!!!