TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Customs upon Arrival

Our plane landed at 1:07pm (United out of Newark) yesterday, Sunday. There was no one ahead of us in Immigration, but when we went to baggage clam we noticed a mob of people waiting to exit. After we got our bags we joined to mob. It was a free for all trying to get to the point where the line was within the "ropes". The line moved though slowly. Eventually we got to the end. Customs has a huge new machine, an X-ray scanner of some sort. Everyone was required to plane everything, including carryons and purses on the scanner belt one item at a item. What a mess. Didn't exit the airport unit 2:00pm. Can't imagine what it's like when there are multiple planes arriving. If they are going to do this they need more scanners and a lot more organization in the arrivals hall .

They seem to do this only at specific times...most likely when a flight that may have contraband onboard has landed. I remember reading this same comment before we arrived mid January (on a Sunday at 230p) and there was no additional screening. I also remember a LONG line for screening three years ago that abruptly opened up 20 minutes later with no scanning

Luck of the draw I guess

The only other planes were Jet Blue and Air Transat. Or rental car guy said its a new machine and they are using it most of the time now. It will be interesting to hear from other travelers in the days and weeks to come.

We arrived on Saturday(which we will never do again) and it took us an hour to get through immigration. There was no scanner in use to exit.

John--I think you just got unlucky, as Boucharda said. They only seem to do that when they get tipped off to some potential contraband.

At least you have a good long stay on island, to forget all about it! Enjoy!

We also arrived on Saturday, around 4:30. There were two planes ahead of us, and we were in line for well over an hour. Thank God we were not stopped for carry on check after customs! It has always been hectic on Saturdays, but never this bad. We drove from Michigan to Toronto this year to fly Air Canada because it is a direct flight to SXM on Saturdays only, as opposed to flying from DTW with layover in Charlotte. But like you, we will skip Saturdays from now on.

Sorry, after customs? Do you mean after "immigration"?

From what I'm reading here and on FaceBook pages, I'm guessing that Customs operates their scanner sporadically. When we arrived in baggage clam the mob waiting to exit pretty much had the baggage claim area full. I expect they monitor the situation and when it gets too crowded, as on a Saturday afternoon, they shut down the scanner and let people exit.

Given the cost and inconvenience of flights, SXM should be doing everything it can to simplify the "airport experience" I know of three couples who have switched their vacation plans from SXM to Aruba because of the cost and convenience of flights.

Carol, yes, I meant Immigration.

John--I think that's true, if the line gets backed up too much, they just stop scanning. So I guess a person with contraband just needs to hang out in the baggage claim area for a while. They definitely don't use the scanner all the time. You were just unlucky.