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Re: airport
[Re: bethandsteve]
#309526
11/29/2023 08:52 AM
11/29/2023 08:52 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,568 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,568
Ohio
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Were you the only plane in at that time?
J.D.
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Re: airport
[Re: bethandsteve]
#309550
11/29/2023 12:36 PM
11/29/2023 12:36 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 296 Lake Orion, MI
gomer36
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 296
Lake Orion, MI
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We booked the same Miami-SXM flight, AA 1136 for Wednesday the 22nd (day before turkey day) for exactly those reasons, mainly getting here ahead of the big crush and all was going perfect until just after boarding was to start. The gate agent announced our plane had a significant issue and wasn't quickly fixable, so they had to find another aircraft. We were like..perfect. This is what we get for booking on the busiest travel day of the year, what are the odds they'll have not only another aircraft, but another with the same layout etc., but less than 2 hours later we were wheels up.
We ended up rolling in on the back side of the mid-afternoon crush, and made up the 4th line at the arrival hall. Basically, depending on plane size, from what I could tell just about the last half of the second bus load winds up out the end of the covered area and thus out in the sun. Lots of sweaty faces. We grabbed extra water in Miami in anticipation of the wait, but we had barely gotten into them when they called us well out of order. We felt badly for the folks that had been there way ahead of us..it had to be exasperating. As many have posted, the baggage hall and single carousel are the bottleneck. Immigration was a breeze, and they actually waived us into the residents line. The bags from the previous flight that hadn't been claimed yet were being stacked against a wall to make room for ours, and I spotted our purple bags coming through the portal as soon as we walked in. So believe me, compared to some of those poor souls we had an easy time of it.
Out the door to a taxi, and then 3 awesome days at the Holland House downtown before moving here to the BSV on Saturday.
On the service charge thing at the Dinghy Beach..been a few times now and no S/C added. That said, just about everywhere else we've been is adding 10-15%..and we've also had a few servers ask for an additional cash tip as "we don't get any of the S/C", and also one who said not even additional tip via card. It's uncomfortable, and the owners should fix whatever is driving this behavior IMHO. I'm not calling out individual restaurants, as it's not my nature to do so. In most cases, I've let the manager know how we feel about it and to let them know many are paying attention, and openly discussing on forums like this one.
Cheers!
"We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch - we are going back from whence we came." ~ John F. Kennedy
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Re: airport
[Re: gomer36]
#309556
11/29/2023 01:14 PM
11/29/2023 01:14 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,044 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,044
Central Florida!
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gomer--any idea why they called you way out of order? Sounds like you lucked out though. Really, this whole thing should not be this hard.
Carol Hill
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Re: airport
[Re: Bahston]
#309559
11/29/2023 01:27 PM
11/29/2023 01:27 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,044 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,044
Central Florida!
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OK, that makes no sense to me. I would personally be really p*ssed if my luggage was after a flight that landed after mine.
Carol Hill
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Re: airport
[Re: Bahston]
#309567
11/29/2023 05:08 PM
11/29/2023 05:08 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 296 Lake Orion, MI
gomer36
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 296
Lake Orion, MI
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No idea Carol! And we were about as far as you can get from the terminal on the tarmac. With the ongoing terminal rebuild conversation going on, another thing that came to mind was the discussion right before Irma about SXM getting a U.S. C&I facility like Aruba has. Headed back home with the flight classified domestic would be a nice advantage, especially for tough or tight connections.
"We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch - we are going back from whence we came." ~ John F. Kennedy
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Re: airport
[Re: gomer36]
#309569
11/29/2023 08:07 PM
11/29/2023 08:07 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,091 Massachusetts
boucharda
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,091
Massachusetts
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That USA C & I addition would have had to be included in the arrivals remod since it does need a decent amount of space like in AUA. It would be a great addition but I have zero optimisim of it ever happenning
Last edited by boucharda; 11/29/2023 08:08 PM.
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Re: airport
[Re: bethandsteve]
#309571
11/29/2023 08:17 PM
11/29/2023 08:17 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,106 Southport, North Carolina, US
candj
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,106
Southport, North Carolina, US
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We arrived yesterday (28th) on AA flight 2478 from Charlotte and we waited at least 1 1/2 for our luggage. Air France landed before us and they were still waiting for their luggage. You got lucky.
Fair winds and following seas! SSN691-May She Ever Prowl The Seas in Defense of Human Freedom! SSN787-Preserving Peace, Prepared for War
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Re: airport
[Re: foreversxm]
#309593
11/30/2023 12:44 PM
11/30/2023 12:44 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,091 Massachusetts
boucharda
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,091
Massachusetts
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From reading the reports it doesn't seem that there are issues with departure right now...it's ARRIVALS that has the major backup
In reality, I would rather not have issues on departure and just deal with them on arrival
Last edited by boucharda; 11/30/2023 12:46 PM.
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Re: airport
[Re: boucharda]
#309594
11/30/2023 12:51 PM
11/30/2023 12:51 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,044 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,044
Central Florida!
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Gee, I'd rather not have them on either end.. But this thing with arrivals I guess is not going to be resolved, even according to the airport, until the 2nd quarter next year. Really?
Carol Hill
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Re: airport
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#309620
11/30/2023 05:26 PM
11/30/2023 05:26 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,568 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,568
Ohio
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And Brian Mingo can't be found with a search warrant.
J.D.
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Re: airport
[Re: bdeeley]
#309625
11/30/2023 08:22 PM
11/30/2023 08:22 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,568 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,568
Ohio
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Jimmy Hoffa is more likely to be found. EXCELLENT POINT!!
J.D.
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Re: airport
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#309627
11/30/2023 10:21 PM
11/30/2023 10:21 PM
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,345
Kennys
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,345
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What do you mean J.D ? And Brian Mingo can't be found with a search warrant.
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Re: airport
[Re: SXMScubaman]
#309635
12/01/2023 07:22 AM
12/01/2023 07:22 AM
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,345
Kennys
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,345
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So much stress about coming and leaving. If it's that bad for you just find another destination. Enough of this. Thank you.
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Re: airport
[Re: Kennys]
#309642
12/01/2023 08:12 AM
12/01/2023 08:12 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,568 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,568
Ohio
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What do you mean J.D ? And Brian Mingo can't be found with a search warrant.
Since he came out and made noise about the opening of the airport in early Nov., which did NOT happen, then the "soft opening" in mid-Nov, which has been a fiasco in many cases, Mr. Brian Mingo seems to have disappeared. Perhaps he could come out and make a public statement, tell people what is going on, updates on the construction and address the FACT that many people are standing in lines for 2-3 hours or more. Afterall, they made some nice videos touting how well this was going to work and, in many cases, is has been a total disaster. After all, he is the top person/CEO at the airport. You also have at least one airline (Delta) emailing departing passengers with instructions to show up 4 hours early. When they do, there are no agents working at the check-in area until 3 hours prior to departure. Perhaps this could be a little better coordinated with some communication.
J.D.
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Re: airport
[Re: bethandsteve]
#309646
12/01/2023 09:24 AM
12/01/2023 09:24 AM
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 706
lcote
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 706
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WELL SAID RuralCarrier.
And frankly THIS attitude seems to be what is coming from the airport "So much stress about coming and leaving. If it's that bad for you just find another destination. Enough of this."
Last edited by lcote; 12/01/2023 09:30 AM.
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Re: airport
[Re: lcote]
#309650
12/01/2023 09:37 AM
12/01/2023 09:37 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,568 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,568
Ohio
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WELL SAID RuralCarrier.
And frankly THIS attitude seems to be what is coming from the airport "So much stress about coming and leaving. If it's that bad for you just find another destination. Enough of this."
I think people would (possibly) be more understanding and tolerant IF they were given accurate information and not just lip service. In this case, they are basically getting NOTHING except for a couple of facebook posts done by the airport. You only get once chance to make a first impression and for new travelers to the island, this is not a good impression nor is it for people who have been coming for many years.
J.D.
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Re: airport
[Re: lcote]
#309651
12/01/2023 09:38 AM
12/01/2023 09:38 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,044 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,044
Central Florida!
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Honestly, I don't think that people who have been coming to SXM for a long time will let this (hopefully) temporary situation deter them. It certainly won't deter me, although I am hopeful the situation will be somewhat normal by our next trip. But frankly, if I were a first time visitor coming to SXM at this time, I am not at all sure that I would come back. Consider places like Aruba, that are considered safter than SXM, has USA pre clearance at the airport, cleaner, etc. A lot of the charm of SXM takes a while to really grow on you. For the first time visitor, with this impression, I think I may move on to another destination. And considering the age of many of the folks who currently travel to SXM, that would be a really bad situation for the economy of the island.
Carol Hill
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Re: airport
[Re: lcote]
#309677
12/01/2023 04:10 PM
12/01/2023 04:10 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,044 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,044
Central Florida!
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It will be basically 7 years post Irma before it is back to what it was, as THEIR estimate is 2nd quarter 2024. And who knows if arrivals will be fixed by then or not?
Carol Hill
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