TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Departures

Has anyone departed in the last few days? I’m leaving at the end of this week and would appreciate any information on what to expect. Hopefully the departure situation has improved.

I would be interested to hear the answer to that question also. Plus, this has puzzled me. Many people have said the only concessions operating inside security are Dominos and some kind of a sandwich shop and a small, temporary bar. What happened to the HUGE bar downstairs? Is that still open? And in June this year, there was food there at that bar, all the way at the far end.

The big bar downstairs was closed when we left November 9. There was a small bar where you could get drinks and take them to where you were sitting. No seating at the bar.

pandp--I kind of figured that might be the case. Was it walled off? I guess that area is now going to be part of the new arrival area or something?

I saw on a Facebook page pictures of the inside of the new Departure are. Showed more vendor stalls open.

Carol, there was no bar downstairs, when we left the 16th .
Construction going on. No place to get even water downstairs.

Terri-- Thanks. Surprised no one has mentioned it before. If you're talking a water fountain, there has not been a water fountain at the airport for a very LONG time, I think ever since Irma. Cheap SOBs.

Carol, the huge bar was gone , along with it's lovely A.C. when we left Oct. 28. A little make shift "bar" was set up inside the departure area, but no seating.We had burgers that were cooked fresh and pretty tasty from the upstairs area where you 1st come in.

Yes it was walled off Carol.

No, I meant somewhere to buy a water. You had to use the elevator, if you were in a wheelchair to get upstairs, for food and drinks.
Everything could be better now. They were carrying in the seats for people to sit, when we were sent downstairs.
We would have been upstairs, since we were originally the early flight to arrive, but that didn't happen.

It does look very nice in the new section upstairs.

OK, thanks everyone. Surprised more people haven't mentioned the lack of a real bar before now. Guess my view of things would be more critical.

I had good friends who were guests of mine leave on WestJet last Thursday, November 23. I told them there could be long lineups, and to go early.
It only took them 15 minutes to get to their departure gate upstairs.

Drphilsxm

Left yesterday. I got to the airport at 12:30 for 4:30 flight. Definitely too early because I got through check in and all the security checks in about 30 minutes or less although maybe that was because I was so early. They are still working on departure lounge upstairs but what they have done is very nice and very nicely air conditioned. In fact I was a bit chilly. Some shops are open and they have a temporary bar set up near gate A1. I was at gate A2 for Delta and we had a jet way or whatever they are called. They deplane on the tarmac and then they must move the plane to the jet way. Or maybe it’s in position already. It looks like they will eventually have an executive lounge across from A2. They have the sliding doors similar to the old one. All in all a nice experience.

Glad you got through so quickly. You were on Delta, and through in 30 minutes??? Were there people at the Delta check in desk, 4 hours before?? As others have reported there was no one there until 3 hours before.

As far as moving the plane, a pilot posted here that they would take the plane up to the terminal to begin with, even though people deplane down stairs, and then take the jetway out to the plane after, without moving the plane.

Regarding the executive lounge, that would be a good thing, to have that back again, after MORE than six years...

Carol, I think I was about 4 hours early. Maybe 3 and a half. But the check in people were there when I arrived.

That must be a recent change as I personally know people who got an email from Delta to show up 4 hours early and nobody was at the counter. It has also been posted elsewhere about this happening. Hopefully things are starting to get figured out with departures. Now, IF they can get something resolved with the arrival process.

Tim--good news. Finally, something that makes sense!