TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Wheel Chairs

We paid $30.each for wheel chairs at SXM for my wife and I $60. arriving and $60. leaving is this normal?

You paid $30 each to WHOM?? If you book wheelchair assist through the airline, there is no cost, other than whatever you tip the assistant.

We book wheel chairs when we made our United reservations paid the one who met us with the chair. It was the same whenever we went thru SXM. Never paid in MIA, EWR, or JFK only gave tip. We were met when we got off the plane and told $30. We're going again in Feb. do I just give them $10. and say thank you?

Carol is correct. When booking wheelchair assistance with airline for arrival in SXM, there is no charge - but for attendant's expectation of a tip. If the attendant is with me for a while and handles our luggage and helps get it outside to the car rental guy, I may tip $20.

donanegada--told $30 by WHOM?? By the wheelchair attendant?? That's a new one. Did you ASK someone how much to tip and that's what they responded? I usually tip $10-20, depending on how long the person is with me.

That is EXTREMELY disappointing if that is what they are now doing for wheelchair assistance in SXM. They have always provided excellent service to us in the past. If it was the wheelchair assistance person that told you that, I would make a complaint to your airline. Now technically those folks do not work for the airline, but the complaint will filter to where it needs to go.

We were told that by the attendant when he met us getting off the plane this happened in August and the same thing in November. I will let United know.

Did they carry you down the staircase? I have never had anyone suggest any tip to me in SXM.

They took us to the waiting area for our Anguilla flight and on return they took us to the waiting area for our United flight. It was never suggested it was stated $30. Same thing August and November coming and going. I just asked my wife and she said we were told when we got on the chairs. We travel a lot and this never happens any place else.

Oh, so you were going to Anguilla? Huh. I think that is the difference. Technically some kind of a 'transfer' fee for someone in transit?

Doesn't sound right to me. I would try to contact someone at the airport to check.

He already said he was going to contact United. I would be interested to see what they say.

Regarding wheelchair porterage in SXM, it is my understanding they are a totally separate entity and have nothing to do with the airlines beyond correlation with their arriving and departing flights. Am I wrong?
We’ve used SXM wc service our last three round trips and the last we both needed them and no one has ever mentioned a fee for the service. We always give a generous tip and have found them to be excellent and totally full service in SXM. So much so I’ve often thought they should give lessons to their counterparts in MIA, EWR and JFK.

Pat--yes, they are a totally separate entity in SXM. However, they do still have to answer to the airlines and/or PJIA, so if I have had excellent service from them, which I have had in the past, I have sent a note to AA. I would do the same thing with a complaint. I don't honestly know, but I don't think that the wheelchair folks in Miami, etc., actually work for the airlines either, but the airlines DO pay attention to complaints regarding service in Miami, as I know that from personal experience.

My understanding is that the regular wheelchair attendants are always a separate company from the airlines (at least everywhere we fly). I agree with you and Pat that assistance in SXM has been excellent and no one has ever suggested a charge or tip amount. Our last trip was in May 2023 - so I suppose thins could have changed by August. Although I think Pat has been since August - ?

Correct, Snorkeler,

We were there in late October returning home on November 15 and we both needed wheelchairs. The service was excellent and there was no mention of fees or costs. They were very gracious in accepting our gratuities and thanked us profusely.

We were very pleased with their assistance. We departed the first day of the jetways being put into operation and were expecting the worse but our porters escorted us from the off loading area outside to check-in right through security and up to the gate area and eventually on to the plane. They also offered us the option to purchase food and use the restrooms. I couldn’t complain if I wanted to.