TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin AA Flight Schedule Change

For our Wednesday October 9th flight to SXM from MIA the departure time was changed from 12:05pm to 10:06am giving us less than an hour to go from our arrival gate (connecting from Chicago) to the departure gate for the SXM flight. We have very little experience with MIA. Has anyone experienced this short of layover at MIA?

A call to AA said the same flights today (Chicago) arrival was Terminal B and (SXM) departure was Terminal D but maybe totally different in October. I can still walk but not very fast or very far anymore. The AA Agent suggested requesting cart service upon arrival in MIA. Has anyone ever used cart service?

Do you know whether your flight from Chicago to Miami is originating in Chicago? I would have to assume that it is, since you are getting there to Miami around 9 AM. But, you know what happens if you assume!! If your flight is originating in Chicago, you should be OK, as your flight should arrive on time in Miami. Delays in Miami usually occur much more often in the afternoon, because of thunderstorms. Don't know about delays in Chicago, but at least in October, you shouldn't need to worry about snow and ice!!

As far as Miami itself, they have MOST of the Skytrain back in service now, and perhaps it will all be in order by October. As far as cart service in Miami, as far as I know, that is very hit and miss. I do not think you can set that up ahead of time, like you can for wheelchair service. You can always request wheelchair service. Who knows by October what the arrival situation will be in SXM. IF they are still in the temporary arrivals hall, as you know, I guess, it is currently a clusterf*ck. Depends on the day, but can be a total trainwreck. So wheelchair service would be helpful in SXM at that point.

All of that said, did you ask to change to a different flight?? As of now, there are two flights per day to SXM from Miami. Don't know about October. If you see other flights that make you happier, call back!! Often you can get a different answer if you call back again. Best wishes!

No recent experience with MIA but any connection of less than 1 hour would be of concern.

Our flight departs ORD at 5am so I'm quite positive that it originates there and I agree with wx assessment. Only one flight a day in October. As to wheelchair, I booked emergency row seats for the extra leg room and that excludes me from ordering a wheelchair. I guess I have to go to the gym more.

dolfer--OK, yes that precludes you from wheelchair assist. Best wishes.

The 12:05 flight was cancelled for Oct. 23 as well. We missed the 10:05 flight last year and were rerouted to JFK and stayed overnight in Queens then on Jet Blue to SXM. We changed to a different day as Carol mentioned. Recommend you change to a day that has a 12;05.

geomo--that is a good option if his plans are flexible. I thought from what he said there was only one flight every day in October.

I didn't check the month, just 9th.

It kind of looks like the 12:05 flight is there about every other day.

One possibility is switching Chicago to Miami from Wednesday morning to Tuesday night and stay at Hilton Miami instead of Hilton Chicago.

If they would let you do that for free, that would let you arrive in SXM feeling more refreshed, one would think.

If you have the AA app you can request wheelchair service on there. We did it in MIA last year with a 45 min layover. We were in FC. So that may have helped too.

Please people. Only request wheelchair service if you are truly immobile and in need of it for medical reasons. What I witnessed in MIA on our return was truly abuse of that service. Over 15 wheelchairs being used. One person in a chair and a party of 5 accompanying for early boarding. That same person was walking up and down the aisle unassisted numinous times going to the FC restroom. I couldn't believe all the people in wheelchairs at PJIA arrivals that once in arrivals, after retrieving their checked bags, walked out just fine without assistance. I knw some truly need that assistance but in my recent observation some are abusing that service for the wrong reasons.

Scuba--You have no idea what you are talking about. I guess your big problem is that someone used the FC restroom?? I actually don't think there is a FC restroom per se, just the one at the front of the plane, but I wouldn't know, as I am always back in cattle car. Walking down the aisle of the airplane is a whole different situation than the clusterf*ck which is arrivals at PJIA, plus security, immigration, etc, either at PJIA, or in Miami. Plus, just standing for long periods of time, especially in the heat, can be very painful. I can walk down the aisle of the plane without any help, certainly. And usually I don't request pre-boarding, but regardless, how in the world does that hurt YOU?? The answer is, no it doesn't, since you're in FC.

Tell you a little story--I recently flew to Indiana and since there wasn't any customs or immigration to be dealt with on either end, I stupidly did not book wheelchair service. By the time I arrived in Indiana and got in the car, I was in excruciating pain. The pain persists today, almost three weeks later. I spent most of the first two days in Indiana with my foot propped up with ice on it. I was in physical therapy before I went to Indiana and it continues now and the pain is at least as bad as it was before. Consider that little story before you start talking again about people who don't need wheelchair assist.

" how in the world does that hurt YOU?"
It affects the whole boarding process by slowing it down considerately which can cause late departures. For those that have a short window with a future connection it can make a difference. Reread my post as I stated "I know some truly need that assistance" which I respect but for those that only request it for convenience and to fast track through boarding or arrivals in PJIA I object.

No, it doesn't slow down the whole boarding process, as everyone has to get on the plane before it can leave. Again, you have NO idea what that person's true situation is. Just because someone can walk for a short distance, that means nothing.

You're both right! - Carol there will always be those who abuse any system - just watcch "handicap parking spots" some time. And Scuba lots of people need a little extra help - I'm just grateful that I'm not one of them .... yet. But that day may comer

Scuba I sometimes feel people are offended by the fact that we choose to fly first class. It certainly enhances the flying experience and try to do so as much as possible. For those whose resent those inFC,
I always think of what I was once told by a friend of mine.
“If you do not fly FC the people you are leaving your money to will be flying first class.
Food for thought!!!

Yes. A friend of mine got me started flying FC when he told me if he didn't his kids will. I only fly FC going and returning from SXM. I book it when fares first come out and it's only a few dollars more than coach. Factor in the 2 bag, food and drink and it's not that much more.

Tim--For sure, there are people who abuse any system.

Clifftops--actually, no. I am not offended by people flying first class, but I am offended by people bragging about it.

The easy solution to that is to not allow more than one person to accompany the person in the wheelchair. My DIL needs wheelchair assistance d/t peripheral neuropathy. She can walk short distances, but anything further than that is difficult and painful for her. When we flew with my son and DIL from CLT to SXM last November, they only allowed her husband to accompany her through the boarding process. We met them at the gates on both ends, which was fine with us.

Also, my DIL would have been one you’d see walking up and down the plane aisle during flight. It helps her if she moves a little, rather than not at all, which causes her severe cramping. You might not know that to look at her. So don’t judge people you see walking; it doesn’t mean they don’t need wheelchair assistance in certain circumstances.

Exactly! On our Las Vegas departure I saw 6 people accompany a person in a wheelchair...

Unless the airlines crack down on it, it will only continue and get worse.

Arriving in SXM today I saw a total of 4 wheelchairs, including me. I did not see more than one person accompanying any of them.