TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin SXM Airport Fees

For those us who go way back, and those like pat and others who go even farther back, I wanted to share what we now pay in airport fees when leaving SXM.

I think my first visit the departure fee/tax may have been $5, I think others have mentioned it being as low as $3. I know things are going up and inflation is rampant here in the US and probably in SXM.

While recently looking at air for a possible fall trip, I noticed the current SXM Departure Fee/Tax is now $42. Last time I really looked, I thought it was $36-$39. I honestly don't recall what it was when I went in March but I do know it went up from when I booked in May of 2023 to my travel date of March 2024. In addition to the $42 there is also a $12.50 Airport Improvement Fee. I wonder where that is going and who is skimming from that? Then, you have the $12.73 SXM Passenger Screening Fee. This is a total of $67.23 to leave our favorite island.

To be fair, the US also imposes various fees that add almost $87 on the total fare. Whatever your base fare is, this is $154+ in taxes and fees that are added on.

In the grand scheme of things for a trip to SXM, this is not a lot of $$ but I do find it interesting that the continued increase in the departure fee/tax is kept very quiet and unless one looks at the fine print when booking a ticket, you never really know what all the "extra" $$ goes for.

Our first trip was either 1973 or ‘74 and I clearly recall having to stand in line at the little window to pay our $2.00 each. Reason being we were literally kids and were counting every dollar. Our dear friend who sponsored the trip was right behind us and volunteered we need not worry if we couldn’t come up with the four bucks departure fee ‘cause he’d be glad to front us the money. More to that story but I’ll leave it all unsaid and let you wonder.😊😊

We are kinda sorta looking at November depending on my back. Let us know isif you have dates.

mort--I'm not going this year but I hope you are able to return.

I am looking at later Aug. November would likely be out for me. I hope you can make it.

I still to this day don't understand this tax??? This is like getting slapped on the AZZ on the way out!! "See-ya lata sucker!" I'm not cheap by no means, but what does this go towards??? I'd love to say to the person collecting the money, "You're NOT getting a dime from me, I just dropped more than a few GRAND around the island!" I'm done with my deposits!!

SXM is not the only place that imposes a departure tax/fee or tourist tax. Like you, I do wonder where it goes and how much is skimmed off by politicians or others involved with the airport.

Like the $125.00 PP for the "PCR" test!! Let's not even get into that!!! I'm always grateful to visit "our" island!!!

I'm using miles for trip to SXM in Feb. the tax is $5.60 and for the return I purchased the ticket and the tax is $117.33
Sure wonder where it goes!!!

Um, you know the answer to that question. All of it!

Back in day when the tax was not included in the ticket price and was collecteced separately, I often wondered what would happen if you refused to pay the tax. Would they make you stay on the island ? - doen't seem like much of a punisment - lol