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Arriving Oct 9 on AA from MIA

I am assuming there are still no jetways for arriving passengers? Is there a ramp exiting the plane or just stairs?

According to the story in this thread, the arrivals area is supposed to be all operational by "the first week in October".

Link

So, the answer is that "maybe" you will get a jetway upon arrival. I could be wrong, often am, but it seemed like when we left in June, there were only THREE jetways, when before there were always four. So, even if the new arrivals area is operational, you may not get a jetway, based on what other planes are there.

As far as ramp versus stairs, USUALLY there is a ramp at the front of the plane and stairs at the back. And they want you to use the entrance closer to your seat. When we have boarded the plane by stairs, I have usually been able to whine and they let me use the ramp versus stairs to board the plane, when my seat was closer to the back.

On a related note, I saw pictures today where part of the 'temporary' arrivals facility at PJIA, which was a TENT was ripped to shreds by the tropical storm yesterday. Gee, one would think they should have taken down a TENT??

Carol, now why would they have taken down a tent? That just makes sense!

Thanks Carol

lcote--gee, I don't know.. But apparently people will be standing out in the sun for a while when they arrive now?

When we arrived by AA on the 6th, we were close enough to the arrival hall to walk (no buses). They only allowed exiting from the front and it was stairs. So it varies.....depending largely on where your plane is parked.

CaribLee--yes, that is nice, not to have to deal with the busses.

I get it, there are people not capable to walk, but GEEZZZ give us that option not to sardine us in those disgusting buses!!!

Friday 8/16 was a disaster. We were one on the later large planes to arrive around 13:30. KLM, Air France, American from Miami, Delta and maybe others were all there ahead of us. We got the bus since all 4 jetway areas were taken. They put us in 6 lines under some shade. We were the sixth line and I’m figuring that we are looking at at least 2 hours before we get to immigration. But we were only about 15 minutes. They let us in before many others that been standing there. Seemed like there was no logic as to who they let go through immigration.

Then the true insanity started . . . Baggage. Hundreds of people crammed into the area around the belt, waiting for their flight to come through. It was hot. It was crowded. The worker people were short tempered, I’m sure because they are as frustrated as anyone. It seemed like ours came out before other flights. We were a total of just under 2 hours from landing to out the door. I was talking to someone later in the day who said that they landed at noon and didn’t get out of there until 15:30!

Not sure what happened to the process of holing people outside in an orderly line in the shade until their flight’s bags are coming out.

David--I really think it is more a function of security, not wanting people walking all over the tarmac, than because people can't walk.

To prevent the damage that happened to it from the storm. It is destroyed

jollymon--Yes, my understanding is that at least part of the temporary arrival facility which was built to shade arriving passengers was destroyed by Ernesto, because it was a TENT, which they did not take down despite an impending tropical storm.

"We got the bus since all 4 jetway areas were taken"
Even if the jetways were open you would have had to walk or take the bus as they are only operational for departures at this point.

I understand that. My point was that if your plane paths at one of the jetways, you walk to immigration. If the plane does not park at one of the jetways, you ride the bus.

Not necessarily. We pulled up just short to a Jetway on arrival and still took the bus. Just the luck of the draw.

I arrive in a little over 2 hours, I will post my experience later today or tomorrow.

Probably 50 or more empty seats on the CLT-SXM flight today, I am shocked. I have a row to myself and open rows around me.

A little maintenance issue leaving DAY and an equipment change (at the request of the pilot) in CLT so a couple of delays but I am enroute.

Safe travels JD. Looking forward to your reports and observations.

Thanks. I will give Kereen your regards.

Thanks JD. Just checked arrivals and Air France is scheduled to arrive 28 minutes before you. Good Luck.

Thanks, another delay would not be a surprise.

Safe travels and enjoy!

Be safe and enjoy your time on the island.

Hopefully your arrival goes smooth in the baggage area.

Thanks to all.

This may be for another topic but the advancement in technology is amazing.

Going from renting cell phones from Sharon Harris to internet at the Mailbox or Royal Palm Internet Cafe and then Scarlet, we can now stay connected while in the air and on the island via Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi was free on Delta but not so on AA but for the few $$, I figured it was worth it to give me some entertainment.

We landed at 1:45, taxied towards the terminal but had 2 stops due to an iguana in the way. We parked at 1:55, boarded the bus at 2:05 and I was at the Horny Toad by 2:30. The tent that was damaged has been replaced and most of the area is under cover for arrivals. Luggage was jam-packed but Air France and another AA flight had cleared so it was just our flight.

OK, sounds like a pretty decent arrival! Hope the rest of the trip goes as well!

And you're off to a great start.

Room #4?

Of course!