TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Departure time

Hey folks whoever had a recent experience departing from the new and improved airport…. How long does it take to get thru the security and to the gates? We have no check in luggage so just with a carry on- is 1,5 hours enough? Our flight is at 5:15pm and we are thinking of getting there at around 3:30-3:45pm..

That was more than enough time on a Friday in December. We had checked in online and had our boarding passes on our phones. We were through everything and enjoying a drink at the bar in less than 30 minutes.

I left yesterday and arrived a little less than 2 hours early. That was plenty of time and I had a checked bag and incompetent passengers holding up the line. I will post a report on my departure experience shortly. I would not it too close on a Saturday.

Just wanted to post an update. We left the island on Friday at 5:15pm Air Canada flight. Our friends had a flight to Miami at 3:20pm, we dropped them off at around 1:30. They texted us saying that they went thru security and everything else in about 20 minutes. No lines at all. We got to the airport at around 3:30-4pm. Went thru security and passport control in about 10-15 minutes. None of us had any check in luggage, carry one only.
Awesome, love the new airport!

We left sxm last Friday on AA to Charlotte on the 2:45 flight. Arrived at the airport around noon. We had to check in at the desk because AA's website would not let us check in for our second flight from Charlotte to Detroit. Only one person ahead of us in line. Got our luggage checked and our boarding passes for both flights and we're having lunch by 12:30. Love the new airport. Many good memories of the one before Irma, and the one around Louis which had no air conditioning and you sweltered while waiting for your flight, sitting on the floor leaning against a wall because there was never enough seating.

Am I the only person who (kinda) misses the old airport? No air conditioning, small and rustic. Deplaning via stairs, walking out to the tarmac. Then walking into a steamy room to get my passport stamped. Then out to the rental car counters. I mean, the first time I arrived, I KNEW I was on an island. I saw it, and I smelled it. I was there for a tropical vacation, a break from my day-to-day.

Call me a luddite, but I'll take that over an airport that looks like DTW, ATL, CLT, DFW, CVG, etc.

I'm with you Bill. Loved the old airport. You knew you were on an island!

Yes. Walking off the plane on the tarmac, smelling that warm island breeze, having your sunglasses fog up, grabbing a welcoming rum before picking up your luggage. Ah memories.

I sort of miss it on arrival; not on departure! Standing in line outside, waiting to get in, and the cattle call at the departure gates wasn't pleasant, lol.

True that. Departure was never welcomed under any circumstances. Hard to leave the island.

We left the island yesterday (a Saturday) on a Delta flight scheduled for 3:30. We arrived at the airport about 1:30. Delta had lots of counters open, with only a few people ahead of us, so we quickly checked in and checked our bags. We noticed JetBlue had a much longer line. The machines to scan your boarding pass to allow access to the departure area were working fine, and there was no wait at the security screening. We were at our gate less than 20 minutes after entering the airport. We left from gate A so had a jetway.

It was the fastest trek through the airport that I can remember, especially since it was a Saturday afternoon. The main floor waiting area was very full and there were lines at the restaurants.

We headed for the runway on time, but then had to wait about 15 minutes for clearance because of the heavy incoming traffic. We started to roll down the runway from the Maho end like for a take off, then slowed down and our pilot drove to the opposite end, turned, and we took off the other direction than normal. No comment from the pilot so not sure what happened but a friend sitting near the flight attendants in their jump seats noticed that they were remarking about the odd take off.

Agree with GaKaye. Departures were H double hockey sticks. Agree with Bill from TX. I loved arrivals! And none of this form filling out and standing in ;lines. I remember the woman in front of us in "79 being asked to show identity and she produced a gas bill from the states. Off she went with no problem.