TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin US Airways flight change

Just received a flight change from US Air. Not a problem going down but on the way back, we leave SXM earlier and have a little over an hour after we land in Charlotte to get our connecting flight. We have a group of 8. we r thinking of just taking carry-ons so we wouldn't have to get checked luggage. They canceled the later flight we had booked in August. hopefully we make our connection.

I could be wrong, but I thought the minimum connect time is 90 minutes, so "a little over an hour" is not a legal connection.

Even if your connect time is legal, without Global Entry, you are virtually certain to miss your connection.

Agreed, a one hour connection in Charlotte on the return will almost guarantee you will miss the connection. Call US Air and get a different routing or cancel and get all your money back.

Even with Global Entry you are pushing matters!

We discovered that our USAir boarding passes issued in SXM did not carry the TSA Pre-Check designation, which goes along with Global Entry. That means you also have to pass through the long TSA inspection lines after clearing customs and immigration on your way to your connecting flight.

When I asked USAir about that I was told that not all their ticket counter computers (SXM) are programmed to designate TSA Pre-Check status--even if one's customer file includes the information.

We almost missed our connecting flight March 1 because of it.

Having a Known Traveler Number does not guarantee you will receive a TSA Pre-Check indicator every time you travel. I have seen people post from time to time that when leaving SXM, their boarding pass had a Pre-Check indicator. I believe in this case, you were not selected for Pre-Check. There are entire threads on other forums about not being selected 100% of the time.

I agree with all the "you won't make it" comments above. You should call and get a better return if there is one available and before calling do the research yourself and have the flights in front of you when you call. They will usually put you on the requested flight

Re: TSA PreCheck. Maybe we are just lucky but we have always had precheck on our boarding passes for US airports that participate....but..we have had a precheck scan not read a couple of times and were sent back to the regular line

Yes, definitely they should call US Air and get the flight changed.

Thank you. I keep saying this, but no one seems to believe me. TSA Precheck is random, and for good reason. We were specifically informed at our Global Entry interviews that TSA Precheck was not guaranteed with GE. That said, we've gotten it on every flight since then but one, where I got it and my husband didn't.

Somewhat as a side note and the tight schedule mentioned above, I would not attempt to make it in CLT. Even with just carry on bags, it might take 2 hours there.

Having experienced the mess and long wait times in CLT, I flew Delta via ATL this trip. They have a new arrival hall in ATL and many, many kiosk's for people with a US passport. Total time from the time I got into the arrival area till I was to the baggage claim was less than 5 minutes. Way more efficient than what I have experienced in CLT.

They have that system in Miami also, and while other people recently have reported long wait times in Miami, which I don't understand, it was VERY quick for us in Miami at New Year's for the immigration portion.

It was really slick and quick. I waited probably 15 min. on luggage and there were several flights arriving around the same time as there were several carousels of bags coming up. Not saying this system won't have glitches but it beats the heck out of my last several experiences in CLT.

Our connection time on US Air is 1hr 24min through CLT. We do have GE and flying first class so that should be enough as we get off the plane first and it's on a Thursday.

Good luck. Once you get off the plane, First Class means nothing.

In the past our First Class luggage has been tagged priority and is off loaded first. Makes for a quicker customs and recheck.

But you're first off the plane, and your luggage is usually tagged priority and comes off first. No guarantees, but it sometimes does help.

Yup...wait for luggage is the biggie

I called US Airways and tried to get flight changes. I was on the phone for over 45 minutes trying to fly into different places. Nothing was available. The biggest problem is that we were a group of 8. Also while speaking to the woman, i asked about missing the connection. She told me that once we cleared in SXM we would just get off plane in CLT and since we were not leaving a secure area we would just board the next flight at whatever gate it was at. I really didn't believe her and kept asking her questions , but she was adamant about us having enough time to get connection. She also said that we were getting a $275 voucher per person. Haven't received that yet. Will call US Air again on Monday to see if i can change. It seems like each time i call i get something else.

I don't know, Georgia - they do tag the bags with the neon colored stickers and it always seems that three of our four are the first ones off but that fourth bag........OMGoodness. I think they often hide that last one so that it will be the last one onto the carousel. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Greg,

It's sounding like the agent you spoke with is missing the fact you have to clear immigration. Is it worth one more try with reemphasizing the tight connection time and needing to clear through C&I? Even with carryon, as a group of eight I'd be concerned given their track record.

For what it's worth, my experience, though only with AA and not USAir, has been they generally won't change the actual ticket destination point, but usually when they mess up, they bend over backwards to accommodate you in every other way if they can. Good luck and I truly hope it works out for you and your family. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

As Pat says, obviously the person you spoke to on the phone was totally missing the fact that you have to clear immigration and customs. Kind of scary, that! BUT, now why would they supposedly be giving you vouchers of $275 per person, times 8 people??? For what reason?? I guess that's what they have determined is going to be your cost to overnight when you miss the connection?? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" /> Finding alternate arrangements for 8 people is tough, yes. My suggestion is that you call them back, ask to speak to a supervisor and be prepared to split up your group. Otherwise, be prepared for an extremely stressful trip home, and a very large probability you will miss your connection.

I would subtract 10 minutes from your potential connection time. My experiences in CLT with USscare is that the aircraft doors are closed 10 minutes prior to scheduled departure and they aren't going to open them for anyone,even though they have been notified you are on your way.

Yup, clueless on the "not leaving a secured area" thing...bag pick up, immigration, customs, bag recheck, security and THEN to the gate

Maybe she was confusing SXM with Aruba

93 minutes on the phone with US Air. most of that holding for representative or supervisor. The answers i got were the following: flights were changed or canceled and we were fit the best they could. No later flights out of CLT. that are not already full. Nothing to Miami or Phila. Supervisor said we should have enough time to make connection. We DO have to get bags and then there is a random check. They gave me a number for the Charlotte Customs Dept I called and spoke with a gentleman who said we should have enough time to get bags, go thru security and make connection. I have already started looking for hotels near the airport for a room/rooms for us. I hope there is enough beer on SXM to get me prepared for the trip home.

Good luck. I am not trying to discourage you and I do hope it all works out but Customs and Immigration in CLT has not been good as of the last few years.

I don't know if it is just a staffing issue or what but my last 3 experiences in CLT were not good. The gentleman in the customs department in CLT is correct IF there are not any other international flights arriving around the same time. If there are 3 or more international flights arriving with yours, FORGET IT.

My personal experience has been to sit on the plane for 20-30 minutes because the immigration hall is so full there is no place for people to go. Once we got into the area then it was around an hour or more to clear and get to the luggage area.

Perhaps I missed it but what day of the week and when are you traveling?

With a group of 8, there is a reasonable chance someone will get pulled for a random check.

At this point, I would relax, take a deep breath and look at hotel options. If they indeed are giving you EACH a $275 voucher, I would find out if that is only good for travel on USAir or if you can in fact use it for a hotel.

If there are no other flight options, then there are no other flight options on USAir. Any chance you can get a full refund and book another airline?

Sadly, USAir and CLT used to be a good combination but my last several experiences have not been good.

I doubt it is an option, but did you look about what price you can get for airplane tickets on another airline? If you can find something else you can live with, I might look at that.

But again, are you supposed to get vouchers of $275 per PERSON ? I still don't understand why they are giving that..

Checking into full refund don't know if it will be worth it. yes the vouchers are for $275 per person. supposed to receive them within 2 weeks.

When are you traveling and from where?

departing hartford on the 18th of april returning on the 25th

It doesn't look like you can get to BDL that day, so...assuming you'll have to spend the night anyway, why not leave SXM on the 26th. The availability looks to be wide open that day.

Just so you know, we also traveled through CLT to BDL. The flight left SXM late, had to go to Puerto Rico for fuel- Really?!?! So of course we did not make our connection in CLT. Most of our flights have left SXM late. Take the time you are given for your flight and subtract boarding time half an hour prior. That is the time you have to get from the gate, collect your luggage, go through immigration, recheck your luggage, go through security. If you need a potty break or food, forget it!! We had a tight connection. Flight went to PR, missed connection to Hartford, nothing left except standby. 4 of us, only 2 caught the flight. Had toyed with driving home. Was very miserable for the 2 left behind. Crappy hotel....next day, connection to Boston which was on lock down because of the bombing. US Air does not care. Connections in CLT are always tight. Wish you luck!

That is totally correct. The doors lock at 10 minutes prior to scheduled departure time. Once the agent locks from inside they cannot be opened again.

I have literally seen people crying at the gates seconds after they closed the doors. I know rules are rules, but they were standing right at the door, so sad

Then I guess we were lucky when our flight in Jamaica was delayed; arrived Miami with practically no window to the next flight and there were 9 of us. Told customs our problem & flight # and they called to hold the flight for us.

Maybe they could do that for you?

one person in our group is a policeman. maybe he can get some "professional courtesy" ? i am going to keep calling US Air hoping something will change. Who knows, maybe i'll get lucky.

SXM has a history of fuel availability issues and it is not a USAir (or any airline) created problem. It is not cost effective for an airline to make an interim stop for fuel so your delays/missed connection was most likely caused by PJIA and not the airline.

Have you found out what the $275 vouchers are for?

Instead of canceling the whole itinerary, keep the flights down but cancel the return portion. Raise holy h.e.l.l. and get that part refunded. Then buy a better one way return flight option....even if maybe staying an extra day to get 8 tickets.

getting out of sxm is not a problem. looked into the next day flights from anywhere and could not find one. tried mia, phila,clt. all full flights. will keep looking right to the bitter end. thanks for all the suggestions.

On every airline?

Chech out the 4:02pm Jet Blue flight out of SXM>SJU>BDL

don't know if we get refund if we cancel the trip back portion. would be $917 per person if we can't get refund on US Air return flight. i don't fly enough to know all the nuances of refund policies/exchanges.

Each leg of the flight has an associated price. You can complain enough and make it one way down on USAir, get a refund for the return. Then book one way back on another airline.

I did this in November when they moved my return flight up too early for me. Told them I had a business meeting which is why I'd selected the later return (which they had cancelled), and that "no" their attempt to rebook did not suit my needs. Took about 20 minutes but I got my refund.

Just be prepared at the airport to show tickets on both airlines if you are asked.....as it's no longer a traditional round trip....gotta prove you are gonna leave their country....lol.