TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Delta to SXM thru Atlanta

We've been going to SXM for a long time but I cannot remember ever flying Delta. Flying out of Harrisburg (MDT) we've basically had no choice but USAir to PHL or Charlotte then to SXM. (I am uncertain when Delta started flying out of MDT) Delta's rates are a little better for SXM (via Atlanta)in Dec/Jan so any feedback would be appreciated.

I have flown on Delta to SXM via Atlanta 5 times. Delta has always been great and on time or early. I have found it much more enjoyable than American through Miami. The service is better, the employees actually appear to like their jobs and care about the passengers.

It's been a few years since we've gone through Atlanta, but friends that do say that lately it has been much easier and better than Charlotte of late. The last time we flew Delta, the planes had those nifty seat back modules where you could play games or watch a movie, etc. Not sure whether they still do or not..

And speaking of which, on our flight down on AA through Miami this last time, they had the seat back monitor things, but the d*mn things didn't work!! I looked around and it wasn't just mine, I didn't see anyone's that worked. And the seats all had this power module under the seat which took up half the floor space. Really annoying.

I have been looking and looking for flights out of Harrisburg hoping for USA Air only because of the double points w/my USAir card but also checking delta for several months for August and boy they jumped in price. I should have jumped on them when they were $750'ish but didn't and now they were all in the $900's. So I went thru priceline just now and got two tickets out of Harrisburg on Delta for $800 each....most I have ever paid but I am now booked and ready for my two weeks in paradise in August!!!

Our first two visits to SXM several years ago were via Delta flying from San Antonio thru Atlanta. Fares were under $600 (in June) and we arrived early afternoon. Alas, Delta discontinued their early morning SAT to ATL connection, so now we have little choice but to endure AA thru MIA. Now that JB has started charging for checked baggage, SW remains our favorite choice. If only they'd fly to SXM! Happy 4th of July to all! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

We've flown Delta to SXM ever since they started the service. We started when we lived in Salt Lake City and continued when we moved to the East coast. Let me disclose I am a Million Miler with Delta so they do treat me well. And I have never paid for a ticket - we've always used FF miles. As to the service from Delta - I happen to be one of those who like the Atlanta hub. We've never had any difficulty with connections, never lost our luggage, and 98% of the time arrive on time or early. Delta planes are no better or worse than other airlines. If an in seat entertainment system is important to you, you have to carefully check the type of aircraft. I rarely use it so not something I care about. Returning thru ATL is just fine. C&I has the kiosks and has historically been relatively fast. I have 2 complaints about the Delta service to SXM - if you book far out, they are constantly changing the times and sometimes the planes so you have to watch it routinely. And for our flights , Delta almost never arrives or departs out of a gate, so we are schlepping the stairs & the bus, which just is aggravating. However, having said that, we are book for our next trip in Feb/March.

Regarding the stairs and bus issue, it seems that KLM, Air France, AA and US Air seem to usually have a jetway, but Delta and Jet Blue usually do not.

At what time of year are you planning to travel? In high season DL's schedule out of ATL is fairly reliable. In low season they have been known to make big changes to their announced schedule, eliminating certain days.

First, thank you all for your appreciated responses and sage advice.
Our next trip will be the first couple weeks in January.
We will book with Delta very soon.

In January DL's published schedule will be much more solid than it will eventually be in May or June.

I am liking the feedback on the Delta flights through ATL. We are on the west coast of Canada and found significant savings for our December departure and January return by flying Delta through ATL (allows us to stay longer!). We booked it hoping it would be a good experience. Based on the responses here, it looks like it was a good call!

I used Delta on my last trip to SXM in March. I like going through Atlanta. The only problem I has was when the Delta agent in SXM tried to charge me for my check bag. First she said it was not an international flight. So I showed her my Delta credit card which give me a first bag free and she said it was missing something. When I did not give in she checked with another agent and let the bags go free. Maybe she was new.

We flew Delta thru Atlanta from Raleigh in April. I was unsure of flying through Atlanta, but I would go Delta to SXM again in a heartbeat! What I was most concerned about was customs coming back, but it was a breeze, better than Charlotte, and of course WAY better then Miami. Dedicated re-entry area for international arrivals.

We've done both, but much prefer Delta to USAirways/AA. Delta FA's are much nicer and do seem to enjoy their jobs more. Love the seatback monitors. The only thing I don't like is the VERY long walk from the gate to C&I in ATL. But even with that, we still prefer Delta.

Just booked flights for 1st couple weeks in January on Delta out of Harrisburg (MDT) with 1 stop, Atlanta. Not bad rate $759 total per person round trip with all the taxes and fees included. One of few available flights with no sleep overs.