TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Airfare from NY

Just curious if anyone has had some recent experience with airfares from JFK. Last SXM trip was Nov 2014. Remember non-stop booked summer 2014 was in the low 500's. I know being locked into Saturday travel for Timeshare sux but best I am seeing now is $640. Normal?

JetBlue hasn't released their schedule for November yet. I usually wait til that comes out and then book right away for the best price. I'm a little annoyed with them now because of their new pricing. We used to get free bags when we booked; now you have to go to their next fare class. We may consider Delta this time. They fly out of JFK too. Used them last February and was impressed.

JFK Feb.25th. Mar.14th $460.00 Delta. Booked about 6 weeks ago.

Careful with delta. Took them a few years ago went through atlanta. What hell that was!

Delta now does offer at least one non-stop from JFK to SXM.

Next fare class adds an average of $17-18 and Delta charges $25 for a bag so I would think that would be a wash. I would go with the airline and the flight I feel most comfortable with

Sorry I wasn't specific as to when we are going. These are the non stop rates for late July. Delta is $640 and Jet Blue is mid 700's for 7:30 return and mid 800's for the 3:20 return. Those are approx. times. I was shocked when I saw them

Wow! What is with July?...BOS is even higher (JB) at $1000 and no N/S. MAybe it's too early. Checked available seats and there aren't too many filled

I only travel to warm places when it is cold at home and fares from BOS are never that bad in January.

Hi Rick and Grace, I've been following airfares from JFK, Newark and Philadelphia (July departure) for quite some time. I'm seeing higher fares for Jetblue (JFK), American (Phil) and Delta (Phil/Newark). My assumption is they 'can' raise fares since United has cut back on their flights from Newark.

So much for saving money on fuel costs!!!! I honestly thought low 500's would be about right. I'll keep checking.

I certainly wouldn't give up for July yet. One would think there will be at least one fare sale before July, since that quite a while away and is low season.

We have flown a number of different airlines over the past 25+ years but this time we flew Delta for the first time since they now fly out of Harrisburg. Got to say the people and amenities were head and shoulders above the others. Free stuff (movies/head sets/snacks) that others are charging for. Considerate personnel (maybe we were just lucky) but I will try to fly Delta next year. And yes, Atlanta was a zoo on our return but not much different from CLT, BLT or PHL that we've been returning through for many years.

However, with a Delta credit card, you get one bag allowed per person. JetBlue doesn't have that benefit with bookings made on their credit card. JetBlue is changing their credit card issuer in March from Amex to MasterCard. We'll see if they change their card benefits then or not.

I'm paying less this year than we did in 2014 on JB for March. I figure the slight increase on the ck'd-bag tier is less than other airlines charge for a bag and now I can book one with no bag for less where as before we ch'd only one bag and both paid the same fare. I think what JB has done is give a break to the guy who does only carry-on, not charge for a bag. That fee was included in the old one price fare.

We flew Delta in Nov 2014. I have never had an issue with Delta. When I was working and traveling for business I spent a lot of time in Atlanta. Familiar with the airport and Delta. I use their credit card for the free bags.

I just checked Jet Blue again and the airfare for the morning departure south and the afternoon departure north is now over $900.

Yikes!! That's ridiculous......I'd wait for a sale myself and with those numbers I'd also be checking AA and Delta for sure. We've actually paid less than that for high season AA r/t in Business for Saturday n/s flights, and they allow you three bags each with the weight limit of 70# each.......

Another thought......clean out your cookies and log out completely from the website and then log in again and start from square one to see if that makes a difference ......... I've heard lots of people say they track logins through cookies and raise the prices with more logins. I've never really paid all that much attention but I've read it many times over. Also, you can try Yapta to check and track the fares. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

If you use Firefox instead of IE, you can use "private browsing" and don't have to bother with clearing your cookies.

Pretty high-tech there pat!!

Using a different browser is also a good suggestion and I think Google Chrome allows private browsing.

Just tried Private Browser through Safari. Sam Ting

My jaw still hurts from hitting the table

Trust me, JD - I have no clue what all that means but I know I've read it here time and time again and we all know, if you read it on the internet it's got to be true. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

"I heard" that!! Got to be true if you say it!!

When I grow up and get a smart phone will you tutor me on using it?

Sure! Just ask Kim or Sharon. They can both tell you what a pro I am. So! Is there a difference between an IM and a text message? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Probably but I don't know what it is!

One of the biggest problems IMO is finding the day an airline flies non-stop. I usually book the hotel before the airline and often find the day I booked AA one year ,non-stop, is not the same the next year. I then try to rebook the hotel hoping that the non-stop day doesn't change again or disappear.

I just checked Delta for November and found that they only fly JFK to SXM, non-stop, on Mondays and Wednesdays. I am going on a Tuesday and don't want to change the hotel again.
There are also certain days they don't fly to SXM, which makes me nervous about a cancellation due to mechanics or weather.
It's all a gamble..... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/smashpc.gif" alt="" />

According to the Delta site, a non-stop is offered every day but Tuesday in November from JFK.

I plugged in random dates for Nov. 2016 and saw fares starting in the mid-$400 range and up to $900 for non-stops from JFK. Fares changed drastically depending on the day of the week with Saturday being the highest.

Good point <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

We booked for March 15th and paid around $400 on Delta but we booked 4 months ago. I just looked and the non-stop @ 8:35 AM out of JFK and it's $501.

Delta is now doing the non-stop daily from JFK.

I'm noticing higher than normal airfare from PHL to SXM, AUA and GCM. I assume it is because there is less competition and less flights available now that US Air no longer exists. It really stinks and I loathe AA but almost have no other choice for non stop flights from PHL.

i think the problem is it is july and the airlines cut back capacity dramatically in the off season meaning their are fewer flights to choose from. I would bet those fares start coming down as you get closer and they are looking at a hlaf empty plane. Good luck!

We booked JB for March 12-26 and it was $325 to go and $385 return. Always higher to come back wonder if that's because the airline knows they gotcha 'cause you have to return?

They wouldn't do that, would they? (He asked. Tone dripping with sarcasm)

RonDon we will be there at the same time --March 15th arrival. We are at the Aloha Bar on Orient Beach everyday @ 2 PM.

Possibly higher airport fees, etc. leaving SXM. Remember, the airport departure fee is part of the return ticket.

Yes, the return fare is always higher than the original fare. The departure tax is probably the reason for that, but it is annoying. In the past that fee was paid separately and not included by the airlines in the fare.

Elizabeth--sorry, I don't understand, you would rather stand in another line to leave? Or do you mean you would prefer not to pay it at all? Since it's my personal experience that ALL taxes, once instituted, are forever, I'd much rather have the departure tax included in the airfare and save myself another line.

agreed carol!

agreed carol! i hated that line and the fact that i always forgot to have the cash!

Booked about 2 weeks ago on Jet Blu for end of April and total was $1057 for 2 out of JFK. Bought the Blu Plus option for 1 bag allowed direct. Since I booked the Yapta has been sending me alerts and the same flights now would be $1233.