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

Question for those who just left the island in the last few days- how was the line ups to go thru customs and security? How much time do we need this year? Last few years we had no check in luggage and arrived 1,5 hours before the departure time and that was enough.
Somebody told us that they have a new system at the airport. Please share the info! Thanks!

We left, or attempted to leave yesterday. The check-in process is more modernized. We went to an AA kiosk, printed our luggage tags and boarding passes and walked to the AA luggage drop off counter. There are some new self service luggage drops but at the moment they are only being used by Spirit and Delta.

You then scan your boarding pass to get through to go upstairs to security. Under 75, shoes off, everything out of the pockets and all your stuff in bins, lap tops also out. They used a body scanner yesterday. The last step is to go to passport control where you scan your passport and look at a camera, glasses off, no hats, etc. You are then done.

As for timing, I did not check but even with the luggage we were at the gate around 1:00 after arriving sometime shortly after 12:00 so definitely less than an hour on a Friday.

As for why we didn't leave and AA 2478 is still sitting on the tarmac, that it another story to be continued later. Bottom line, trying again at 10:00 this morning.

Mike--cr*P! What happened?

Carol - From my vantage point at SBR an AA plane is sitting on the tarmac close to the control tower since first thing this morning

Whale Tail--Mikel said they were going to try to leave at 10 AM today, but I wondered what happened yesterday.

Don't know Carol. I checked FlightRadar24 for yesterday departure time on this flight and it says "unknown"?

Assuming that Mikel was correct, that plane should be gone any time now.

It appears to be in the air now, at least according to FlightAware.

Thanks for the info, much appreciated! We are just trying to time our last day, we have just carry on that’s it. Hopefully, an hour and half should give us plenty of time to clear everything.

1 1/2 hours should be fine. We left on a Friday recently and had checked bags and it was under an 1 1/2. Note that there is not much in the way of food selection- we stopped and picked up sandwiches at Zee Best and were glad we did. Also, the upper level of departures looks pretty modern and was well airconditioned and appointed ( though no water fountain ). We departed on B gates, which was downstairs, pretty crowded and still looking quite rough.

barry--as I have said before, the lack of water fountain appears to be deliberate, so they can sell water. Despicable.

Always can fill a bottle in the restroom. Same water supply.

Not necessarily. Restroom faucet water is often not potable water.

I doubt that would be the case in PJIA.

I wouldn't bet my gut on it.

Sorry that I did not respond sooner, but the required stuff to do after 8 weeks away did not include this.

We boarded AA 2478 on Friday with a scheduled departure of 2:57 and we were right on schedule. The plane was parked on the tarmac all the way toward Driftwood so we had to be bused there. Just after the last 2 people boarded, an agent came on and told them they had to leave due to a weight balance problem. So they reluctantly left and we closed up and got all the way to the end of the runway ready for take off but instead of accelerating, we go down the runway and turn left and right back to where we started.

They then open the cabin doors and we sat there. The captain says there is a problem and we were too heavy to take off due to somehow there being too much fuel on the plane. He says someone was crunching numbers and it might take a half hour. Then eventually he says we are going to go to Miami, clear customs, get back on the same plane and go to Charlotte. Even though it would be later than planned, it worked for me but unfortunately, not for everyone. Some were adamant that they would not go to Miami and wanted off, even though the captain said that would add to the time before departure.

Bottom line, at some point the captain announces that the crew was now out of time and we were all going to spend the night and try again at 10:00. I honestly never did hear the details of what the original issue was but there were confusing messages being sent by both the captain and the stewardesses.

Some people opted not to return on that flight the next day but we showed up about 7:30, went through the process again and finally took off about 11:00.

The only good thing was that going through customs and immigration in Charlotte at 2:00 PM is very easy, even on a Saturday.

Wow, sounds like a really confusing situation. Glad you arrived home OK.

My husband and son left Saturday on the first JetBlue to JFK - I think it was a 12:15 departure. Boarding at 11:50. Dropped them at 10:35 and they were at the bar with drink in hand at 10:54 (no checked bags). They sent me a pic so I knew the time!!!! I’m sure it’s different for later flights.

Had a similar issue with AA timing out last year.

So did you stay the night IN the airport?

No, I went back to my resort. They were giving out hotel vouchers (until they ran out of rooms) with transportation and $24 for a meal. Not sure if anyone spent the night in the airport. I think it pretty much locks up.

Yes, for sure, SXM airport is closed at night.

Just an update: we made it home! The airport was a breeze! Took us maybe 15 min to sail thru the security and passport control. That was on Thursday at around 3pm. We didn’t have checked bags just carry one so we went right to the gates. The renovated airport part looks awesome, bright and clean and air conditioned, it was very pleasant. Until we went down to the WestJet gate that looked like a cattle shoot…