TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Airport status

Has there been any further updates regarding the airport opening the 1st floor for arrivals and departures by December 15th?

All quiet here.

Fingers crossed they make the date. April wasn’t bad for us but I’m concerned about our departure during high season.

Really do not think it will be very different in high season. Yes its high season, but how high?

Better than last year already.

Looking at scheduled arrivals for Saturday there's a crowd coming. At 2:50 pm Airfrance, Delta, Spirit, that should be fun!!!
Then United at 3:15

They are working very hard on both the ground floor and roof. Hoping for the best.

If at ALL possible, don't travel to and from SXM on Saturday or Sunday, as the crowds are often really bad then. This was true at the airport even pre-Irma.

I do hope they are able to get into the airport again soon. My totally uneducated guess is that they may not make Dec 15 either, but I hope so!

I cannot imagine a Saturday or Sunday right now. We came in on a Friday which was ok with only two flights. Leaving on a Tuesday was another story. There were 3 flights leaving, then 2 were delayed (KLM & Delta) which then backed it up to MORE flights in the departure area. And I believe we only got out one day before the same AA flight as cancelled, which was a huge debacle.

We left on a Friday, Nov. 16th and it was standing room only. The tent was packed and it was hard to maneuver to the restroom. The only good news was it wasn't hot in there. I really hope we are inside by February.

Two travel things which I have learned as I have aged - One is “bathroom management” as my needs have changed, and I think a lot more about liquid consumption and facility availability than I did in younger years. The other is carrying a battery-operated personal fan, which can be invaluable in a crowded SXM Departure Tent. The fanalso comes in handy on the many inter-island flights that I take.

We arrive today on United 1439 out of Dulles. Supposed to get in at 1:07. We'll let you know how the arrival process goes. Fingers crossed!!

Thanks and have a great trip.

Leagal49. Very interested in hearing your experience, particularly when you depart as that appears to be the more trying process. Thx!

Arrival was not bad at all. Jet blue got there before us, but they had to use the bus, while we were able to walk. That meant there were only a few ahead of us in the immigration line. By the way, all the immigration booths were staffed by Hollanders. Luggage retrieval is a bit of a mess. There are 2 holes in the wall that the bags are pushed through. Handlers then grab the bags and line them up behind a rope. Boy do they work hard. Jet blues luggage came out first, so we had to stand way back until they were done and United luggage started coming out. All said and done it took 30 minutes. The issue is that our 2 planes pretty much filled up the ten. Can't imagine what it would be like with several more planes. The tent was warm but not too bad. I think i saw the departure tent as we left in the shuttle to Unity. There were people waiting in lines outside.

Thanks for the recap. Have a great time! We arrive in 2 weeks😎

We depart on the 16th. I'll share the departure experience thereafter. Hopefully out of the lower level of the terminal building, but I'm not holding my breath.

Left Tuesday and it really was not bad. Makes me miss the old yellow building.

They are working day and night and making great progress. Will be ready soon.

A lot of supplies have showed up in the last week. The streets in the original departure area are full.

Correct Bob and they are really working hard .

We experienced probably the worst yesterday, and the airport staff handled it admirably. Flight 1622 from Miami was delayed 6 hours due to mechanical issues. Those of us waiting to fly out on that plane arrived as recommended, three hours early. We were kept outside until all the other big planes had boarded, as there's just not enough space in the tent for that many people. Our flight eventually departed at10:50; it was scheduled for 5:04. Most passengers handled the delay well, although there were a couple of asshats.

"although there were a couple of asshats."
There always are on any flight.

Wow, sounds like a very sour end to what was hopefully a nice trip!! I assume almost everyone missed their connections home from there, including you?. How was the trip otherwise?

A taxi driver friend posted a video yesterday of the lines outside and mess at the airport. It did not look like fun.

Carol,

Georgia is stuck in Miami!

After their 6 hour delay they got into Miami at 3 am and were sent to a hotel in Homestead. She is changing hotels today to something much nicer, but is trapped until Tuesday.

What a way to end her trip.

Wow ok that sucks..

Snow in NC is not going to help the situation.

Yeah, not fun. We would have gotten home last night if we had departed SXM on time, but with the weather today's flights are cancelled and tomorrow's are booked. Thinking of heading to South Beach tomorrow, as we've never been there. Making lemonade....

Sorry to hear of the delay for your return Georgia. Spending 3 extra days on the road is not appreciated when you are trying to get home. Lemonade is good. Enjoy South Beach!

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with lemonade as long as you’re of the right mindset........sorry about the ending to your SXM days but the beat goes on........ so make the most of it. And I know you will. ENJOY!

Try the Fountainblue. Still great after all the years. Joe’s Stone Crab for dinner. That’s top shelf lemonade!

If at all possible, don't miss Joe's Stone Crab restaurant. Sorry about the end of your trip. Hope you make it end well in South Beach. Good luck.

Airport terminal to reopen as tents come down as of Dec. 15

Daily Herald link

We fly out on Sunday the 16th. Fingers crossed!

Lots of lemonade to make in Miami from South Beach to Haulover. One caution is traffic back to airport. Hit the facilities before you go and think the worst and hope for the best. Rental car return location is strange the first time. Have to take train back to terminal.

After making a lot of lemonade in Miami, we just camp out at an airport hotel now. Stay bridge Suites Doral. Quiet with a Miller’s ale house in the parking lot. Zero stress.

Hope you enjoy your day in Sounth Beach today, and that things will be cleared out for you weather-wise, when you get home.

We're staying at the Hyatt Place right next to the airport, and have not rented a car. We'll Uber to South Beach today, and take the hotel shuttle to the airport in the morning. AA put us in a seedy motel 50 miles from the airport our first night; we're on our own dime now, and will argue with them about reimbursement later; no way I was staying there again. I understand that the venture card also has travel delay benefits. Right now all I care about is being comfortable and feeling safe.

I couldn't believe it when I heard AA sent you to Haulover!!! Unbelieveable!! No way I would stay in a fleabag motel either. We always purchase trip insurance now and it supposedly has travel delay insurance, but I've never really worried about that part of it. You didn't have any trip insurance??

Great news!! Not sure a Saturday is the right day for them to work out all the kinks at the new place, but it sounds like hopefully they will open on time.

I was trying to figure out from that story, they are not talking about a VIP lounge opening as of this Saturday, are they?