tim
Moderator
Reged: 06/18/03
Posts: 6005
Loc: Vélo, Virginia, Vitet
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U.S. Air did their part by getting us to one of the two operational new jetways at SXM by 4:00 P.M. We proceeded off the jetway with total confidence that we would now make our 4:45 P.M. Winair flight with time to spare, but NO, not so. The door at the end of the jetway wouldn't open to allow the passengers to enter the terminal. Fifteen minutes later, those of us with connecting flights were ushered through another door to the Transit Counter. Winair issued us boarding passes, so we still thought we'd make our connection. We proceeded to the Winair gate and waited about fifteen minutes - only to be told that the last flight of the day to St. Barth had already departed. Winair said that because we weren't at their gate 90 minutes prior to departure that they weren't responsible to either get us to St. Barth or pay for accommodations. The real story was that Winair had no operational aircraft to make the flight, but they wouldn't admit it.
As has been mentioned previously on this site, there is currently no ferry service from St. Maarten to St. Barth. Both the Voyageur and Rapid Explorer are out of service, probably for a good while. I saw Voyageur up on the land at Bobby's Marina in Phillipsburg, and she didn't look anywhere near ready for sea.
There were 12 of us trying to get to St. Barth that were thereby stranded. Frances with St. Barth Commuter magically appeared and offered to arrange for us a private charter boat to get us over tonight at 100 euros per person for the boat plus $25 in fees for the taxi/logistics/Frances. We all jumped at the chance and arrived at St. Barth at about 8:00 P.M. on a fifty footer from Ski Pilou. Luckily for us the seas weren't too rough. The new Juliana has lots and lots of new issues yet to resolve, and I hope they're up to the task. If the lack of cleanliness in this gazillion dollar new facility is any indication, they may not be up to the challenge.
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The best moderation is the least moderation.
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15742
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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good God that sounds like a nightmare Tim!!...LOL...I'm smelling an opportunity here mon ami in regards to the lack of ferryboats ...I need to make a few calls
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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JEK
Moderator
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 10729
Loc: Northern Virginia
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Was John Kerry on your flight?
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Carnaval 2009: Mardi 24 Février 2009!!!!
JEK
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tim
Moderator
Reged: 06/18/03
Posts: 6005
Loc: Vélo, Virginia, Vitet
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Quote:
Was John Kerry on your flight?
He got on in Charlotte, got off, then reboarded, and got off once again just before they closed the doors. He then issued a statement "sort of" apologizing for holding up our flight.
Mes amis,
Please forgive me for the above, but mon ami JEK made me do it.
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The best moderation is the least moderation.
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bto
Reged: 04/10/03
Posts: 1437
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You're forgiven, Tim, but egads, what is going on at PJIA?
Not too encouraging and I'm already thinking about my backup plan in February.
Hope you plan on having a creme beignet for me tomorrow morning. :)
Bev
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tim
Moderator
Reged: 06/18/03
Posts: 6005
Loc: Vélo, Virginia, Vitet
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Quote:
good God that sounds like a nightmare Tim!!...LOL...I'm smelling an opportunity here mon ami in regards to the lack of ferryboats ...I need to make a few calls
Mike,
Rapid Ex is out of service, perhaps forever. Voyageur is out of service for an extended period. Winair, for whatever bizarre Winair reasoning, has numerous aircraft out of service, including perhaps all or most of their Twin Otters. Frances has arranged private boat charters almost every day lately, three in one day due to Winair's cancellation of flights. U.S. Air was completely filled from CLT to SXM. It would appear there's definitely an opportunity for somebody.
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The best moderation is the least moderation.
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tim
Moderator
Reged: 06/18/03
Posts: 6005
Loc: Vélo, Virginia, Vitet
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Quote:
You're forgiven, Tim, but egads, what is going on at PJIA?
Not too encouraging and I'm already thinking about my backup plan in February.
Hope you plan on having a creme beignet for me tomorrow morning. :)
Bev
Bev,
Even after the chaos and frustration of our trip down, it's still sweet to be here feeling the cherished breeze as it blows the tropical temps over travel-weary bodies. We all need a Plan B, but the current situation makes even a realistic plan A almost a fantasy if one is flying U.S. Air from Charlotte and/or connecting to Winair.
P.S. We'll definitely check out the beignet selection tomorrow.
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The best moderation is the least moderation.
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frank
Reged: 09/16/04
Posts: 9
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I am so happy we are flying to SBH from San Juan this year. We may all be wishing for the chaos of the old airport before the season is over! BTW, if anyone wants to share a charter from SJU the afternoon of Nov 29 there's room.
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SELES
Reged: 03/15/03
Posts: 1826
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Sounds like Pilou is stepping up to the plate...MikeR, I am building a new Ferry in my spare time & should have it ready to help out soon. I doing this because the repair of Rapid, etc. is about as fast as the British Navy Invading Grenada. What concerns me the most as many expected is why 'the tail always wags the dog' at Juliana, then things evolve eventually into an okay situation. Obviously there was little or no thought and no communication between the major carriers, minor carriers, airport officials and of course, SXM VIP (who could probably design a perfect In Transit system).
Tim, glad you are there but Winair should be lashed for shirking responsibility, but this is always what they do, every time...unless an available plane lands on their heads.
Ric
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andynap
Reged: 10/24/02
Posts: 12148
Loc: Philadelphia
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As long as there are SB Services and Premium IV, I am not too concerned and will not get too excited about the new terminal until after the 1st of the year. I am flying SB Commuter so I won't be doing the Winair shuffle thank you. Maybe the jetway door will be working by then.
Tim: with Daylight Time now the USAIR CLT flight will always be getting in around 4- so how can you ever make the Winair flight? 90 minutes???
Edited by andynap (11/02/06 05:20 AM)
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MartinS
Reged: 05/25/03
Posts: 771
Loc: Anna Maria Island, Florida.
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Quote:
The new Juliana has lots and lots of new issues yet to resolve, and I hope they're up to the task. If the lack of cleanliness in this gazillion dollar new facility is any indication, they may not be up to the challenge.
If the lack of cleaniness that I observed on it's 3rd day of operation is any indication of what Juliana is to become, it will be just as dirty and disgusting as the old one by the first of the year.
J
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You can rest when you're dead !!!
www.silentcaptain.com
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15742
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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Quote:
Sounds like Pilou is stepping up to the plate...MikeR, I am building a new Ferry in my spare time & should have it ready to help out soon. I doing this because the repair of Rapid, etc. is about as fast as the British Navy Invading Grenada. What concerns me the most as many expected is why 'the tail always wags the dog' at Juliana, then things evolve eventually into an okay situation. Obviously there was little or no thought and no communication between the major carriers, minor carriers, airport officials and of course, SXM VIP (who could probably design a perfect In Transit system).
Tim, glad you are there but Winair should be lashed for shirking responsibility, but this is always what they do, every time...unless an available plane lands on their heads.
Ric
wel Ric..my money is on that no repair is taking place....something else is going on here for sure....but hey, you build it...I'll run it....the guy who basically runs the entire NJ/NYC ferry operation, at one time, many moons ago, was a snot nosed bratfaced high school kid working as my deckhand ...I'm calling him today to pick his brain
it sounds like there will be madcaps and mayhem a plenty when high season rolls around, unless big changes happen soon....I can see JimD revising his income projections now....Commuter too..LMAO
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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