Tradewinds fron SJU ?
- Thread starter BAM
- Start date
PIRATE40
Senior Insider
Hi BAM....We have done it both ways....I have found that even though the Tradewind fight is expensive...the big offset in price is the flight to SJU is usually super cheap..and then take out the flight to SBH from SXM, and then you are not that far off. With Tradewind, in SJU you go upstairs to their private lounge, bypass TSA completely, and they take you out to the plane--next stop SBH. Easy travel day. Coming back through SJU custom/immigration is a breeze. You are now in the US and do not have to clear back in home. Sure, it may be a few more $$, but what a breeze. Some here will say SXM is no big deal...and most times it is not. I just happen to love the Pilatus flight and the whole experience. Just price it all out and see what the actual difference is in $ and time.......For us, the Delta flight from Sarasota has become really expensive....cheaper for us to do SJU-SBH....
andynap
Senior Insider
I think how cheap the flight to SJU is depends on where you are coming from and using FF miles there should be little difference flying to SJU or SXM. If you can get a non-stop flight to SXM there is no question that's the way to go IMO. And I never thought SJU airport was small.
elgreaux
Senior Insider
Tradewind is a good way to go if more convenient for sure. But, it can be a very (very!) long walk in San Juan to and from Tradewind in Terminal A.
AA Admirals Club now closed but they used to give members a ride on a cart. And recently some of the terminals have been under construction and empty, making for a very unpleasant walk... at times seems almost seemed a bit dangerous to walk alone through a deserted work site.
AA Admirals Club now closed but they used to give members a ride on a cart. And recently some of the terminals have been under construction and empty, making for a very unpleasant walk... at times seems almost seemed a bit dangerous to walk alone through a deserted work site.
GramChop
Senior Insider
I had my former airport (IAH - Houston) in mind when I made that statement, Andy.
SJU:
IAH:
JEK
Senior Insider
The latest info on SJU from Tradewind
Airline Connection
If you have not yet done so, please provide us with your airline connection details. Complete airline connection instructions for all airports is listed below.
San Juan Departures
If you have purchased VIP Service, a Tradewind Aviation representative will greet you at your commercial airline flight arrival gate.
Tradewind is now located in Terminal A in San Juan. Our check-in counter is located to the left of the JetBlue check-in counters
Please note the Tradewind check-in counter and departure lounge in Terminal A is located outside of TSA security where dining and food purchase options are limited. If you are planning on dining or purchasing food during your layover at SJU, you should do so before leaving the secure area and proceeding to the Terminal A check-in. Tradewind flights board directly from the non-secure area so you will not return to the secure area at any point.
Directions from other airlines in Terminal A (JetBlue)
If you have bags to claim, proceed to the baggage claim area in the lower level. Collect bags and go up the escalator to level 2 for check-in. If you have no bags to claim, proceed out of the secure area and directly to the Tradewind check-in counter which is located to the left of the JetBlue counters.
Directions from Terminal B (Delta, United, Southwest, Spirit) and
Directions from Terminal C (Copa, Condor, Avianca, Westjet, Air Canada, Cape Air)
If you have bags to claim, proceed to the baggage claim area in the lower level. Exit baggage claim and proceed to level 2 in Terminal A for check-in. If you have no bags to claim, proceed directly to the Tradewind check-in counter which is located to the left of the JetBlue counters.
Directions from Terminal D (American Airlines, US Air, Seaborne)
If you have bags to claim, proceed to the baggage claim area in the lower level. Exit baggage claim and proceed to level 2 in Terminal A for check-in. If you have no bags to claim, proceed directly to the Tradewind check-in counter which is located to the left of the JetBlue counters.
After check-in, our representatives will guide you to our new private lounge in the third floor Mezzanine of Terminal A. This area also serves as our new departures gate. When it is time for boarding you will be escorted to the aircraft. There is no longer a need to pass through TSA security.
Aircraft boarding will take place 15 minutes prior to the departure time. St. Barths Airport closes at sunset, NO EXCEPTIONS. We cannot delay flights due to late arrival of connecting flights. Passengers who arrive late will miss their flight and forfeit their ticket. We will, however, attempt to accommodate changes at no extra charge on a space available basis.
Airline Connection
If you have not yet done so, please provide us with your airline connection details. Complete airline connection instructions for all airports is listed below.
San Juan Departures
If you have purchased VIP Service, a Tradewind Aviation representative will greet you at your commercial airline flight arrival gate.
Please note the Tradewind check-in counter and departure lounge in Terminal A is located outside of TSA security where dining and food purchase options are limited. If you are planning on dining or purchasing food during your layover at SJU, you should do so before leaving the secure area and proceeding to the Terminal A check-in. Tradewind flights board directly from the non-secure area so you will not return to the secure area at any point.
Directions from other airlines in Terminal A (JetBlue)
If you have bags to claim, proceed to the baggage claim area in the lower level. Collect bags and go up the escalator to level 2 for check-in. If you have no bags to claim, proceed out of the secure area and directly to the Tradewind check-in counter which is located to the left of the JetBlue counters.
Directions from Terminal B (Delta, United, Southwest, Spirit) and
Directions from Terminal C (Copa, Condor, Avianca, Westjet, Air Canada, Cape Air)
If you have bags to claim, proceed to the baggage claim area in the lower level. Exit baggage claim and proceed to level 2 in Terminal A for check-in. If you have no bags to claim, proceed directly to the Tradewind check-in counter which is located to the left of the JetBlue counters.
Directions from Terminal D (American Airlines, US Air, Seaborne)
If you have bags to claim, proceed to the baggage claim area in the lower level. Exit baggage claim and proceed to level 2 in Terminal A for check-in. If you have no bags to claim, proceed directly to the Tradewind check-in counter which is located to the left of the JetBlue counters.
After check-in, our representatives will guide you to our new private lounge in the third floor Mezzanine of Terminal A. This area also serves as our new departures gate. When it is time for boarding you will be escorted to the aircraft. There is no longer a need to pass through TSA security.
Aircraft boarding will take place 15 minutes prior to the departure time. St. Barths Airport closes at sunset, NO EXCEPTIONS. We cannot delay flights due to late arrival of connecting flights. Passengers who arrive late will miss their flight and forfeit their ticket. We will, however, attempt to accommodate changes at no extra charge on a space available basis.
andynap
Senior Insider
And that's one way for 1 person and SB Commuter is less than Winair.
MIke R
Senior Insider
and I ve never spent 200RT to go SXM to SBH.....more like 120 to 160 RT on Commuter
and SJU is not a small airport by any stretch
Jim Kelly-Evans
Senior Insider
For us the cost of Tradewinds is prohibitive no matter how we get down to SJU.
many opinions, but we have used tradewind for 6 years from san juan after numerous unpleasant st martin experiences. we all see this differently, but for our vote it would be tradewind at almost any price. easy, seamless,and no luggage pick up until st barts ( with vip added). if you get to san juan in time for the tradewind 1:30 you are in your villa at 3:30 that to us, is worth it in spades. the trip is easy,relaxing, and pleasant in place of uncertain and unpleasant. thats just our take and the rest is up to you!!
elgreaux
Senior Insider
They may be, but one recent trip I had to walk back to Jet Blue from where you land. It was a very very long walk and no one had any transport to offer. I use Tradewind frequently but just sayin' it's not a tiny airport with all gates right next to each other like SXM. I think there are advantages to each way of transit, and coming from NYC, sometimes faster just to go via SXM, rather than wait for the 4.30pm Tradewind flight. Toss up sometimes...
PIRATE40
Senior Insider
You are right.....from JFK and other major hubs, it is a lot cheaper than I can get from where I am...so it wouldn't be even close. We have to take Delta to ATL, then down to SXM, and a few years back, the prices were outrageous, which is when we started the SJU-SBH trips....but now I don't want to go back to the longer travel days, so I splurge on the trip down.....
