I am a first timer on this forum and will be traveling to St Barths in the near future. I have read varying amounts of experiences at the airport in

[way2old]

St Martin Airport-Time to Clear

I am a first timer on this forum and will be traveling to St Barths in the near future. I have read varying amounts of experiences at the airport in St Martin. On arrival, flying American Airlines, how long should we allow to clear the airport and catch a Winair flight to SB. And the same question on leaving SB to land and clear the Juliana airport on departure.
Thanks for your help!
Go Limin...way2old

 

[debo]

Re: St Martin Airport-Time to Clear

If you have carry ons only you need not worry about it taking to much time since you can go right to the transit gate and bypass customs..If not there will be plenty on information comming your way soon but I would figure on at least 60-90 mins time to clear customs,retrieve your bags,clear security and get to the gate..

 

[andynap]

Re: St Martin Airport-Time to Clear

It depends on time of year and day of the week and whether you will be checking luggage on the plane. Low season is less people as are weekdays. Assuming low season, weekday and getting your luggage, about 1 hour should do. If you are carrying all your luggage you can use the Transit Gate and it's about 5 to 10 minutes. If a weekend and you have to get your luggage I would say 1 1/2 hours would cover that. All of this is an estimate but if you are early for your flight to SBH and its Winair they will put you on early.
Coming back, all the airlines want you there 2 hours before takeoff and you will see signs to that affect.

 

[davesmom]

Re: St Martin Airport-Time to Clear

Bonjour!
I think Andy's suggestions are good; we left a little more time than that because coming back from SBH, the luggage left slightly before we did with all of the checked luggage on one Winair plane, and the passengers on a second plane. We thought it would be in SXM before we landed. Well..., the luggage took at least 45 minutes to get unloaded and into our possesion once we went through the immigration booth at SXM. Then we checked into Continental. Leave more time than you think you will need. No problem killing an hour in SXM (food, shopping, rhum, dollar/euro one to one!) and not being nervous... worth it to me.

The good news is, if you leave lots of time between SXM and SBH going there, and if you are ready earlier than your flight, you can nicely ask them to put you on an earlier flight. They did this for us, as we were travelling during the week...I highly suggest that you do that if possible..Made our trip SO much easier! They will certainly put you on an earlier flight if there is room, and they can even get your luggage on it. The girl at Gate
9 can check her computer for your luggage...at least that is our experience this year. Hope you don't get a crabby one like we did last year! But please don't skimp on time..some people have missed their flight back to the US and also to France (I have heard stories!).

Also, if you are really nervous about luggage, and you want to burn some money, use the St. Barths Services guys..We did not use them this time but they were so nice and terrific when we met Brice, gave him Tim's name (!) just to say "hi"...probably would have charged us a fortune knowing that! LOL.

Oh yeah, one other detail..I had to pay 50E overweight luggage charge at Winair on the return flight..my husband just rolled his eyes and was glad it wasn't more! Continental didn't say a word..I love Continental!

Sincerely,
Davesmom

 

[Nimdok]

Re: St Martin Airport-Time to Clear

All -
It may be a naive question, but what time should you be at SBH before departing? (I'm flying Air Caraibes, and meeting an AA departure from SXM.)

In June, on a Sunday. 11am.

Nim

 

[MIke R]

Re: St Martin Airport-Time to Clear

we usually drop the bags off about an hour and a half before our scheduled departure from SBH...and then we shoot into town for a nice breakfast..and then we just show up around 20 minutes from the departure time

 

[andynap]

Re: St Martin Airport-Time to Clear

2 years ago Air Caraibes would NOT let my friends drop off their luggage until 20 minutes before flight time. Odile from Gumb's Car Rental let them use her office to store the luggage- love that woman. Winair is different.

 

[Cheri]

Re: St Martin Airport-Time to Clear

Yes, Miker, that was our plan last week too! LOL

Happy Birthday!

 

[MIke R]

Re: St Martin Airport-Time to Clear

LO>..yeah..miraculously we have dodged that bullet to date....but its just a matter of time before the ol law of averages catches up with us....but it sounds like you guys handled it perfectly....you get lemons...make lemonade....go to the pool and get more sun...great attitude..and far healthier then having a nervous breakdown and eating a bunch of Xanaxs to cope with it.....LOL

 

[Cheri]

Re: St Martin Airport-Time to Clear

We weren't too happy about it at first because once you get into the mindset to go home, well, you're in the mindset to go home (the party is over!). And I missed my son and our pooches! However, once we realized we were stuck.....we grabbed a hot dog and a Carib and....made the best of it! I can think of way worse places to be stuck! We actually had a pretty good time after all!

 

[Petri]

Re: St Martin Airport-Time to Clear

Over the last years 90 minutes has been plenty for the arrival with AA and connecting to the other islands.

However I would leave some extra time when departing with the AA flight. They "inspect" all luggage which takes some time, they may also give other flights privilege over yours and the people at the check-in desk are not the fastest on this planet. Arrival on AA and check-in to Winair or other local airlines has never been a problem (or slow).

The security check after immigration (which is fast) can be very quick or a nightmare because people are coming through different lines and intelligent queueing seems to be unknown concept for both the tourists and the staff. We spent an hour there last time, which was fast and efficient compared to Miami but not a pleasure.

Sometimes you just wonder how little changes could help so much.

Petri

 

[andynap]

Re: St Martin Airport-Time to Clear

QUOTE:" people are coming through different lines "

It's the Transit Gate people coming from seemingly nowhere bumping the already jammed lines waiting for clearance. If everybody went thru the same lane it might alleviate the problem.

 

[bajajudy]

Re: St Martin Airport-Time to Clear

Allow plenty of time and then if you are early you can probably get on an earlier Winair flight. Who wants to start their vacation a nervous wreck!
Have Fun!

 

[Nimdok]

Re: St Martin Airport-Time to Clear

Thanks everyone. Unless the weather decides to show all the reliability of an Alaskan Ferry it seems we've allotted enough time. I appreciate the suggestions.

Who wants to start their vacation a nervous wreck!

I kinda' thought that's how we ALL start vacations. Isn't that what they're supposed to cure????


Nim