PremiumV - passport
- Thread starter Faye
- Start date
andynap
Senior Insider
You could ask them. https://www.premiumiv.com/
cassidain
Senior Insider
While on the subject of PIV and SXM, I asked Vincent to detail his services going back thru SXM, and he graciously and promptly responded. The pre-departure services probably aren't really necessary to us (but maybe nice), but mainly I'm still unsure what value they are once you reach SXM. It sounds like they try to hold your hand going thru the customs/security/baggage check-in process, but you're still among the throngs and lines etc. Can anyone comment on this?
phil62
Senior Insider
Actually, his people bypass the :throngs" and walk you from your arrival at SXM to your departure gate. You do not wait on lines with everyone else. It's always faster if you have carry on, but even if you have checked bags, you still get through the SXM mess much faster.
Phil
cassidain
Senior Insider
Yes, we did that last time and returned home via TW and SJU. I was referring to SBH-SXM-USA direction.
We have checked bags from SBH-SXM- YYZ, so don’t think the transfer would be of any use to us for this leg.
It’s immensely helpful navigating SXM-SBH. If I can shave some time off our transit time in SXM and get on an earlier flight to SBH, then the hand holding is well worth it for us lol.
We’re also okay if our checked bags show up later or even the next day to our hotel as I’ll pack stuff for the first night in our carry ons.
It’s immensely helpful navigating SXM-SBH. If I can shave some time off our transit time in SXM and get on an earlier flight to SBH, then the hand holding is well worth it for us lol.
We’re also okay if our checked bags show up later or even the next day to our hotel as I’ll pack stuff for the first night in our carry ons.
cassidain
Senior Insider
Yes, SXM-SBH much more than hand holding. Private escort thru private security & customs then an advocate at gate counter for best customer service.
But on return legs with our carrier options back home there are no codeshare agreements with local airlines, so can’t thru check bags in SBH.
But on return legs with our carrier options back home there are no codeshare agreements with local airlines, so can’t thru check bags in SBH.
This is an amazing service where they not only walk you past people but they do check in your bags WITH you on the way back. ( On the way coming to SBH, they collect your bags in SXM and you don't see them until you get off the plane in SBH.)
On the return in SXM, the car driver that picked up on the helipad loaded our bags into the car that took us to the terminal, the Premium IV rep met us outside the terminal, then we walked past all the people in line outside the terminal and the rep and a baggage handler took our bags with with us to the Delta Check In counter, then the Premium IV rep accompanied us to the Security line, made sure we got through Security quickly, and left us in the departure hall where the gates were. So much less hassle than doing it yourself when you are handling a lot of baggage. If you were flying Winair, the Premium IV rep would have met you at the terminal and would have done the same thing.
In SBH on the return, Premium IV will pick up your baggage AND your passports (don't be afraid, you will get them back at the SBH airport) at your hotel/villa at the appointed hour, and take your baggage and passports to the check in counter at the SBH airport where Vincent will meet you with your baggage claim checks and your boarding passes and your passport, all done, and you don't touch a thing but your own carry ons. Then you get picked up in SXM by their people, no matter how you arrive to SXM.
Yes, you can do it yourself, no problem if you don't mind standing in lines, not knowing how long it will take to get through the line. However, if there IS a problem, you have Vincent at the other end of your phone call and they solve everything for you. And lately, there have been problems and I could not have been more grateful for their help when we were in a panic get-off-the-island that day. They monitor your flights and know where you are at all times and miraculously adjust to your arrival time when you have gotten on an earlier flight by Winair (and other transports), kind of like Flight Aware Ninjas! I have never regretted one cent I spent with them, knowing I had someone to call if things went haywire and we have 3 flights to account for. Plus, it is always such a pleasure to see Vincent when we arrive and depart as he works behind the scenes to make everything perfect.
Bon voyage!!
Vincent is everything written here . . . superb at knowing & managing logistics . . . executed with savoir faire . . . and does so with total modesty. Uniquely “old style” & gentlemanly.Mom, that's a pretty compelling endorsement for PIV's services SBH-SXM. You make a better case than Vincent makes himself honestly
I really do appreciate their services and I have appreciated the many detailed descriptions on this Forum that our members are willing to explain. I consider myself a very seasoned traveler but still see the value in local experts to smooth the path. Vincent has such high integrity, I just want to show my appreciation for those who have helped me, including our members.Mom, that's a pretty compelling endorsement for PIV's services SBH-SXM. You make a better case than Vincent makes himself honestly
Premium IV will email you, requesting certain information. You fill out information before you leave, giving Premium IV the information that they will ask for: your flights with numbers and the reservation confirmation number, pictures of your baggage so they can retrieve it for you at SXM (you don't handle your baggage; they find it for you and check it into Winair or whatever transport you choose to SBH, and they get you your boarding passes for Winair). Tried to find if I sent them a picture of my passport but have not yet found an email that I sent them with passport info..I'm not sure if they asked for that.
When you get to the terminal off your airplane, there will be a Premium IV Rep. with your name on a sign. You go through the VIP security line with an x ray machine for your carry ons in SXM with the Rep. in a special line. Then you handle your own passport when he leads you through to the Immigration window past all the other people but the Rep. is right by you. It is not in the regular line, of course. When you go through a private security line where they xray your carryons, you take off your shoes, so wear loafers or something without ties if you can..ties really slow you down. (DD got a knot in his..it wasn't pretty...
) ALSO, you do have to take off belt, watch, jewelry, keys, wallet, etc. that might set off the alarm, so put your stuff in your bag before going through the security thing. (Kind of disturbing when people are taking off their valuables and throwing them in plastic bins/bowls and putting them through the xray machine, but they are REALLY picky in SXM and obviously have different rules than the US, even in the VIP line.) Also, don't be in too much of a hurry and organize yourself and your belongings, and put your passport away right away, after immigration; it gets a little frenzied from time to time, and you do have to keep your passport safe; step aside for a moment if necessary. (OK, that is the "Mom" part of my travel speech
)!You show your own passport upon arrival at SBH and they will stamp your passport and off you go to grab your luggage off the tiny carrousel and you bring it outside and the Premium IV people take it and put it in the van/car/whatever you are being transported in, or they take it to your villa or hand it off at your hotel to the bell person. Voilà!
Last edited:
