winair question

[dreamdoc]

Can anyone tell me if I can take a pet carrier AND a small roller suitcase carry-on on the WINAIR flight WITH me?? I know that not all the bags get to Saba the same day, so I wanted to take some clothes with me for a few days in the small carry-on suitcase, but I have a pet carrier too. Can someone familiar with Winair tell me if they have seen this done? Ill call winair tomorrow to confirm. Both of my bags do not weigh 70 pounds together and I think that is the weight limit per person, right? I do have a bigger suitcase that I am hoping to check as well.
THANK YOU!

[ol' man]

I brought my dog to Nevis on Win-Air last May. Mine was as checked luggage and win-air just wanted $20US which I paid at St. Maarten before the win-air flight when I got my boarding pass and they wanted to see my import papers for Nevis. I had emailed them to get confirmation(usair told me win-air would not accept pets so I had to get in touch with win-air before USAir would reserve a spot for my pet) and they only wanted the size of my pet carrier. I had 2 bags weighing 70 lbs each & the pet carrier plus 2 carryons. USAir charged me for having extra luggage but win-air didn't ask but then my luggage(and the pet) was already checked all the way to Nevis. Also win-air will not say anything about your luggage weight if it was already checked to your final destination.

Email them at
res2@fly-winair.com
and they will reply to you with an answer to your questions. They will probably put your small roller suitcase carry-on in with the luggage as you are boarding. There is hardly any space between the seats and there is no one telling you the luggage has to be stowed under the seat. I usually have to hold my carry ons. I can get my laptop bag in front of my legs or under the seat sometimes but it is cramped. Our flight is about 25-30 minutes but the Saba flight should be shorter.

But just to warn you the last time we flew in on the day before classes began the flight was all students and I don't think any of the students got their luggage. There were 3 flights from St. maarten to Nevis that night and then several throughout the next day and it still took about 3 days to get all our luggage. Win-Air seems to transport alot of cargo that does not belong to anyone on the flight. They are also always later leaving St. Maarten than your tickets say but for the most part I have been pleased with them. It's just a hassle that you have to go through.

You should not have any problems with your pet. But email them and they will respond quickly.

[dreamdoc]

Thanks for the helpful info!!!

[tryintobeadoc]

If you are on US airways then you are allowed more weight per person as your bags are normally checked all the way through to your island destination. Be cautious that you may have to pay overages (the limit is 20kg) if you come in on America, Delta, or any other non-partner airline.
Baggage tends to come on later flights (although I was lucky every single time and got my bags on my flight) but it is wise to bring a few days worth of supplies as carry-ons just in case. The fee for overages does vary depending on who is working the counter, etc..There is hardly any space between seats and unless you are at the front of the line in SXM waiting to go to your plane, chances are you will have to crawl through the plane to the front. If you can, move to the front of the line and try to get one of the seats at the back (it will allow you a little more room for yourself and carry-ons).
Too bad WinAir does not have frequent flyer miles!!
Best of luck and safe travel wishes for you.
(I tend to post mainly on my schools forum but I saw this post and thought to share my WinAir experience with you)..