Thread: Trouble in San Juan Airport

To Current Saba Student:

I heard rumors and some postings that San Juan Airport is terrible for changing flight to SXM and they have records of loosing luggages. I will be flying from Minneapolis to Miami, Miami to San Juan then SXM on Sept 1, 2005.

Would someone who already been through San Juan give me some advices or insights to avoid any headache when I get to San Juan ?


Thanks,

Shawnxyz

San Juan airport didn't lose my luggage, but America Airlines did make me buy a return ticket from St. Martin to San Juan even though I showed the counter clerk the school's letter. That reminds me I should probably tell the school about that. That happened to at least 3 of us. If you have a roundtrip ticket you don't have to worry about it.

I personally hated San Juan because it's set up so strangely and nothing seems labelled. I had to ask where to go. San Juan didn't lose my luggage - I only went through once, my last trip home from Saba (the permanent move back to the States). My luggage didn't make it out of St. Maarten with me (even though my layover was about 3 hours or more). It was stressful, but I had checked all the way through (although they tell you that you cannot do it, YOU CAN check your luggage through from Saba) and it found me at home the next day. The plus side to this is that I didn't have to drag my luggage through the SJ airport. There's a part of SJ where you cannot take the luggage carts - I hope your luggage has wheels.

Sooooo check your luggage all of the way through (and don't expect it to get to Saba when you do if you take the plane - give it a day or two and pack some stuff in your carry on). Ask directions in the SJ airport. Be calm. Good luck.

Originally Posted by swinginislanddoc

I personally hated San Juan because it's set up so strangely and nothing seems labelled. I had to ask where to go. San Juan didn't lose my luggage - I only went through once, my last trip home from Saba (the permanent move back to the States). My luggage didn't make it out of St. Maarten with me (even though my layover was about 3 hours or more). It was stressful, but I had checked all the way through (although they tell you that you cannot do it, YOU CAN check your luggage through from Saba) and it found me at home the next day. The plus side to this is that I didn't have to drag my luggage through the SJ airport. There's a part of SJ where you cannot take the luggage carts - I hope your luggage has wheels.

Sooooo check your luggage all of the way through (and don't expect it to get to Saba when you do if you take the plane - give it a day or two and pack some stuff in your carry on). Ask directions in the SJ airport. Be calm. Good luck.

Thanks for the posting. I am sure it is going to be helpful to upcoming students who are exchanging flights in SJ.

Shawnxyz

No problem - that's what this site is for.

One other thing I would mention - once you get to St Martin: carry-on luggage that is acceptable on a larger plane may not be for the little puddle-jumpers. Someone in my class let them put his laptop in the hold with the other luggage and it disappeared....

That is troublesome! Loosing a computer is not a good thing especially when the classroom depends so much on computer and you have to pay a good chunch of money to get a new one.

I am debating whether to take the ferry from SXM to Saba or the small and scary airplane.

Please keep posting any bad/good experiences you have at San Juan and some advices to avoid them.

Shawnxyz

Salutations:

I am also starting to be concerned with the stop at San Juan since many of the flights that I have looked at seems to go through there. As of this moment, according to "wolfvgang22", they require a return ticket from St. Marteen to San Juan for American Airlines.

Does anyone know if other airlines require one to purchase a return ticket or is this only for American Airlines? Or is it just the requirement at San Juan airport?

Also, to "BCgirl": What is the acceptable limit for carryons? I definitely would not leave my laptop unattended since I know those things can disappear pretty quick.

Thanks for your help everyone. Ciao.

Originally Posted by BTH

Salutations:

I am also starting to be concerned with the stop at San Juan since many of the flights that I have looked at seems to go through there. As of this moment, according to "wolfvgang22", they require a return ticket from St. Marteen to San Juan for American Airlines.

Does anyone know if other airlines require one to purchase a return ticket or is this only for American Airlines? Or is it just the requirement at San Juan airport?

Also, to "BCgirl": What is the acceptable limit for carryons? I definitely would not leave my laptop unattended since I know those things can disappear pretty quick.

Thanks for your help everyone. Ciao.

I went to AUC but i can prob answer bc i flew to saba also.....I always bought online and never had to buy roundtrip.

From San juan to SXM you can have a regular carry on for the flight. From SXM to Saba even the small carry on with wheels goes under the plane.....you can however wear a small backpack on the plane.....also from SXM to saba, if the flight is too heavy your bags will go on the next flight so make sure you have anything important with you and on you

Salutations "swimguy23":

Thanks for the response. By the way, do you happen to know if it is possible to wear a backpack along with a laptop bag when travelling from SXM to Saba? Or is this too much and they will only allow you to bring one bag? I am planning on wearing a backpack (with my documents, school information, etc.) in it and a laptop carry bag with my laptop and other cords in that.

Also, which airline did you use so that they didn't require a roundtrip ticket? Or does it all depend on the day? Thanks a lot for your help. Ciao.