We are planning on being in St. Kitts from December 26 to January 1.

The air choices include US out of here, connecting through PHL, or departing directly out of PHL, depending on price. Is there any feeling about whether US might experience a meltdwn in PHL similar to the one experienced in December '04?

Also, is Caribbean Sun, the SJU-SKB carrier considered to be reliable?

There are other non-US options, i.e. AA/Executive or DL/Caribbean Sun, both out of PHL, through SJU. The fares are essentially the same (expensive) for all PHL options, so cost is not an issue.

All input will be appreciated.

Thanks!!

Well there was no meltdown in christmas 2005, so 2006 should be a safe bet.

Also, is Caribbean Sun, the SJU-SKB carrier considered to be reliable?

Caribbean Sun and its sister Caribbean Star are generally reliable. Aircraft are new and flight crews pleasant. And when things do go wrong I have gotten better/more accurate communication from them than from Eagle/Executive or LIAT.

Be sure to save all of your documentation for DM credit!

Enjoy St Kitts. :)

Is there any feeling about whether US might experience a meltdwn in PHL similar to the one experienced in December '04?
As much media play as the famous Meltdown received, one major factor is never mentioned - weather. In this lowly pilot's opinion - weather was the primary factor that caused the problem, followed by RJ's not being able to carry both passengers and their bags because of the weather (weight restricted).

Someone else mentioned the lack of a meltdown in 2005. I'd mention a better comparison - Thanksgiving 2004. Thanksgiving supposedly has the heaviest travel days of any holiday and there was no meltdown - but there was good weather over virtually all of US' domestic system. With no significant systemic changes, the system melted down a month later, but the weather was horrible over much of the NE quarter of the United States the day the Meltdown started.

Some of the systemic factors that contributed to the Meltdown have improved since then - staffing and equipment. But if the weather this Christmas is anything like what existed in 2004, at least a mini-Meltdown is possible.

So watch the weather forecasts - they are your best indication.

Jim

Well there was no meltdown in christmas 2005, so 2006 should be a safe bet.

Good point!!

With the tix coming in @$1,250 each I just want to touch every base.

Thanks to all of you!!

We are planning on being in St. Kitts from December 26 to January 1.

The air choices include US out of here, connecting through PHL, or departing directly out of PHL, depending on price. Is there any feeling about whether US might experience a meltdwn in PHL similar to the one experienced in December '04?

Also, is Caribbean Sun, the SJU-SKB carrier considered to be reliable?

There are other non-US options, i.e. AA/Executive or DL/Caribbean Sun, both out of PHL, through SJU. The fares are essentially the same (expensive) for all PHL options, so cost is not an issue.

All input will be appreciated.

Thanks!!

I've been flying monthly or more betwen DCA and STX for 3 years. For the first of those 3 years I was AA/Aeagle. Then CSA came in and I tried them out. They were so much better, as was US in terms of reliability than AA. AA's ops in SJU and MIA are such a PITA I switched to US and hadn't looked back. Unfortunately CSA just cut their service to STX so now I don't know what I'm going to do as US only serves STX on Saturdays with mainline and has no codeshare parnter.

CSA used to do a snackbasket and beverage service on the <30 min flight from STX to SJU in the morning. FA's were always nice and the Dash-8's are nice for what they are. I never had more than a 30 minute delay with CSA, the same CANNOT be said for Aeagle. I would go CSA over AEagle any day. LIAT has a terrible reputation down here in the Caribbean but I've never flown the myself.

Only caveat is that you will have to get paper tickets (no extra charge) if you have a segement on CSA as they don't have E-ticketing.

Hope this helps..

Sean