The Caribbean - SXM is the worst airport on earth

I am writing this from gate C1 at Princess Juliana Int'l Airport (SXM). I must tell you, this is the worst run airport on the face of the Earth! My flight on St-Barths Commuter was scheduled to depart at 1545, and now here it is 1600 and there’s no word on my flight. The flight information boards are obviously pre-programmed….they flash “boarding” about 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure, then flash “departed” once the scheduled time passes without regard for the real status of the flight. There are two kids manning the desk who just shrug and say “I don’t know” whenever anyone asks about their flight. There’s no St-Barths Commuter representative anywhere in sight, and now I am sitting 1 hour before sunset still stuck in crappy old SXM. :mad: If I have to spend the night here I might jump off the top of the Royal Sonesta. More to follow…

Update: Finally, at 1545 they allowed our flight to proceed due to the tardiness of 3 Portuguese musicians that they were holding the plane for. Irregardless of the reasons, SBC is the worst airline around, and SXM’s attitude of non-help doesn’t help much…at all.


At least I’m in SBH now, enjoyin’ my buzz from the Yacht Club. LIFE IS GOOD! :D :D

This is a responsibility of your carrier, not the airport. As Caribbean airports go, I find SXM to be a middle-of-the road type. But watching the planes land from the beach, now that is first class all the way!

At least I’m in SBH now, enjoyin’ my buzz from the Yacht Club. LIFE IS GOOD! :D :D

Based on this sentence alone, you better not be expectin' sympathy! :p

Please continue to follow this thread in the FT Caribbean Forums.
Thanks...
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

My flight on St-Barths Commuter was scheduled to depart at 1545, and now here it is 1600 and there’s no word on my flight.

Update: Finally, at 1545 they allowed our flight to proceed due to the tardiness of 3 Portuguese musicians that they were holding the plane for. Irregardless of the reasons, SBC is the worst airline around, and SXM’s attitude of non-help doesn’t help much…at all.

...and the Airport is the problem?? not the Rum??:D

I am writing this from gate C1 at Princess Juliana Int'l Airport (SXM).

...

At least I’m in SBH now, enjoyin’ my buzz from the Yacht Club. LIFE IS GOOD! :D :D

Quick flight! (My vote's on the rum.;))

Welcome to the Caribbean! It ain't the United States, so don't expect it to be.... that's half the reason people come here. FEDEX isn't overnight, the same standards, timeliness and quality of service you are "used" to don't apply.

I live in San Juan and wish I could spend more occasional trips to SXM - especially the Dutch side. My advice is if you hate the "island service" that much then stay away.... it won't be all too much different at many of the hotels, tourist attractions, restaurants, etc., unless you're in top dollar.

Sincerely, - jdburns11

duplicate

This is a responsibility of your carrier, not the airport. As Caribbean airports go, I find SXM to be a middle-of-the road type. But watching the planes land from the beach, now that is first class all the way! And the ladies on the landing approch plan arn't shabby either,YMMV = to St Barts,
mine don't;)

...and the Airport is the problem?? not the Rum??:D

No, it does not problems at SXM. Because SXM has been changed. That I saw the pictures SXM new terminal with 3 or 5 jetbridge. It does much better when they has been construction over the year. I can't imagine why SXM has been more new terminal. I remember that I saw nice young lady when she was laying in the beach. Some of photography who has been shooting the pictures near SXM airport. I remember if I can have more information at SXM sometime in the future. But, I am never been went to Caribbean before. What else I can go on the tour around the islands.

When I saw the title of the post I thought the OP was insane - I have been to quite a few horrible airports before and I am sure many others have been also. But after reading I totally agree with the OP.

The gate agents and airport staff aren't the friendliest in SXM. I travel through this airport almost monthly and always experience or witness a horror story. I can only hope that once the new terminal is fully operational the Management company and airlines represented will invest in some serious customer experience training for all personnel.

Hey that sounds like a great opportunity for a sales and service consultant, anyone out there up to the challenge?

The gate agents and airport staff aren't the friendliest in SXM. I travel through this airport almost monthly and always experience or witness a horror story.


Worst airport on earth, not the friendliest employees, almost always experience or witness a horror story.......

This thread would be useful if someone would post even 1 example of any of the above, notwithstanding the OP's remarks which had nothing at all to do with SXM. How does one airline's failure to communicate make SXM the worst airport on earth? Blame the airline, not the airport. I wonder whether the OP has ever left the US (& maybe Caribbean) if SXM is the "worst airport" he's encountered.

You want to gripe about something related to the airport, gripe about the quality of the climate control in the departure lounge, or how the approach puts innocent bathers at risk, or.... something that has anything to do with the airport.....

I have been to a lot of airports and I fail to see how the thread title is useful or even arguable. Oh ya, last thing, there have been numerous threads about "worst airport in the world", do a search, it has been pretty much agreed that CDG and various south asian airports are the contenders for that trophy.

/pbz

This is hilarious. Have yall flown anywhere else in the Caribbean? When you get there, chill out. Go to the bathroom. Put on shorts. Have a couple beers. Relax. Then go worry about getting on your connecting flight.

The first time I went to the islands, I landed and expected to be in my rental car in a half hour and to my hotel 30 minutes after that. Five hours later, I learned a valuable lesson about the pace of things down there.

You went there because it's not Florida. Enjoy it, don't get pissed because...it's not Florida.

You went there because it's not Florida. Enjoy it, don't get pissed because...it's not Florida.

Or, follow the British-inspired English of the Caribbean and DO get pissed - you'll have a much better time... ;) :D

Worst airport on earth, not the friendliest employees, almost always experience or witness a horror story.......

This thread would be useful if someone would post even 1 example of any of the above, notwithstanding the OP's remarks which had nothing at all to do with SXM. How does one airline's failure to communicate make SXM the worst airport on earth? Blame the airline, not the airport. I wonder whether the OP has ever left the US (& maybe Caribbean) if SXM is the "worst airport" he's encountered.

You want to gripe about something related to the airport, gripe about the quality of the climate control in the departure lounge, or how the approach puts innocent bathers at risk, or.... something that has anything to do with the airport.....

I have been to a lot of airports and I fail to see how the thread title is useful or even arguable. Oh ya, last thing, there have been numerous threads about "worst airport in the world", do a search, it has been pretty much agreed that CDG and various south asian airports are the contenders for that trophy.

/pbz


zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...... :rolleyes:

Whatever dude. I have probably flown more at age 29 than you will in your entire life, but let's not pass judgements without knowing each other, Yes? ;)

I was mearly stating that most, if not all, of the airport employees at SXM are completely incompetant. On my way back through from SBH, the CO flight was delayed about 1.5 hours, and the gate agent was nowhere to be found. Back when I was going through to SBH, the agentsa for WinnAir, Air Caribes, etc. were just as unhelpful as the ones for St. Barth Commuter. People were all in arms and really angry, so don't tell me that it was an isolated incident.

I agree that CDG is the #1 worst airport, but SXM is up there. Also, I wrote this thread after a 10 hour flight and I was dehydrated and ready to kick it on St. Jean Beach on SBH. It was the same story on the way back, but I was very relaxed after my time on the beach! :D :D

Well, as someone who has been through SXM eight times now and several other Caribbean airports, I would simply offer my opinion that it is no better or worse than the average airport in the region.

Last time I was there, I was waiting for a flight to one of the out islands. It was amusing to see the people who would arrive off of flights from the US and be upset at the way things worked there.

It's a very sad thing to admit but Customer Service or better yet creating great customer experiences is something that is lacking in the caribbean in general. Though we are a warm, friendly, and passionate people we rarely bring these characteristics to the work environment.

However I must say that there has been considerable improvements at most of the regions airports. In March 2007 the Caribbean will be hosting the Cricket World Cup (may not mean much to the Americans but it is a big deal for Eurpoeans, Asians, Australians, Africans and us Caribbean people). Apart from major infrastructural upgrade there have been extensive training programmes geared at delivering a world class expreience for persons using our ports - note that travelling the islands between March and May 07 will be a nightmare.

Now with regards to the issues in St. Maarten... I really have high hopes that now the new terminal has been officially opened by the Queen of Holland - really big deal, flew in for the opening ceremony - the attitudes of the employees should change. They were a disgruntled bunch and lots had to do with working conditions and facilities at the old terminal. Let's give them some time and come back with some more comments 6 months from now. I do hope that airport management will provide special training to all port workers and gate agents.

In closing I just need to advise travellers to note that from March to Early May 07 travelling between the following countries should be extremely challenging:
Jamaica
Antigua
St. Kitts
St. Lucia
Barbados
St. Vincent
Grenada
Trinidad

They are all host sites for the World Cup. Good luck to the brave travellers and be sure to post your experiences in the caribbean forum. Would be interested in reading them as in my new role I am the Customer Experience lead for a major Caribbean bank and always like hearing about experiences in myCaribbean.

Thanks

They were a disgruntled bunch and lots had to do with working conditions and facilities at the old terminal. Let's give them some time and come back with some more comments 6 months from now. I do hope that airport management will provide special training to all port workers and gate agents.

Well said johannesj. I think that many of us are just coming off long flights to paradise, and we are a bit cranky ourselves. I'm looking forward to my next trip there next year to see the improvements.

One side note: I'm really sorry to see that the bar/restaurant from the upstairs portion of SXM did not make the move to the new terminal. I loved their Cuban Sandwich!