I wasn't trying to argue with you in my last post. I intended to reply to wilsonck's post to point out one could be in SXM about an hour earlier than 2 p.m., but your post got posted why I was still typing.

But since you appear to be a little feisty today, I'll play along. You actually said "the AA connection from Tampa through Miami used be really crappy--4 or 5 hours, something like that, on the return". It would much clearer to state the AA connection TO Tampa if you're only referring to the return from SXM.

I do agree that the flights back to Tampa on AA are not as good as their flights to SXM but there are some decent choices if you can find the right price such as flights 2219 and 919 (leaving SXM ~3 p.m. and returning to Tampa ~ 9 p.m.) On our return, we left at 4:25 p.m. and got back at 11:40 p.m. (via CLT) as we wanted to stay in SXM longer.