Due to becoming aware of the pledge to enforce the recently reimposed executive orders of the governors of NY, NJ and CT last evening, we were convinced our November trip to the island would go the way of our April 2020 trip and went to bed with that thought in mind and a heavy heart because of it.

This morning I awoke with a more positive attitude and decided to give things one more try and in contacting AA via the telephone, I had the opportunity to deal with an amazing American Airlines CSR named Rene. She was wonderfully helpful and before I knew what happened, she was able to sort it all out and find us alternate flights and dates to come into Hartford instead in NY. She was also able to locate better FF tix than I had originally booked and in the end, she actually saved us money and miles. And the best part, she was delightful and actually acted like she wanted to make things work for us. I almost always have good luck with AA but this time I was amazed by the airlines approach to working things out.

JB was okay on the cancellation/refund end but I have to say, they didn’t come close to the caring approach of AA and the woman who helped me. One more reason why I love AA and will book them as my first choice whenever possible.

So glad things seem to be working out for you, Pat! You deserve a break today!! Wonder where I heard that before??

That's great that it all worked out for you and I hope all of your other preparations also go well. We made the decision last week, that if we had to jump through a few extra hoops to make it to the island than we were happy to do so for the pleasure that our trip always brings to us.

Hats off to AA. The can be amazing if you give them time to work it out. I've always have good out comes when I talk to customer service.

Pat, Did you get your dates switched back to Friday so you aren't losing any of your days on the island?

Thank you both. I am totally psyched the trip is looking more likely now and just hoping there aren’t any more wrenches thrown in the mix.

And as luck would have it, the dates we’re now booked for are the original November dates we enjoyed a few years back. So while there are early November friends we will miss this trip, there are more we haven’t gotten to see for a few years because of our early November dates who WILL be there after turkey day so all’s well that ends well.

No, we ended up changing to a Saturday arrival but for two full weeks departing also on a Saturday. With Thanksgiving and Covid testing and all, it works! I’m thinking you will be there also?

I'm so glad it has worked out for you and your hubby. You both love the island so much I'm thinking it will a most relaxing time. I was very sorry to see that Kim has to pass on her upcoming trip and wish the best for her on her upcoming surgery. I am thinking this will be one of our most low key, relaxing times we have had on the island.

And are you staying on Simpson Bay? I’m not much of a beach walker but if you get down around BSV, please feel free to stop and say hello. We usually have coffee on our deck most mornings and pina coladas around cocktail hour.

I feel badly for Kim and Ken having to forego their trip but they will be down over New Years and again for regatta if not sooner, and it really is better she gets her surgery safely out of the way first.

We’ve gotten to the point that ALL our trips are relaxing but after eightY or so trips we feel no need to cram things in any longer and we can enjoy the island at a slower pace.

Glad to hear and good for you Folks.

Trust you received my email, Lesley. Does that all work for you? I hope.......😊😊

We stay right on the other side of Mary's Boon, it is called Cocos Beach Club. We have been staying there twice a year since 2014 and absolutely love it. I do hope that at some point we get to say hello and I get to thank you for being such a pleasant and reasoned voice on the Forum. I just filled out our trip dates on the Forum Calendar and that was wonderful but with no other listings it was sad also.

Yes Dear and no problem.

Happy for you and John that it all worked out relating to the airline. We are extremely disappointed we had to cancel but with both of our recent medical issues we can't travel this soon. Hoping to return in early spring.

Louise--so sorry to hear that you had to cancel. I hope both of you are on the way to feeling better.

Louise,

Thank you for your good thoughts and wishes. We were very fortunate we could work things out in our favor although this latest insurance scheme may bring about more issues. That remains to be seen......

I know you and David have both been through so very much this year but the bottom line is that your health is light years more important than any trip and the island will be there next year. In talking to others in your group it seems like that is the battle plan for many of you. Maybe we will cross paths in the Spring but in the meantime, be well and be happy.

Pat, if anyone can pull it off, it's you!
Happy it all worked out!!!

Louise, I'm happy you are making plans for Spring.
It's always good to have a new one to look forward to!

As you know, we understand what it is like to cancel for health reasons!!!!!!
Rit has follow up tests to take this year, but
we are very positive that we will be spending even more days in sxm next year.

Good luck and hopefully it all works out. I had high hopes of going and meeting up with you and John again but it is not is the cards this year.

Always the voice of reason. Thank you, Pat.

We can only hope, Terry. Thank you and good luck to Rit.

And we are so very sorry it won’t be happening, too. But it’s 2020 so not much is the way we want it to be.

Pat I’m surprised that AA easy and delightful to work with. I’m also surprised that she was able to find you a flight out of Bradley . I had always used AA, but 6 years ago switched to JB out of JFK the cost savings paid for the car service and the direct flight was a no brained. When this Cov 19 is over I guess I might try AA . We have been going to SXM since 1985 for 2 weeks at a time in November this year is out health reasons, itching to go back .

Trust me on this, Dick. The CSR couldn't have been any more helpful or pleasant and she went way out of her way to do everything within her power to make the changes happen for me. But I have almost always found the AA people to be good to work with. The amazing part to me was that she was able to get us FF tix to replace the ones we originally had but from a different airport.

Sorry you won't be making the trip this November and I hope your health issues are able to be fully resolved. We had our April trip cancelled and I'm still holding my breath on November. This will be our 48th consecutive year of at least one annual trip (and often more.....) and I really don't want to break the record. Hoping to make it 50 years. And maybe even then some......

Best of luck, pat!!

TY, Carol. My fingers seem to be permanently crossed at this point and just hoping we can make it through all the obstacles they keep throwing out there. We will definitely give it our best shot and if, in the end it doesn’t happen, at least we’ll know we gave it our best shot.

Pat, we're in the same position. Every time I start to feel encouraged about the trip happening, something else gets thrown into the mix. I check our flights every day, and so far we've had no changes. I'll be shocked if that continues.