We are finally able to afford tickets flying out of MKE to SXM. The price difference between flying out of ORD is less than $100 more, so that definitely covers the parking and time difference. We only have 1 potential issue. The connection time is only 35 minutes between flights. Do we have to check our bags again on an international flight at CLT? Is this even possible running to the gate?

Thanks!

You do not have to recheck bags. They should be checked all of the way to SXM. Verify this on your luggage tags.

I would not attempt a 35 minute connect time in CLT. AA is in terminals B, C, and D. While they're all connected, there is some distance involved. Your arrival gate may be in the same terminal as your departure gate, but the odds aren't in your favor. Any delay in your arrival may mean an impossible connection. Any delay in deplaning may mean an impossible connection.

I agree with Bahston. I find clt pretty easy to navigate,but remember that boarding starts 30 minutes before departure schedule. I chose not to use that same schedule thru clt for fear of missing my flight to Sxm.

Depending on how far in the future your flying I would guess that connection time will change for the better. Look at the same itinerary for a flight for next month and see what connection time is now. Chances are yours will change to that too.

As SXMScubaman stated, it could change. In booking in 2022 for a March 2023 trip, I experienced the same thing with AA. It started out as a 40 minute connection in CLT. I was using miles they gave me for totally screwing up my 2022 trip so I had little choice other than to book the tight connection and hope for the best. I had booked about 11 months out since it was a miles ticket and within a few months of booking, the schedule did change, making for a 2+ hour connection. No guarantees but I have experienced it changing for the better. Good luck.

I would never book a flight with a 35 minute connection time "hoping" it would change before the flight date.

Depending on the time of year a aircraft deicing before departure would eat that time up completely and even in good weather the chance of your luggage getting on the SXM flight in time would be iffy.

No checked bags and decent weather.....maybe.... but not worth the worry in my book

We have a 35 minute connection in CLT on our way to SXM in November. While I'm hoping that will change, it's all that's available at this point. It's not easy, but it can be done. We don't check bags, but they would be checked through if we did. To be honest, I'd be surprised if checked bags make that connection, even if you do.

I faced same issue last year. 35 minute in CLT was still on in November, but I found a connection through Miami and took that. Returned through CLT.

We had a 40 minute connection in CLT when we booked in November 2022. The connection is up to 55 minutes now. We will be flying out 2 weeks from today so maybe I’ll have more information then.

55 minutes is definitely doable....hope it stays at that

We just got the hoped for change in our flights; now we have a little over an hour to connect in CLT...definitely more doable than the 35 minutes we had previously. Take another look and see if you see something better now!

Perfect.....

We often fly through Charlotte, and when I have to go through Charlotte and there is a 35 on 40 minute connection time, I can usually find an earlier flight from my local airport to CLT to give me more than 35 minutes than the default selection that comes up when you search for a flight from your local airport to SXM. While arrival times are usually padded a bit late ( meaning the time the plane usually arrives prior to the published time ) it can take a fair amount of time for the plane to taxi to the gate, then to get off the plane, and then there is the time to determine the gate for the flight to SXM and then getting to that gate. On top of all that, AA says they have the right to close the cabin door 15 minutes prior to scheduled departure. That means if the plane actually gets to the gate 35 minutes before the SXM flight takes off, that would be cutting it pretty close.

Our flight has magically changed into a 1 hr 30 min layover!!!!! SO HAPPY!!! Thanks for all your great feedback. We're less than 4 months from leaving and hope and pray this stays this way.

Glad it changed to something more reasonable. Hoping it stays.

I just checked for flight on AA for March 2024 and I am seeing the same 30–35-minute connection window I saw for this year. I have already booked on Delta so it is now not a concern of mine now but they do appear to be following the same pattern as in the past.

This also happened to us with AA for a flight in October through Charlotte. We ended up booking a flight to Charlotte the night before to avoid the stress of the short connection time. To us, it’s worth the cost of the hotel room to eliminate the anxiety.