Just can't remember, but is Sunday the morning flight getting in on AA from Mia around 1.45pm I think, a busy day? Looking at the 23rd June. Used to travel on Tuesday in the early days and after 2017-2019(Irma)) as seemed to be the quietest day. But we are flexible. Sundays is a good day for me to travel to the airport as 2 hours away and no traffic as such.

Will for the first time bring our own collapsable wheelchair and trust AA in FC will let me bring on board and not place in the hold as going to try to just bring hand luggage this time. Might be a bit difficult for three weeks but can always buy stuff there. I also seem to recall that I had previously arranged on arrival someone there to assist and ultimately took us right through. Have things changed or can I organize this either with booking or calling AA later or enquiring on the plane and asking them to arrange this. Not been since 2019 so just can't quite remember certain aspects.

Thx. Bran.

p.s. Does one still have to go down those steps from the plane to await a bus?

bran--first, book wheelchair assistance through AA. Easy to do online. There is no cost for that. That will allow you to bypass the lines in immigration and baggage. Also they will be responsible for transporting her by wheelchair within both airports, if they make you check the wheelchair. As far as the collapsible wheelchair, my suggestion is that you contact AA by phone and ask them whether you can take it onboard or not. My inclination is that they PROBABLY will require you to at least gate check it, if not baggage check it from Miami, It is worth a call ahead of time to see what their policy is.

As far as stairs, it depends on the plane. SOME planes get a RAMP to disembark, but not all. Some planes have stairs at front and back. If there is a ramp, it will be at the front of the plane only, with stairs in the back. Since you are in first, if there is a ramp, you will have it. If you call AA ahead of time, they should be able to tell you if you can carry the wheelchair onboard and whether there will be a ramp when you arrive. Depending on your wife's abilities, she may be able to use the ramp to disembark, even without the wheelchair.

We leave a few days before you arrive, as otherwise I would love to meet up with you on island.

What did you decide to do on lodging?

Nothing absolutely put to bed as yet, because still waiting for an owner in GC to confirm step/parking situation. Hope to have this all sorted latest by Monday and will let you know. Will probably start out in Terres Basses. Again, many thx for your help.

If you do have stairs getting off the plan rather than a ramp, I have seen the wheelchair assistants carry folks down the stairs. So no worries, you will get off safely one way or another.

bran--best wishes.

Airlines are required by law to have a space to stow one passenger wheelchair onboard the aircraft if it has more than 100 seats. If another passenger gets the onboard space first the airline is permitted to gate check and place additional wheelchairs in the cargo hold. In practice they will try and force the gate check. The wheelchair storage area is often where all the crew luggage gets stored!

Well we have been dealing with a repeat customer via his family that stays at Sapphire and he has a mobile wheel chair for his dear loving Wife uses Jet Blue and no hassle . They just left today after spending two weeks . She moved like stream and the Porters dealt with their luggage . Food for thought. Please I met them right at departure area and for the others that might need a wheel chair . The parking lot is too much far for them to deal to get to departure area to leave our Dear island .

Yes, Leslie you do give good service in all ways. When we left in March you were in Canada so your wife Shirley took good care of us. Met us at departure where we swapped rental car for wheel chair an all went well.

Thanks Rosie and you and Ron are always smiling .

Not always smiling. It happens in SXM. The island gives us a wonderful, rejuvinating. : )