First step done, I've finally book the boat for our sailing vacation this summer!!! Yeah!
Watch out for a Leopard 4000 between July 23rd and August 2nd, you are warned

Now the challenge of getting to Tortola from the west coast...I've found a somehow decent flight with the last leg SXM-EIS with LIAT.

Does anyone have any experience with that airline?

Thanks,
Stefano

LIAT means: Leave in any time or luggage in any Transit.
Good luck. We'll use winair this year, hope it will do better.
Lars

I don't think you'll find any fans of LIAT here. I have little choice but to use them coming in via Antigua and one day I will write a book about my experiences. However if you are coming into SXM there is also Winair. Similar prices I believe and must be more reliable.

LIAT has been around since the the mid-1950's. Since that time they've gone bankrupt numerous times and have had more labor and pilot strikes than you can imagine. Unfortunately for many islanders LIAT might be the only choice which is one of the reasons it's still in business.

Like most Caribbean commuter airlines LIAT has its good days and bad days. Trouble is you never know what kind of a "day" they will be having the day you fly. With LIAT you pays your money, you takes your chances!

We usually fly SFO..Miami..St Thomas..gets you in around lunchtime in STT..we fly AA..

AA from SFO-MIA-SJU-EIS will get feet on the ground in Tortola around noon. It is more money but In my estimation worth it.

Liat has a horrible reputation, and it is well earned.

Liat's management should be drawn, quartered and thrown into a wood chipper. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Not sure exactly what it means, but this story was in the St. Maarten newspaper today.

LIAT - Leaves Island Any Time <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

thanks everyone for the help!

@bigbone & salica: I'll check winair out and see if their flights match our schedule

@manpot: SFO->STT is our other option (actually the one we took last time) but it ends up costing more, taking longer and with the additional hustle of the ferries. Plus on the last day we will need to spend a night at STT because there are few late flights out of STT heading to SFO.

@rita_irvine: that option is more convenient but significantly more expensive, I'd rather go with the ferry.

On the way there there is no real problem if they take longer, being it the last flight. What I'm worried about is the way back. What will AA do if we miss their flight from SXM because LIAT was late? Would they put me on the next flight for free or would they make me pay a change fee or something?