Hello good folks. I have come up with another question for you good people. What to do with luggage for a couple of hours before return flight? Check out of room 11 am. Flight is at 3:51pm, return car around 2pm. We will have 1 checked bag, presumably filled with a "Mantas" sized score, 1 carry on and 2 personal bags. I am cautious about leaving the luggage in the car, as you all have made me and others aware. Can we drop the checked bag off that early at SXM and leave? Is there a safe, short term luggage parking lot?
Thanks, any and all ideas appreciated.
Oxy & Car

You can check your 1 bag with the airline but you will still have the other 3 bags to carry with you...and yes, don't leave anything in the car

Use those last hours to drive the island, picking out spots that you might want to spend more time at during your next visit.

Check the bag (s) early at the airport that you can. The other bags you will have to take with you. Hang out at The Sunset Beach Bar, have lunch, watch the planes come in, and enjoy your last precious hours on the island. Trust me, you will not be the only ones with luggage under your table. This is what we do each visit and it works out well for us.

There is a new rule at the airport. I think you can only check bags three or four hours in advance of flight. We were told that at SXM airport in February.

Depends on what airline you are on, as to how early you can check bags. What airline are you on? Some airlines, like AA, you can check in way early. Other airlines, if they only have one flight that day, you may not be able to check in and check bags until approximately 3 hours before your flight. So, optimally, if you on AA for example, go check in as early as you can and get rid of the checked bag(s). Honestly, for me, even if I have to pay to check it, we often check two bags on the way home, just so we have less "stuff" to deal with on the plane on the way home (and the hours after leaving the resort). Speaking of the resort, IF it is convenient to the airport--not so if you're staying on the French side--SOME places have a room or a place behind the front desk where they will hold luggage for you. That may or may not work for you. Regardless, NO!! and I am shouting--NO! do not leave your luggage in the car and get out of the car, at any time, at any place, for any length of time. One place that I know that will hold luggage for you is Karakter. They also have showers there, and wifi. So you can have a last few hours on the beach and get a shower before you head to the airport. If you're already checked in at the airport, you should be able to head to the airport a little later than 2 hours before.. (Unless of course you are anal, like me, and worry until you're sitting at the gate... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />)

..depends on what airline it is.

We had the same experience December 2014, and this after we had already checked with JB in advance regarding their check-in windows. It's all in the way you use your words it would seem. We asked what time we could check in but DID NOT KNOW we needed to ask if we could check our bags at the same time. That day they were only allowing checked bags two hours before departure.

It seems some carriers, but in particular JB, had different rules for Saturday check-ins of luggage, due to what they called holding space or lack there of. This last trip, returning home midweek, we had no issues with both checking in and checking bags several hours before our flight.

I don't know if these changes are airline or airport changes, or even changes imposed for high season weekend travel, but in the past we had usually flown AA and they allowed early check-ins (with luggage being accepted) as soon as the first morning flight out had started their boarding process. I'd suggest checking with your carrier being very SPECIFIC in how you ask the question. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Like you, we have never had problems with checking in and checking luggage early on AA. Other airlines, it depends..

Even though you have checked out of your resort, they will most likely have some place you can store your bags. We always do that and just stop by on the way to the airport to get the bags, that way, they are not in the car when we stop somewhere for last minute purchases.

The real solution is carry-ons only.

It would be easier with no carry-ons and all bags checked early...all carry-ons would create the problem of more bags to deal with while wandering around

On a semi-related topic to the luggage question, how far in advance of your flight do you typically arrive at the airport? We'll be there mid June, departing SXM mid-Friday afternoon. Thanks all!

(Unless of course you are anal, like me, and worry until you're sitting at the gate... ) __ Carol..

pretty safe to assume we are peas in a pod.
Flying out on JetBlue. So am I understanding that you can check a bag, leave the airport, then come back? WOW.
Agreed, I would like just carry-on, but first trip down, and we have a few days in Miami before we go back home. Would rather be able to UPS everything to locations, including the Rhum and Guavaberry GoGO juices!!

And we are staying in a condo rental on the French side. I was hoping to spend the time before the flight .....
"fence surfing"...LOL

Yes, you can check in, check a bag and leave the airport. Unfortunately, since you're on Jet Blue, you may or may NOT be able to check your bag very early. See Pat's response regarding Jet Blue. If nothing else, you could go to Karakter with all your luggage and then go back to the airport around 1:30 or so, check in, check your luggage and stay there.

JB ck in 3 hrs b4 flt..... Checked lg bags. Screwed quickly to karacters with carrying (2). Ate drank returned rental. Cleared customs departure 1 hr b4 departure. Bought liquor for direct flt and voila. Not crazy. Just do able. Or go to driftwood or ssbg for closer trip. Don't sit inside any longer than necessary. 1 hr <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />