We are driving across the border to get mucho cheap airfares from Toronto to SXM on American. The flights connect in Charlotte both ways with 2 hr layover going down and 1 hr 40min coming back.

We are staying in Toronto night before departure and night of return.

Has anyone else done this and have any advice?

Not doing your itinerary as I live in Houston, but can relate to the connection times, we were in SXM in April, and have taken the same flight out a few times. We were on AA flight 2039 which departs SXM at 4:10 pm. We were about 40 minutes late departing SXM. We were supposed to arrive in CLT,at 8:24, we ended up arriving about 8:50. Our flight to Houston left at 10:10. Customs was a breeze at that time of night, but the good old TSA was slow as usual. But we still were able to make the flight with about 10 minutes to spare. So I would say as long as you depart SXM not to late you should be good. Like I said we were 40 minutes late departing SXM and had about the same layover time you have. Hope this helps. Good thing you are going through CLT instead of MIA!

Because you are flying out of Toronto, you'll have to go through Customs and Immigration in Charlotte on your way down. That is unless you can do Pre-Clearance at the airport in Toronto as you leave.

They will be checked right through. No customs in Charlotte going to SXM from YYZ.

Since they will be on American, they will be flying out of Pearson and pre-clear US C&I in Toronto. Only Porter Airlines, which flies out of Billy Bishop airport and does not have pre-clearance, so they have to clear C&I upon arrival in the US.

We are Canadian and sometimes we have to overnight in Toronto.Always stay at Sheraton in airport .It is easy walk to Terminal 3 .You go through US customs in Toronto and much faster than in US airports.

Thanks for the many replies. We feel less worried now about the c&i on the way down now.

Now we have to decide between Sheraton terminal 3, a free points holiday inn and skypark or the comfort inn with free parking. Open to here your opinions on least hassle vs least cost.

Be sure to give yourself enough time to get through customs and security at YYZ. Depending on time of day, lines can be long.

Sheraton sometimes has park and fly deals.Also AAA members can get a bit of a deal,plus no charge cancellation should you change mind.

Have you checked Westjet.....direct flights from Toronto to St Martin with decent travelling hours.

We checked west jet but their nonstop was over 500 us versus 320 on American purchase just over a week ago. Out of Ohio, the fare was over 900 thus well enjoy a nice drive north in the summer for 1200 savings

I fly back to the US from Toronto at least once per month and my advice is to arrive very early to clear US customs at Pearson Airport. It's hit or miss on the length of the lines, but they can be very, very long. If you are flying out very early, the lines will form in the terminal before the customs doors open, so get in line when you arrive.

Completely understand.....I'm looking for November and it's the complete opposite.

Thanka all for the heads up. So, are you saying U.S. customs has a booth/line in Canada to clear you before departure or is it a Canadian thing provided for the usg? Is it clearly marked as a line for us citizens? Is it before or after security?

In Toronto (YYZ) there is property leased to the USA inside the terminals.....the employees are USA customs & immigration officers.... uniforms guns the whole ting....USA citizens that are rotated in Canada....When we fly to the USA on a USA airline from YYZ we all use the USA Customs & Immigration.....easy peasy....kate <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/canada.gif" alt="" />

US CBP officers conducting pre-clearance duties in Canadian airports do not carry guns. They are prohibited from carrying guns when doing pre-clearance duties of air passengers. There is always a Canadian Law Enforcement Officer that is armed if they should need assistance.

However, they can carry guns when doing pre-clearance duties at land, rail, and marine stations. That ability was added with the latest pre-clearance agreement signed on 3/16/2015.

Thanks for the advice all! We're doing the same thing in December, as airfare was $780 out of DTW, and $320 out of YYZ. We are still deciding on where to stay the night before, parking, etc., too.

Great price!!!!! Which airline is that?

WestJet has a direct flight from Toronto to SXM.