Few quick arrival comments

1) No immigration forms needed

2) Peli Deli open until 9p during the week and 10p Sat/Sun

3) Don't try to get through Marigot between 12-1230p during the week..just don't

4) JB 42 minute connection in SJU is VERY doable...we actually had to wait a while to board...and we left BOS 15 minutes late.

5) It's nice and warm here <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

We, also enjoyed the elimination of forms and rapid walk through @ Julianna when we arrived 2 weeks ago.
Then there was the return trip on Saturday 1/10/15:
1. Delay of USAir trip from 3:45 to 4:15 on SXM to PHL.
2. Belair Hotel enforcing the 10AM check out policy.(does it really take 6 hours to prep room for incoming guests?)
3. 1,000+ at passport check in Phila, 4 windows open. "After 6PM and we are reduced in staff by 50%"
4. Security/immigration/customs/then yet another Security check in Phila that took 1.5 hours to get to connection gate.(and we did not have to do baggage check, carry on only)
5. Most missed their connections. Does anyone in airline travel care anymore????

On AA on 12/21, they had the immigration forms, so we filled them out and the Immigration ladies took them.

Glad you arrived OK. Enjoy your trip!

That is too funny about the forms. Nov 29 on JB for us and no forms, along with the other JB poster, USAir now a part of AA and no forms but AA still had them and they were collected? Only in SXM, right?! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

They are repopulating the flights with forms. Some have them some don't. They are going back to the forms for everyone as soon as they get distributed to all flights.

Yeah, who knows what goes on, but it's not a big deal, filling them out, one way or another.

Agree - no big deal but funny when you think about it. All those years we worried about not losing the tab they used to give you back only to find out they weren't such a big deal. And now the whole form is used now and then sometimes maybe if they have them or not? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Yeah, I ALWAYS seemed to lose that little tab and I don't remember them ever collecting it! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

We also had forms on AA on 1/06/15.

We had forms on December 27 on Jet Blue!

The new immigration forms do not have that dumb tab. That is a good thing anyway.

We just came through Sunday on a WinAir(Antilles Air) flight from Guadaloupe. As we were walking down the hall to the check in counters one of the airline people handed us a form to fill out. We were only a couple steps from the customs booth so no time to do it. The lady in the booth was rather curt and said "if someone gives you a form, you fill it out!) When I explained that it had only been in my hand for about 30 seconds she put it on a large stack of other uncompleted forms from other people on the same flight, stamped out passports and said thank you!

cessnaflyer--Would be interested in hearing your comments about your stay at Beachside and the trip to Guadelupe.

No forms on our Monday WestJet flight from Montreal. I heard flight attendant ask ground staff in Montreal for them but she was told they didn't have any.

if Seinfeld comes back maybe he will do a show on the forms. George and Kramer can explain the new simpler rules (kinda)- form us now varies by nationality, day of arrival, and airline.

Add'l observations:

...Alexander's (walk up the flight of stairs) restaurant next to Bon Appetite has takenover the previous large space on the SBR Marina next to the sales office. "Alexander's Kitchen"...huge space..one couple eating there yesterday at 7pm...The Stone was packed, BBB was packed, Boathouse had quite a few patrons

...also noted that the Italian restaurant next to the Casino had ZERO tables occupied

...MANY downpours Monday/Tuesday but yesterday they seemed to have cleared out and it was a fine day..today looks the same

...Happy Bay was WINDY but nice. Not that many people there...lots of cows at Friar's. Read that a 65 yr old cruise ship tourist was killed at Orient by a rogue wave that put him into some rocks.

...I hate to say it but Le Sucriere (my favorite croissant/baguette place) is now 2nd to Taste Factory...yummm

...off to play tennis now

I know Pat, <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" /> years ago in the old airport I was told I couldn't go home because I didn't have that little piece of paper. I sat in the floor and went to my luggage and still couldn't find it then they said oh well never mind.

Boy, you just brought back a memory I forgot about.

no forms coming on jet blue either. it's been a long time since we've had to fill one out coming to the island, but apparently others who post here flying in on jet blue have had to, so it must be hit or miss.

We were paranoid about losing that tab the first trip we took to SXM, so we put it in the safe and guarded it like we did our passports. The next trip not so much and on recent trips we didn't worry about it at all (even though we did keep them). Have they ever collected them?

In the past we have always had ours collected upon departure.

Lately it seems the collection of those receipt stubs has been pretty much hit and miss, much like the issuance of the SXM immigration forms themselves. WE!!

There are no stubs on the new forms.

I arrived JB yesterday..entered through "resident" line and commented to the agent...so, no forms again? Her reply..."it's the airlines fault, not immigration". What a joke! Thought the forms were for immigration to keep track of who arrived, where they stayed and for how long....go figure!!

I am guessing the no forms thing is why the Frenchies aren't so happy with the CI situation on the island.

I have no clue what "CI" is...

..weather is absolutely perfect

..check out the Yacht Club side of the drawbridge around 6-630pm. Absolutely filled with huge tarpon chasing bait fish right out of the water...I saw a guy hook one but after at least 20-30 minutes of getting it near shore and it reel screaming it's way back out the beast finally broke the line with an air flip...cool

..spent Friday at Happy Bay (again) this time with around 15 cows resting RIGHT behind us. Not many humans there despite the fine weather

...and...I read a lot of good things here about Etna ice cream...Where can I get some???

Etna at most grocery stores (as you would expect), and a list of restaurants here:

http://www.etnaicecream.com

My guess is CI equates to customs and immigration? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

No immigration forms yesterday on US Air, who placed the blame on the sxm government. Imm. Agent never mentioned it. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Can anyone explain to me why people with connecting flights have to clear security again after passing through immigration and customs? We cleared security once in St. Maarten for the first flight. I just never understood.

>>> because of the way US airports are set up and the failure to comprehend the concept of international transfers that Europe seems to manage fine.
Once clearing customs you can mingle with people have not been through security so you have to go back through. If more thoguht was given to the issue it could eb dealt with fairly easily. I imagine international arrivals are a smaller portion of travellers compared to domestic

Are you referring to flights returning to the US? If so, you have cleared SXM's security, but you haven't cleared TSA security. TSA has no control over the quality of the security check that you undergo at a foreign airport. All international travelers returning to the US must go through a TSA security checkpoint prior to entering the secure area for a connecting flight. Note that in Atlanta, due to the configuration of the airport, this used to be required even if ATL was your final destination.

Because US Homeland Security Dept imposes that all passengers boarding a flight in the US (connecting flights included) go through a security check on US soil. Having cleared security outside the US is not sufficient.

Thanks everyone. Makes sense.

CI, customs and immigration.