Connection in Charlotte

In four weeks we will be making our 9th trip to St. Martin and was just notified that our connecting flight in Charlotte has been changed. We now will have less than 40 minutes from landing to departure...will this be enough time?? I'm not so sure, my husband said it will be fine. We have never been this tight on time between flights. Opinions?

Going or returning? If returning, absolutely not; going would probably be ok, as long as your first flight isn't delayed. I'd be concerned about any checked baggage making the second flight though. I wouldn't accept it unless there's a later flight to catch in case you miss the first one. Just my opinion, based on years of experience connecting in Charlotte.

On the way down to the island we make this same length of connection continually, usually about a dozen times a year. Remember to immediately have your passport rechecked in Charlotte.

If they changed your flight times you can change yours .
40 min is cutting it to close if your connecting flight is late you will not make it.
Its winter time your connecting flight may have to be deiced .
I would ask for an earlier connecting flight or a later flight to SXM.

I'm going down in April and my flight times were changed as well - but now I have 3 hours in CLT instead of 1.

I fly down with 55-60 minutes connection time 5 or 6 times a year and I've never had a problem. However, my original flight is blocked for 1.5 hours when it usually only takes an hour, so we get in early or on time, never late. Forty minutes is close, and I'm not sure I would risk it. If there is a later flight to SXM, I probably wouldn't worry about the short connection. If there is only one flight to SXM (which I suspect might be your case?), then I would seek an earlier flight out of your starting point. At the end of the day, my question is always am I going to miss a day in SXM. If the answer is possibly, I'm happy to spend a couple of extra hours in the airport to try and prevent it.

Exactly right! Our first trip to SXM in 2013 we waited in the TSA first and had to backtrack to get the passport checked, still made the connection with only and hour to spare. With a checked passport you can immediately board after passing through TSA. We are looking at the same window of time later this week. The return leg is when you definitely need more time.

We were to leave at 5:10 and land in Charlotte at 8:46 yesterday. our connecting flight to SXM (the only one of the day) was at 9:35am. This was on US air.
We had to wait for a crew member and be de-iced. Still arrived in Charlotte on time. Got off the plane walked immediately to our gate in the B section. Went to have our passport checked and got on the plane. No time for any break or to buy food. Plane was fully loaded by 9:15 but the captain said they said he could not take off before 9:25.
I was nervous but we made it.
Good flight down and the captain came on and read a proposal letter written by the ladies boyfriend. She accepted and we all clapped! Glad she said yes. It was fun.
Us air lets you order food online before you go for flight to SXM ( not from). Was great since we did not have time for food.
Agree on more time on the way back. Changed our flight this year since we missed the connection last year because of delay in SXM.

Wow that was tight! That is flight #865 that departs at 9:35am, miss it and you miss a day!

[color:"red"][/color]Flying thru next month arriving 8:51am into CLT leaving 9:35am for SXM have 6 in our group. Some people mention having [color:"red"]passport checked[/color] not sure what they mean by that.
Thanks
Rick

They check your passport at the gate before you board.

We noticed the same thing on our US airways flight coming home from SXM earlier this month. Does anyone know why that is? We had the option to buy pre-packaged snack boxes on the plane going down and thought we could do the same on the way home, but it didn't turn out that way.

We spent night at Charlotte twice, both times because delayed departure from SXM. If it is not mechanical, it is the long wait on runway in SXM and as a result no gate ready/open at Charlotte. If you are asking about return flight, I say "no". On the way south "maybe" if de-icing is brisk and you depart on time.

Is 1 hr and 5 min enough on return from SXM?

With a connection in CLT, I would say NO. Customs and immigration are often painfully slow, backed up the point you might sit on the plane for 30 min. or more and then stand in line inside for upwards to an hour. They seem to have continuing staffing problems in CLT.

No, that basically is not enough of a connection ANYWHERE. That is not a legal international connection. Has to be at least 90 minutes to be a legal international connection.

Legal or not that's what they gave me. Could be spending night there I guess.

More than likely no.
Maybe if there are no other flights ahead of you in customs.
Last 2 trips had to wait 15/20 min for a gate.

Good Luck

I would call them up and make them change you to another flight.

Our experience with Charlotte has always been an exciting rush for our connecting flights. I'm comfortable with a 2 hour connection there. First, it seems the flights never leave SXM on time and secondly Immigration is really, really busy in Charlotte.

Was this the connection when you initially booked or has USAir changed the times? Regardless, I would be on the phone with them NOW and see what your options are. If you spend the night it will be at YOUR expense unless there are mechanical issues.

Just out of curiosity - does the arrival time (i.e. arriving after 8pm) make any difference as far as customs wait time?

Probably not. Staffing at C & I seems to be minimal at best during peak times, I am guessing it might be a "skeleton crew" the later in the evening you get.

It doesn't. Our flight was scheduled to arrive around 6 PM, we were delayd at SXM, landed around 8:30, but didn't get to Immigration till 9pm due to gate being not available. Missed 10 PM flight to MSP.