What it Costs to Leave SXM

I have not looked at the fine print on a ticket of late and see the departure fee/tax is now $39 in addition to other fees.

Sint Maarten Airport Improvement Fee $5.50
Sint Maarten Airport Departure Tax SXM $39.00
Sint Maarten Passenger Screening Fee $11.82

And about another $41 in taxes/fees coming back into the US.

That is what shows on our tickets too.

For our very first trip in 1973 the departure tax was a whopping big $2.00 per person. Onward and upward!😊😊

Our first stay wasn’t until 1991, and I can’t recall how much the departure tax was, but I do seem to remember paying it upon departure versus having it added to the price of the ticket. I think I’m remembering correctly.

Yes. Paying on departure is the way it was in the past many years ago. Not know on the major airlines.

Yes, that is how it used to be. Our first stay over was 1993 and I think it was either $3 or $5 then and you paid it at a window at the airport.

And now they hope that you just don't notice it, as it is part of all the other fees and taxes on your tickets...

Sneak it in on ya.

No sneak. Just convenient to not have to pay at another booth at airport like before.

Yes, pretty much as you stated but it is better to not have to go to various places to pay each tax. This was on a one way from SXM to DAY, just under $100 in taxes, and another $40 or so to depart the US.

Those charges have been that way for quite a few years.

Back in the "old" airport, one of us would go to the tax window (praying we had enough cash left! lol) and the other would wait in line to check-in with the airline. Always worked.

Please bring back 2013 when our dollar was par with USD! Here’s the charges (one ticket) for our flight in Canadian $ out of Toronto

Wow, guess we should not whine about US taxes, huh??

plus 25% extra for accommodations, plus 25% extra for groceries, plus 25% extra for alcohol, plus 25% extra for dinners out...

But, Canada does have some decent flights from many areas if that is any consolation.

Maybe my last visit this past November. Those fees are ridiculous

Same way to us too.

And this is what it costs to come back to the US. Roughly $41 in my case. Around $100, give or take, on a single ticket.

United States Immigration User Fee $7.00
United States Customs User Fee $5.89
United States APHIS Passenger Fee Passengers $3.96
US International Arrival Tax $18.60
United States Passenger Civil Aviation Security Service Fee $5.60

I believe it's over $300 in taxes and fees to fly from London to the US

Joe--gotta say, there might be a lot of reasons why a person would stop coming to SXM. The cost of the taxes on the ticket to me, no way should be one of them, compared to the cost of the rest of the trip, literal pennies in the bucket..

No idea but it would not surprise me.

I just did a quick check, flying from Heathrow to where I live and the taxes/surcharges converted to about $323.00 on a 1 way ticket.

..which amounts to LESS than a one way ticket to SXM from there. Something is wrong with that picture...

My point was that the SXM departure tax could be a lot worse

I picked some random dates and got a round trip fare from LHR to SXM (with return) of $729 total. Of this amount the actual fare is around $145 with the balance being taxes and fees. Pretty amazing considering that is about what I just paid for air I booked. One way from LHR to SXM was substantially higher.

True. One either wants to go and pays the price or they choose not to. I had not looked at the fare breakdown for a couple of trips and did not realize SXM was now $39.