Updated (again) Travel Restrictions

IF I read this right, flight may still come in to take US residents off the island who had previously scheduled departures. Who knows?



The travel restrictions announced in Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs's second National Address on March 14th, 2020 are hereby further clarified.

On March 17th, only incoming visitors from the USA, Canada, Europe, UK and Ireland are restricted to enter the country of St. Maarten. This does not apply to St. Maarten/St. Martin residents, as well as residents and nationals of the surrounding islands whom utilize Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) as a transit point. Travelers from around the Caribbean region are not restricted unless they have travelled to the listed areas in the past 21 days. The current travel restrictions apply for two weeks starting on Tuesday, March 17th. Commercial and private/chartered airlines will be allowed to land and take-off after the March 16th deadline date to facilitate the following:

• Visitors who are currently on the island, or neighboring islands, who are scheduled to travel out via PJIA in the coming weeks to return to their home country.

• Returning residents of St. Maarten/St. Martin and the surrounding islands, who usually transit through PJIA, invited specialists and other technical assistants, to enter the country with valid travel documents.

Hotels and other types of accommodations on St. Maarten/St. Martin and the surrounding islands, for which St. Maarten serves as a hub function, are advised to inform their guests accordingly. Residents of the island as well as surrounding islands are advised to take note as well. Airlines, and handlers will be informed via PJIA and Port St. Maarten operations to make the necessary arrangements.

Prime Minister Jacobs reiterated, "The restrictions do not apply to St. Maarten/St. Martin residents, nor residents of neighboring islands who transit through St. Maarten. All returning and transiting residents are reminded to continue to monitor themselves upon return and to notify their doctor should they start to show symptoms."

Prime Minister Jacobs hereby reminds the general public that all measures are being undertaken in order to protect our vulnerable community as the virus spreads in the wider world.

Supposedly a joint meeting Dutch/French this morning.

Hopefully what was updated last night is accurate.

Sort of defeats the purpose. I don't see anything new from the Government this morning.

Other than getting all the US tourists off the island can not reasonably happen with 2 days notice.

I don’t see that they are trying to get tourists off the island just limit new ones from coming in for 2 weeks. Plus nobody is gonna be stuck as other Caribbean flights are still operating so they could leave via St Kitts example. Nobody’s being ordered or told to leave the island. Is that not the facts??? Yes normally home is the safe place to be BUT in this case If I was on the island now i’m not so sure I would be in a mad dash to get back to the madness of the USA when St Maarten seems to be doing all the right things to limit the virus that doesn’t thrive in warmer climates. I’d much rather be enjoying the beach than staring at my four walls at home.

Well stated but rationality does not seem to be very common in these days.

So much confusing info floating around. We'll see what happens as it happens. As always. Just happy to be here and not in the US madhouse. But sad I won't see my family this month as planned.

Nobody is being ordered to leave (not yet at least) the island but departure choices are slim to none if incoming flights are not permitted. Not everyone would have additional lodging nor funds to extend a stay another 2 weeks. You may see price gouging for lodging in this case as well.

Delta has NOT cancelled my Friday outbound flight at this point but I may rebook for Wed. to try and be a little ahead of the game if in fact what is indicated in the press release is accurate and is adhered to. AA has sent out emails and cancelled some flights so those passengers can rebook without any fee.

I also explored other options of getting out and one included 4 stops (Curaçao & Aruba being two of them) and I figured adding more layers to a flight under the current situation was not prudent either.

I am trying to remain calm but also make good decisions but most of them are out of my control at this point.

Just spoke with United. They were unaware of the new travel restrictions, but I was able to change my flight from March 29 to April 1 which is beyond the 2 weeks announced so far. They did not have any availability to fly out earlier. Now I have to go down to the front desk and see about a room for the extra nights. I assume that since no incoming flights are allowed that shouldn't be a problem but we'll see.

Risky assumption that ANY airline would send an empty aircraft (or hire a charter) to get people trying to return to the USA...maybe....but I would be concerned. I guess we will find out

As you mentioned flights are still scheduled to go so there is hope

My friend is on the phone with Delta right now. Scheduled to depart on 3/24. They are telling here the flight is still scheduled. Seems they are unaware of teh Prime Ministers action at this point.

That is a concern but options are almost nonexistent.

That makes perfect sense....let's see what the next 48 hours brings....but by then it will be past the deadline

Edit: I should add that flights TO SXM are still scheduled to fly all month (with humans on board)

I am going to make this thread "sticky" to keep it at the top. Carol/Eric, unstick if not appropriate. I will update with any further information as I can find it. If newer or better information becomes available, it should replace this.
Thanks.

LINK

Did anyone come IN yesterday on planes from the US?? Boy, that would be a kick in the pants!

I'm guessing they did. Not such a bad thing if they were planning on staying for two or more weeks, though. Of course, things can, and probably will, change.

For people still working, they can't afford another week or two, even if it's only that long. Plus, who knows what restrictions might be in place in another week or two? This thing is changing so fast, it is impossible to keep up.

Yes. There are some that just posted on TripAdvisor they arrived yesterday.

It certainly is.

Did they know about the travel restrictions, or find out about it after they arrived??

Don't think so as they were surprised when I posted on a thread they were on. They checked into Secrets yesterday and had a lot of negative comments about it.

I just got back from the airport and there a letter from the PM indicating what I posted earlier in this thread. Since a lot of this transpired over the past 2 days and the latest update was later last night, there has to be some people who arrived yesterday who were unaware.

Just got a report from two that are flying out today are through everything at PJIA and at the bar. Good luck to them.

Thanks everyone for your concern as well.

Its not a madhouse here i the US the empty shelves in the supermarkets are being refilled now. I think the media is playing this up 24/7 just like they do a snow storm. Used to be just bread & milk now its Clorox and toilet paper.

And the lines of people standing in corridors like sardines at airports? Petri dishes.

What else is there to do? Not many options to get through the process.

US airports are chaos. Govt. wants to screen all incoming passengers but did not add personnel. People jammed into small areas. SNAFU

I just read this and the wording seems a little confusing. We are schedule to arrive on May 2nd, does this mean that we will not be allowed to enter the country?

So fat it's only a 14 day restriction starting on march 17.

IMHO the SXM Gov. will move the date further into April...

I don't disagree, but right or wrong, there is too much uncertainty for me. I'll pass on April, skip May too, and turn my eyes towards June/July.

For some, that can be a death sentence. No thanks

I also agree. I see the restrictions going 4 to 6 weeks out for SXM and the US. AND maybe having to do 14 day quarantine on arrival to the US.



Wendell

Just because SXM may allow flights to take people back does not mean the airlines will send empty planes to get them. Hopefully they will but every major carrier is now cutting back operations.Perhaps the US government will have to intervene. Glad I'm not on the island now having to worry about getting home. I pray it changes for the better.

It has been a very stressful time the last few days.

I went bat sheet when I had to deal with an Air France strike and couldn't return from Toulouse...that was chump change compared to this debacle

Yes, and just when you think you've got an alternative, poof!

Sad but true.

There is NO way to get 1-2 weeks worth of visitors off the island with 2 days notice and just the regularly scheduled inbound flights for 2-3 days.

What is your status for departure now JD?

Two options at this point. Not sure what is going on with Delta as the agents in DAY told my wife (in person at the counter) NOTHING was available and everything after Tuesday was cancelled. I have been periodically checking and found United for Wed. overnight in NY and home on Thursday but not real confident. Friends are still scheduled for Wed. on Delta also and have not been cancelled yet. Who knows

I then was checking Delta after booking United and seats popped up for Tuesday, totally contrary to what the people in DAY told my wife. I was able to then book Delta for tomorrow so we will see what happens.

I am not even 50% confident in either flight but that is the best I could do.

Thanks for your concern.

Best wishes! I hope it works out! This is crazy.

Always good to keep your bases covered. Good Luck.

Wendell

Thanks to both of you.