CLT OR MIA

As of now, we are overnighting in CLT (from BOS) and taking the American 8:54 am to STT. Then flying to VIJ. As I always do (personality quirk) I am rethinking. We are on the last flight out of Boston to charlotte which was poor planning on my part in case of cancellation/ snow etc. (Jan). I just called and American said I can switch to the earlier flight to charlotte but it’ll be $487 pp. huh??? Ridiculous. So ….. thoughts on canceling the itinerary and flying thru Miami. We are meeting a friend coming from phoenix so I’d have to move hers too. I’m being crazy right? Just roll the dice w Boston to charlotte - Miami is kind of a nightmare correct? George- do you know anything about the reliability ? You didn’t steer us wrong last year with the Delta thru JFK recommendation. I am always trying to find a “better” way. Which is often - well- dumb. 🤣🤣🤣

The only thing I would say is that IF you are physically challenged, in order to navigate Miami right now, you need to get wheelchair assistance. The Miami SkyTrain has been out of service since September and connections can involve up to a MILE of walking.

Link

No. Thanks. We are good. But I’m probably fretting over something that is fine as is. It’s just my obsessive perfectionist personality. Appreciate that thought tho. Something to keep in mind in the future.

My memory on this is vague, but one year we were returning to the States in January and Charlotte was shut down by snow; can't even remember how we were rerouted. That time of year we always go for the most southern airports. The other problem with Charlotte is fewer flights in the event of missing one. We don't mind Miami airport, but then we don't mind San Juan either.

Yes, for sure, shouldn't be any issue with snow in Miami. Miami in general is a cluster-f*ck, even without the SkyTrain situation. And we normally take a non-stop out of there.

Ok. Thanks for that tip. I might look into switching everything Last year we had six different groups come visit us and they all went thru JFK and everything was smooth as can be. I feel like lightning might not strike twice lol. My son’s girlfriend is flying solo and meeting us. She isn’t a big seasoned traveler. Makes me a bit nervous which is why we are heading to CLT an evening ahead. My other thought is maybe I just go alone to STT a day before. Do some grocery shopping etc. and then God forbid at least I would be in STT for her. Even if my son isn’t. She’d be THRILLED. 🤣🤣🤣. Kind of our graduation gift to him (ND- go Irish!!!☘️ ). But in true “me” fashion I’m overthinking.

You could all fly to San Juan and charter a plane from the smaller airport directly to VG. I checked flights on January 7 and that is very doable from Boston and Phoenix.

I don’t see any problem with the connection in CLT in Jan. It’s extremely rare to get snow in CLT. The late departure is an issue out of BOS but typically they don’t like to cancel the last flight of the night. One thing you have going forward is if a major weather event is forecast in BOS they typically a few days prior offer free flight changes. There is also a later flight out of STT from CLT. That could be a option if you had to take the first flight out of BOS in the morning.

So true George. You’re right. I’m just looking for things to fret about apparently. I’m going to let it be - I think. Thank you everyone. Good food for thought !

GettinBye--the info could also help someone else who is thinking about which route to book.

The other option would be Delta Boston to Atlanta Atlanta to St. Thomas - also low probability of winter storms there.

Why on earth go from Boston to Atlanta and then St. Thomas? Delta Boston to San Juan and then either direct to VG, or alternatively if you think that maybe you'll save a bit, fly to Tortola and then a quick ferry from Beef Island to VG. If you're going to do two flights and a ferry, the San Juan option (BOS-SJU-EIS) is the most sensible (all things being relative). What am I missing here?

Unless you have Global Entry Immigration in Miami can be ridiculous on your return.

We do have global entry but the return flight wasn’t my “issue” flight. We are meeting up with a young lady coming from phoenix who isn’t a seasoned traveler. Meeting up at the airport in charlotte makes sense My fear was somehow she would arrive to STT and we wouldn’t. Hence the overnight in charlotte for us. (Or Miami - but I have decided charlotte ). It’s a direct flight for her to charlotte. SJU wouldn’t be. So. We are good. I will leave it alone. George is right. With very little exception- charlotte is unlikely to close due to snow. I will leave it as is. I can always make last minute changes if things go awry. Heck- we could drive to charlotte if the world really turned upside down. We will meet up in charlotte. Fly to STT then fly to VIJ. we are also having to do all this on a Sunday which complicated things with the ferry. (No ferries to Virgin Gorda on Sundays. )

All good. Thanks everyone for responses. Good for for thought.

Just me not paying attention to the original post. You are correct!

An appropriate punishment for the inattention is that you buy lunch for everyone on this forum sometime during the first week in January, and if you do, all will be forgiven. I know that you will want to make this right, so let us all know the exact date and place!

Coco Maya? The Sugar Mill?

Mal, I could live with either venue. Both are more convenient than Saba Rock, which is always a fine choice, but I also wanted to be mindful of the expense that our malefactor would incur, so we can definitely go with one of your suggestions so as not to make the punishment unduly severe....

Sure, any of you all that meet me at Ann's Tipsy. Can't do the first week of January - we will be checking in on the 29th of January.

Mal, I still owe you a Painkiller from years ago.

Tipsys is the BEST She did an amazing job there

I don't think it is worth $400+pp to change but I have started to really hate CLT. It is SO crowded. You literally cannot pull a bag through that airport without running over someone's foot. We love Miami.

I suspect you hit CLT at a peak travel time during a hub swap. It gets crowded at that point but overall is an easy airport to navigate. There are no two gates more than a 10 minute walk apart.

And good food. Love the piano bar in the middle. 🥰

We come in from San Juan into the nice, new terminal and think, "This airport's not bad". Then we walk through a connecting tunnel into a low-ceilinged place akin to a 1940's bus terminal, from whence the short-haul flights depart. It is so deflating.

Terminal E! Yes. Dreadful. And always JAM packed as mentioned above. That terminal needs a refresh !!!!

CLT can be a challenge. It is the 10th busiest airport in the US. Passengers going through CLT has double in the last 20 years. They are currently going through a $4B overhaul. Hopefully that will help. It has to a degree so far. My biggest issue is parking. Availability and cost. As George said, getting around A, B, C and D is not bad. E is just a long walk. Security seems to be a breeze most times.

Hey RW, and what's worse is they just finished remodelling terminal D at SJU! Improved, yes, but wow! Even though they now have a convenience store in D, one is best advised to hang out in the main part of the airport for any layover more than an hour.

Has the airport seen fit yet to make any electric carts to move people around from terminal to terminal? Some of those distances are really long. I wrote to the airport administrator about this once, but shockingly enough, got no reply

Call, Ask airline for a SSR - special services request for electric cart gate transfer

I don't think that there are any carts; only wheelchairs, and I don't want to do that because you have to hold your bags on your lap and in any event, it's not what I needed (this was when I was waiting for a hip replacement and walking was agony). Again, I don't think that aside from wheelchairs, any electric carts exist and there should be some for people who would not be classified as "incapacitated," but instead, just need a little help to avoid a long trek.

Fitzhughlaw--are you talking about no carts at SJU, or CLT or MIA? This thread is kind of confusing. They do have carts at MIA. Haven't personally been in CLT for a long time, so don't know about there.

Carol, I was referring to SJU. It's an incredibly primitive airport.....

As far as luggage carts, SJU doesn't have them, so you have to hire a porter.

Fithughlaw--OK. I wasn't sure. It's been a really long time since I've been through SJU, back when AA had a hub there.