We just returned from our 13th trip to SXM and we learned a few new things in the travel portion. Our trip took us on AA from Minneapolis-Dallas-Miami - overnight - Miami - Antigua. A few days later we flew Winair Antigua - SXM. Our return legs were on AA back to Minneapolis via Charlotte. I will follow up with an SXM-specific trip report.

Verifly
Following AA 's recommendations, we used the Verifly app. When we arrived in Miami for our MIA-SXM flight, we were waved into a Verifly line by an agent and were processed instantly. The next line to check bags had one person ahead of us. I felt like we were traveling First Class (we weren't). For our SXM departure on Friday, we arrived two hours early for the CLT flight to find a very long baggage check line. We were in line for about ten minutes, but again an agent was checking the line and asked if we had Verifly. We presented our completed passes, and he pulled us from the line. We went straight to the priority line, and were the second group in line. This was a very good experience. Hopefully we won't need Verifly nexts time, and MAYBE they will have kiosks available for our next trip.

Winair
We had a 9:45 fiight ANU-SXM mid-way through our trip. We arrived at the airport around 8:15, and were the ONLY passengers in the entire airport. We were also the only passengers on the plane for the 40 minute flight to SXM. Based on our arrival time in SXM, we were through customs in minutes and out the door to meet Lesley's wife Shirley for our rental car.

Global Entry
After having had TSA Pre for a few years, we renewed with Global Entry this year. Getting through immigration in Charlotte was a breeze! We walked into the big room, and went straight to a kiosk. The kiosk took our pictures and printed a receipt. We presented the receipt to an agent, and were waved through. ZERO waiting - and no passport review. No customs form either. After we got our bags, we were also waived through.

SXM Airport
Here's hoping they get the remodel done soon (wishful thinking?). Getting checked in for one of the big afternoon flights took us over an hour, even with the benefit of the Verifly activity above. I can only imagine that it is worse on Saturdays and Sundays.

Binax Covid Tests
We purchased Binax tests to receive approval for our return. To save space in our suitcases, we removed the tests from the box. Big mistake! You need to scan the code from the outer box to initiate your session with the test proctors. Thankfully we were able to get tests arranged at Esmeralda ($50 each cash).


Thanks to everyone on this forum. Your insights, trip reports, and conversations help make the time between visits to our favorite island pass more quickly!

Dave

Also if you use the Binax test , get hard copies of results. While wifi is available at PJIA, internet takes about a 2 minute process to get 30 minutes (free). Without internet you cannot access Binax results on phone. Binax test was very easy to do in unit. Best with 2 people, one to do test and one to hold phone so proctor can observe.

Bluesfan - great point! Our wifi at Esmeralda was not consistent based on the location of our unit.

Thanks for the report, for all the nitty-gritty stuff! Looking forward to the actual fun stuff!!!

I concur on Global Entry. So worth the effort to get it. We made it through customs in FLL, aka the top circle of Hell (in our opinion), in no time. I won't ever be without it from now on.

Yep the Binax tests have to be UNOPENED to be considered legit. We have used them to get back to the US from France and SXM without issue but yeah we left them in their original box.

Heading back to SXM in June or July via AA so that info is good. Thanks.

We saved our Binax results to our Apple Wallet. No internet needed to access the results at the airport.