I'm arriving next Sunday - unforunately during the cursed half hour when the major carriers overwhelm PJIA's "temporary" arrival facilities. As I understand it, passangers on my flight will be herded together in line to wait until our luggage becomes available. I'm traveling with only carry-on. If I'm fortunate enought to find a sympathetic attendant, I may be taken directly to immigration and be on my way. Otherwise I should anticipate a wait of an hour and one half to two hours. Is that about right?

No. Not right. You can bypass the line and go straight to immigration line with only carry-on.

Unless something has changed in the past month, you do have to let one of the line monitors know you have carryon only. There is not a separate line for carryon only. (But that sure would be smart!)

Thank for the reply Scuba - just hard to believe they'd be doing anything that sensible and efficient - But you've given me hope!

Sorry Tim but scuba is incorrect. There is no separate line for carry on only folks and you can’t just walk around people. As Georgia pointed out, you need to have one of the workers escort you around the baggage line. When we arrived in Nov,no employee even offered to do that so we waited for two hours to enter immigration. So make sure you really push anyone working the incoming line to help you.

Well that's just lame...if the backup is luggage delivery why on earth would they not have a designated line for those without checked baggage. Originally I was "WTF...why can the cut in front of everyone" but I get that it just makes sense when you know WHY you are waiting..for your checked bags... NOT for immigration..no bags...no wait. Sounds simple but a major SXM duh moment

BTW..we always check bags so we will be part of the waiting crowd on the 14th of January..but I get it

We landed at 3:15 Sunday 31st (Westjet) and were through with checked bags in just over 1 hour.

Yes technically incorrect as there is no line for carry-on passengers but there is no need to wait in the checked luggage line. Just tell someone you're advancing to immigration and all fine.

We are scheduled to arrive at 545p on that Sunday so I hope an hour will do it....