Re SXM Covid testing.....

Can anyone explain to me what I’m missing here?

We had our SXM Covid testing done Thursday morning for our flight home on Friday at MedWorks in Simpson Bay. Appointments made and paid on line and very prompt as far as no back-ups. A slight glitch in that the lab itself neglected to send our results back to the collection point but that all worked itself out eventually. All this to the tune of $140.00 total for both of us for the rapid antigen test since we’d both already received our vaccinations prior to traveling from home.

Now here’s my question. WHY? At no point or time at PJIA did anyone ask to see them or if we had gotten them done. I kept asking at every stop - check-in, passport control, TSA and finally at the gate and not one person asked for them. NOPE! So I’m thinking maybe as we actually board the plane they will check them. NOPE! Then I thought perhaps the results were emailed to the airport in SXM in advance of departure or perhaps to C & I Border Patrol at our point of US entry which for us was MiamI. NOPE! I could understand maybe one of us slipping by without shoepwing them but both of us and at every possible spot? Really?

Has anyone else returning of late had to show these swabbing confirmations or is this just another means of raising revenues? I really don’t think the latter is the case but I just don’t get the necessity of making people jump through yet another set of hoops. Both my DH and I now have one more souvenir from what was a lovely vacation.

It's a US requirement, not a money grab for St Maarten. Really up to the airlines to check before boarding and C&I to check on US entry. Some people not doing their jobs. Supprised? LOL

When I flew back on AA 8 days ago they had someone at the back of the checkin line asking to see test reports. I had completed Verifly for my return flight and showed her Verifly approval (also had the test results). When I checked bags at the counter, I was also asked for them. Not sure why you were not.

Like Scuba said--it is our government that requires we get the test. Having said that, I think that the cost could be a little lower. If Med works can charge $70 PP, the airport could as well. It probably doesn't even cost that much--but I am just guessing. That's where the money grab is.

They would not allow us to get in line until we showed our test results and we showed them at the counter (American Airlines).

While it is a US requirement, you can bet SXM is making some $$ on it and so far, the mandatory travel insurance has been a cash cow.

On the 1st day of our flight leaving SXM. someone walked down the line checking papers, before we checked in at the counter.

They had people filling out the form that needed to be done before leaving---forgot what it was called.
They kept that form and gave us the test results back at the check in counter ,but we had handed everything to them without being asked.

The second day, during the commotion, they only wanted our passports, which we had our old boarding passes stuck into.

Pat--sounds like whoever was in charge that day you left, didn't know what they were doing. Not unusual, anywhere in the world, I guess, but concerning regardless. Hopefully everyone got their tests as required.

We were checked at check-in in late March for a return flight on United. Did you go through check-
In or did get boarding passes on line?

We got boarding passes on line but were checked for paperwork the moment we entered airport in March 2021

We were not able to check in on line snd stood in line at PJIA at the check-in counter. At every juncture when someone might have checked it, not one person asked for our island Covid test results. I kept offering it snd was told each time they didn’t need it and only wanted to see our passports. It was bizarre since it was mandatory. I guess just a bit of confusion?