The small island has one major international air travel hub

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While St. Maarten and St. Martin have two airports, there is only one, on St. Maarten, that is capable of handling large planes and international air traffic. With the relatively small size of the island, visitors flying into the Dutch side of the country will have little trouble making their way to the French side to vacation or take an interisland flight from the much smaller airport situated there.

The small L'Esperance Airport in St. Martin generally serves small charter and interisland planes and can be reached at 590-87-53-03. Most international visitors will fly into The Princess Juliana International Airport, the second busiest airport in the eastern Caribbean, and the hub for travel to Sint Maarten, St. Martin, and a host of small islands surrounding the two states. The contact number for Princess Juliana International Airport, located approximately 10 miles northwest of Philipsburg, is 599-545-5757. Taxis, rental cars, dining, and shopping are all available at the airport. Tourists to St. Maarten may receive entry to the country from 14 days to 3 months and visitors to St. Martin may stay in the country up to 3 months without a visa. In 2004, the airport had traffic of nearly 400,000 international and local transit passengers.

There is a departure tax when leaving the airport of $30(USD) for international destinations and $10(USD) for destinations within the Netherlands Antilles. Fees may be included on airlines such as Air France, Continental, Delta, KLM, and American, so be sure to check with your airline regarding the fee.

Airlines

There are a variety of airlines serving Princess Juliana International Airport, and travelers should research air carriers and flight timetables that work best for them. Nonstop flights, which do no stop are preferred by many over direct flights, which may have stops between your departure and arrival. Sample flight times to St. Maarten and St. Martin are 2 and a half hours from Miami; 3 and a half hours from New York; 5 hours from Montreal; and 8 hours from Paris. Passengers from the United States and Canada can find both direct and nonstop flights to Princess Juliana International Airport, while travelers from Europe and abroad may sometimes have to make connections in U.S. cities or in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Passengers should be sure to shop around for a variety of options when booking their flights. At AirSXM, travelers will be able to research and compare different airline fares, so you can get the best deals for your money. Flying during the off season or securing last minute travel arrangement can save travelers 20 percent to 50 percent on their airfare. Roundtrip travel is also generally cheaper than buying one way tickets, and vacationers must show proof of a return ticket when traveling to the country. Frequent flier clubs and Internet vendors are other good ways of saving when arranging your air travel.

Airline passengers often prefer to travel on board air carriers they know and trust, but this may not always be an option for getting to your destination of choice. The Federal Aviation Administration of the United States (FAA) provides air carrier reputation rankings that are based on performance, service, and safety. The FAA's Web site is at http://www.faa.gov.

Federal Aviation Administration 800 Independence Ave, SW Washington, DC 20591

The FAA consumer hotline can be contacted at 866-835-5322, and those looking for the Aviation Consumer Protection Division or looking to report air travel service problems should contact 202-366-2220.

The FAA has deemed both the government of the Netherlands Antilles (St. Maarten) and the government of France (St. Martin) as being in compliance with the International Aviation Safety Assessment Program that is based on a country's standards for aircraft operations.

International airlines serving Princess Juliana International Airport:

Entry Requirements

Under the new Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, travelers from areas in the Western Hemisphere, including the Caribbean, United States, and Canada will be required to show a passport to enter the United States. Those vacationing to the Caribbean should travel with a valid passport and also must show proof of a return ticket when entering the country. European and Canadian citizens must also have valid passports and return tickets.

Preparing for Your Flight

The dynamics of air travel have changed significantly in the wake of recent terrorism concerns in the United States and abroad. Travelers can expect transit times through an airport to be increased due to increased passenger and baggage scrutiny. Passengers are now submitted to an increased number of searches, and must go through a greater number of checkpoints before they finally are allowed to proceed to their gate. Common sense measures can be taken by air traffic passengers in order to reduce their waiting time while in the airport.

• Flight numbers and seat assignments should be confirmed by passengers a few days in advance of your flight. This is especially important on charter flights, and passengers should also check on bag and weight restrictions.

• Passengers who have secured flight reservations electronically, may expedite their check in process by online check in or by using one of the many electronic ticket kiosks now made available by many major airlines.

• In order to check in and fly to international destinations, passengers should always carry a government issued photo-ID, a boarding ticket, and a passport. These items are required for passage through a number of checkpoints in the airport.

• Passengers must limit their carry on baggage to one carry on item, and one personal item, which may include a purse, briefcase, or laptop computer case. There also weight restrictions on checked baggage and some airlines may charge fees for items like golf clubs or bicycles. Gifts packed in all luggage should remain unwrapped, as airline and airport security officials may need to search the bag. Some food in checked baggage may trigger bomb detection devices.

Passengers going through the primary carry on and traveler screening area can also do a number of things to make their progress through the area more smooth. Random searches are sometimes conducted and passengers should cooperate with the usually friendly airport staff.

Travelers should avoid wearing bulky jewelry, belt buckles, or shoes with metal parts while going through metal detectors. Jackets, coats, blazers, and many types of shoes must be taken off and put through the conveyor belt. Watches, change, jewelry, keys, cell phones and other metal objects that may set off detection devices should be placed inside of your carry on baggage prior to moving through the screening area. Passengers should take camcorders and laptop computers out of their cases and those who have metal surgical implants should contact airport officials and also receive a doctor's note. Finally, dispose of any of the prohibited items, such as razors, lighters, or matches that you may have in your possession before entering the screening area. For a full list of prohibited items, visit the Web site of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at http://www.tsa.gov/public/ or call 866-289-9673.

Princess Juliana Airport, serving both St. Maarten and St. Martin, is a busy, modern airport, making it easier for travelers from abroad to visit the tiny island that is home to two separate countries.

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