Saba Travel

[Selchie]

Has anyone experienced problems with luggage when flying on the small plane from St Maarten to Saba? In order to bring all of my dive gear plus UW camera equipment I ususally travel with 2 checked bags and carry on a backpack plus shoulder bag. Another option would be the ferry.

Any comments/suggestions from those who have previously traveled to Saba with lots of gear?

 

[Walter]

I had no trouble getting my luggage within the WinAir limits. Remember WinAir gives divers a higher limit. Pack your dive gear. Wear your swim suit under your clothes. Pack a small bottle of Woolite instead of extra shirts and socks. Take the small bottle of shampoo, a travel size tooth paste, etc. Most people over pack for trips.

 

[morecowbells]

We had no problems when we flew on Win Air from St. Maarten to Saba. However, I recently heard that they are no longer going to be making exceptions for dive equipment. If your checked bags exceed #50 you will get hit with a steep surcharge. They are sticklers about enforcing the wt. limits on luggage.

 

[Walter]

That's not good news. You can still pack light and make the limit. I didn't need the extra diver limit, although I was pretty close. The alternative is to take the ferry. Check to make sure it's not scheduled for dry dock when you'll be needing it.

 

[deborahdelamar]

Here are Winair's current baggage policies. The additional allowance for scuba gear is, indeed, a thing of the past! There is some confusion since the weight allowance doesn't match the baggage fee schedule -- you may want to telephone for clarification.

What are the baggage restrictions?

Checked baggage will be restricted to an absolute maximum of sixty four kilos (64 kgs.) or one hundred and forty pounds (140 lbs.) for any one passenger. Also any one piece of baggage weighing more than thirty two kilos (32 kgs.)/seventy pounds (70 lbs.) or exceeding overall dimensions (length plus width plus height) of sixty two inches (62 ins.) will not be accepted for carriage as checked baggage.

* Surfboards and Sailboards are not acceptable as baggage.
* Musical instruments are not included in passengers free baggage allowance and are accepted as excess baggage on a space available basis only.
* Bicycles are not included in passengers free baggage allowance and are accepted on a space available basis only at a special charge.

What is considered excess baggage?

All baggage over and above the free baggage allowance of twenty kilos (20 kgs.) or forty four pounds (44 lbs.) per adult/child passenger and excluding the items mentioned above as personal items will be charged for at the appropriate excess baggage rate.

What is my free baggage allowance?

Each adult/child passenger has a free baggage allowance of twenty kilos (20kgs) or forty four pounds (44lbs). This allowance includes the weight of cabin baggage (unchecked baggage).

How many bags am I allowed to carry on?

Each passenger is allowed one (1) carry-on bag which is subject to a maximum weight of 3 kilos or 6 pounds. In addition to the carry-on luggage, a customer may carry a handbag or pocketbook, overcoat or wrap, umbrella or walking stick, camera, binoculars and reading material for the flight.

Baggage Fees, DOMESTIC - SXM - SAB - EUX
All excess bags are tagged as standby and fly on a space-available basis.
Checked bags, 50 lbs/23kg or less - first Free, 2nd $25, 3rd-9th $50.00 each
Overweight to 70lbs/32kg - first $40, 2nd $65, 3rd-9th $90 each
Oversized - first $60, 2nd $85, 3rd-9th - $105 each

 

[Selchie]

Thank You ddeborahdelamar.

Threre do seem to be some discrpancies in the weight allowances. The dive gear and personal items won't be a problem. But if they stick to the 6lb carry-on limit it creates quite a problem for the UW camera equipment. I guess I could rethink the way I transport items and put housing, ports, etc. in a checked bag (and pay for second bag) and only carry the camera & lenses. I guess I better weigh that bag and see how close it is to 6lb. The ferry option is certainly something to think about, it just makes for a very long day of travel.

I don't want to give up trips to some of the smaller islands, but the weight allowances on the small planes creates a bit of a hassle or maybe it's my UW camera gear that's really creating the hassle

 

[deborahdelamar]

It's definitely worth flying over taking the ferry, even if it means a few hour wait at SXM. The airplane entrance is very narrow and there's little room inside for carry on bags. I've flown Winair over 10 times (different destinations) with an overstuffed backpack that I had to keep in my lap -- it's almost as wide as I am. As of a year ago, they didn't care about carry-on weights. Worst case scenario, I think, would be that they take it from you when you board and put it in the nose. You pays your money and you takes your chances...

 

[scubamickey]

We took the ferry to avoid the weight restrictions. Plus it's cheaper. The ride isn't long and is a lot of fun. On the way to Saba they had a cooler with beer and we all sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful sight of the island as it came into view. Bonine would be advisable since it is a ride in open seas and if it starts to rain and you sit inside you might get a little sea sick. But I didn't see anyone sick on either trip. Glad we did it too. On the return leg we had no problem leaving while our fellow divers who were flying were stuck due to fog for 2 days. We couldn't afford to miss our connection since it would have thrown off all of our connections back to Alaska.