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Thread: St. Maarten avec la famile, Week of May 11, 2008

  1. #1
    Moderator mirrodie's Avatar
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    St. Maarten avec la famile, Week of May 11, 2008

    This was our second trip to the Friendly Island. Our son's first passport stamp.

    Quick flight review. Truth be told, I'd rather skip it since AA has really become no different from any other airline and it many ways have gotten worse. But I feel obliged.

    The way there:
    AA667 JFK-SXM was what it was. We brought our own snacks, Sebastian had his own seat. One flight attendant was a, well, let's just say this is the kind of person AA needs to get rid of. Very turbulent ride for 35 minutes before calming down. Upon landing, the F.O. walked off with us, really nice guy. We chatted a bit as he engaged us in conversation.

    The way home:
    Returned on AA660, with the same F.O. (excellent) and the same FA lousy aforementioned FA (boo) who treated us just as poorly.
    - We departed SXM 45 minutes late. The Capt. blatantly lied that the delay was due to the large aircraft used by other airlines what were taking off in the reverse direction on the runway. Meanwhile, the Af340 and Corsair 747 flew the usual 09 departure. Why the lies? Should have known then something else was cooking.

    -Supposed to land 850PM at JFK,- Arrived at 940PM
    - was a quick run through Customs as the LHR and Santo Domingo flights just got in after us. Yeah, you are getting all excited too, right, thinking, they beat the rush! Right?! NOT :borat: AA was just getting ready to send it into dry.

    -The luggage carousel STARTS to RUN at 1045 and kicks off 8 bags. (NOT A TYPO) (Meanwhile AA's LHR and Santo Domingo flts got their bags before us and arrived AFTER us.)
    -Carousel stops. Restarts at 1115 (I can't make this up) By 1130, all luggage is OFF...And yep, ours is still in SXM... and that my friends, is probably why the pilot lied.
    -over to the baggage counter. This is the fourth time AA has done this.

    So we landed at 940 PM and got home at 1230 PM. That is the AA experience. Now do that with a 15 month old. Thank goodness he's a really good kid.
    Tell me why I should continue with this fallen flag of an airline? And the complete apathy that starts in the head office just filters down through their front line employees. It's a sin how no one is held accountable


    And I don't find Jetblue to be the panacea. But after 30 years of flying AA, losing luggage 4 times and treating my family like crap after I brought them another 2 flyers, they've shown that loyalty is not measure in years, but in segments+miles divided by time. And I'm simply not worth it to them. Might as well let jetblue try and lose my stuff for a change, right?

    End rant, let's rewind and go back to the trip. It was great.


    Here are a few pics. The waves at Maho were insane. One moment I'm walking with my son while he splashes at the sea foam and the next, a monster wave came out of nowhere.

    A second after this, he was airborne (in my grasp) and the water was at my waist as I held on for the subsequent undertow.


    The planes buzz over here like flies.


    Apparently he's never heard of jetblast. I love his flying strap.



    What kind of plane was this? Dc-6?:



    Didnt know I'd run into Joe Statz and Christian Egers here. Good times.


    Loud little visitor


    escaping the cloud on the reverse takeoff


    Daddy, I wanna see, I wanna see!


    while making Guavaberry coladas, in came....


    I cannot WAIT to jetski next time! look at how high this guy is going!


    My favorite


    Carnival was in town for the day.


    Love the Fokkers with the red tips


    He can't get enough of them! Couldn't get him to look at the camera.



    It's never to early to learn how to exit the plane....in the highly unlikely event of an emergency.


    Nice crisp day with another Isle in the distance


    Taken from the French side.


    Questions? Please.


    Comments? Please.
    And I, I took the path less traveled by
    and that has made all the difference......yet...
    I have a feeling a handle of people are going to be very interested in what I post in the near future.

    http://www.jetphotos.net/showphotos.php?userid=187

  2. #2
    Senior Member moose135's Avatar
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    Re: St. Maarten avec la famile

    Very nice, Mario. Looks like a great trip!

    Quote Originally Posted by mirrodie
    Our son's first passport stamp.
    Where did they stamp him?

  3. #3
    Senior Member MarkLawrence's Avatar
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    Re: St. Maarten avec la famile, Week of May 11, 2008

    What fantastic shots Mario! That MD-11 is incredible...have to work a trip there somehow!! :)
    Mark Lawrence - KFLL
    Davie, FL

    Community Manager NYCAviation.com
    email: [email protected]

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    Senior Member Iberia A340-600's Avatar
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    Re: St. Maarten avec la famile, Week of May 11, 2008

    Mario... That KLM MD-11 shot is just about one of the best shots I've ever seen, I love it! :borat:

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    Senior Member cancidas's Avatar
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    Re: St. Maarten avec la famile, Week of May 11, 2008

    why does it look like you photoshopped the AF tail into the shot where sebastian is holding the safety card?
    it is mathematically impossible for either hummingbirds, or helicopters to fly. fortunately, neither are aware of this.

  6. #6
    Moderator mirrodie's Avatar
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    Re: St. Maarten avec la famile, Week of May 11, 2008

    Because I "photoshopped the AF tail into the shot where sebastian is holding the safety card."

    Just look up Occam's Razor.



    I didn't like the window view, so out of boredom I changed it. :P
    But I'll stick to my day job.
    And I, I took the path less traveled by
    and that has made all the difference......yet...
    I have a feeling a handle of people are going to be very interested in what I post in the near future.

    http://www.jetphotos.net/showphotos.php?userid=187

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    Re: St. Maarten avec la famile, Week of May 11, 2008

    Everything is great!
    In loving memory of Casey Edward Falconer
    May 16, 1992-May 9, 2012

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    Re: St. Maarten avec la famile, Week of May 11, 2008

    Mario, you have some really nice shots here, nice variety. As far as your AA experience with no disrespect to AA777 or to my friends on here who love flying AA but not my employer your experience sounds common, they have a good F product but many, many service problems. My own employer (US) often takes a bad rap really no US carriers seem to be free anymore of real problems with their service.

    Looking forward to my next SXM visit sometime in the future. I assume you where happy with the time-share property, would really like to stay their one day.

    Cheers

    LGA777

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    Moderator Matt Molnar's Avatar
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    Re: St. Maarten avec la famile, Week of May 11, 2008

    Great stuff, Mario. Definitely gonna try to get down there this winter. What kind of currency do they use there anyway?
    Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem.
    All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them under control.
    I trust you are not in too much distress. —Captain Eric Moody, British Airways Flight 9

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    Re: St. Maarten avec la famile, Week of May 11, 2008

    Mario, forgot to mention in my first reply, the green plane on the road into town is a YS-11, Japanese 60 seat Twin engine Turboprop.

    Cheers

    LGA77

  11. #11
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    Re: St. Maarten avec la famile, Week of May 11, 2008

    Also, congratulations on your son's first passport stamp! I have yet to get mine.
    In loving memory of Casey Edward Falconer
    May 16, 1992-May 9, 2012

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    Re: St. Maarten avec la famile, Week of May 11, 2008

    Very nice pictures! But why take a picture of some fat dude? LOL

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    Re: St. Maarten avec la famile, Week of May 11, 2008

    Nice Report Mario. Nice shots.
    It's hard to take chances but sometimes it's better if you do

    http://www.southpawcaptures.com
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    Moderator mirrodie's Avatar
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    Re: St. Maarten avec la famile, Week of May 11, 2008

    THanks Eric. Welcome back. Looking forward to your stuff.

    Thanks for the words everyone. They inspire future TRs.

    MAtt, currency down there is Netherlands Guilder and Euro on French side. BUT the American dollar is THE form of currency. Further, some places on the french side work out a special deal where they honor $1 to 1 euro. NOT BAD. So there is absolutely no need to exchange $$.

    Tom, I thought you liked chubbies? I just though this guy was nuts to stand in the jetblast with his gear. I have stood in the jetblast and tis phenomenal. Really its more fun than skydiving. But not with my gear!
    And I, I took the path less traveled by
    and that has made all the difference......yet...
    I have a feeling a handle of people are going to be very interested in what I post in the near future.

    http://www.jetphotos.net/showphotos.php?userid=187

  15. #15
    Moderator Matt Molnar's Avatar
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    Re: St. Maarten avec la famile, Week of May 11, 2008

    Wow, $1 per Euro = :borat:
    Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem.
    All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them under control.
    I trust you are not in too much distress. —Captain Eric Moody, British Airways Flight 9

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