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USA/Caribbean Trip Part 3: AA SEA-MIA-SXM (Photos)
Introduction:
Part 1: http://www.yssyforum.net/board/showthread.php?t=9280 Part 2: http://www.yssyforum.net/board/showthread.php?t=9283 Here is Part 3 of my report. This will include my flight from SEA-MIA and MIA-SXM as well as what we did while in St Maarten. SEATTLE TACOMA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Well after 2 nights in wonderful Seattle it was time to fly to St Maarten, and I was very excited! After dropping the rental car off we caught the shuttle over to the terminal. We found the American Airlines check in desks. Because we had a connecting flight we couldn’t use the self-check-in machines, so we lined up at the check in desks. There were only two or three people ahead of us, yet it took about an hour to check us in. There appeared to be a few issues with some people ahead which caused the holdup. American Airlines only have two check-in desks at Seattle so that didn’t help either. After being checked in we went through security and grabbed something to eat before making our way to the gate. This would be my first flight on a Boeing 757, I was looking forward to flying on a new type, but I wasn’t looking forward to the 6 hour red-eye flight ahead. There wasn’t a lot to see from where we were, but I did get a few shots. Alaskan Boeing 737-400 N706AS in Make a Wish livery http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2857/8...be1a150b61.jpg American Airlines Boeing 757-200 N630AA would be taking me to Miami http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5321/8...a1b37e24a8.jpg Sunset at Sea-Tac http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7293/8...b3c1cddc8f.jpg Just after 9pm, boarding commenced. June 3, 2013 American Airlines AA1070 SEA-MIA N630AA B752 Seat 24F On-board in Seat 24F http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3705/8...c2feb5d095.jpg We taxied out to RWY34R and took off on-time. We climbed straight out and flew over Boeing Field before making a nice right hand turn to the south. Flying over Seattle http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8274/8...4f7909cc41.jpg That was the last photo from the flight. We got a good view of Mount Rainier before making a left hand turn to take us to Miami. The 757 was equipped with Wi-Fi so I bought that to keep me entertained. The cabin crew came through with drinks, I took a coke. After that I just browsed the internet for a while before trying to get some sleep. I only managed little bits of sleep every now and then. There was a bit of turbulence as we neared Texas, I looked out my window and saw lots of flashes of lightning below, it was a pretty cool sight. Finally we were over Florida and we started our descent into Miami, it was still dark so the city was all lit up, it looked really good. I didn’t manage to get any decent photos though. Can’t remember which runway we landed on, as soon as we did my window fogged up and I couldn’t see a thing. We taxied to our gate and got off the plane. We now had 5 hours before our flight to St Maarten. DAY 10: AMERICAN AIRLINES MIA-SXM, PLANE SPOTTING AT MAHO BEACH Miami Airport Miami Airport was quite nice, very big! We found our gate and I just tried to get some sleep. I was absolutely buggered; I managed a little bit of sleep. Finally it was time to board our flight to St Maarten. June 4, 2013 American Airlines AA687 MIA-SXM (Too tired to get the rego) B738 Seat 21F We departed on-time, off RWY8L or R I think. I managed to get a little sleep on the flight, it was only 2 hours and 30 minutes. In the clouds after departure http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3799/8...3bd4d0198a.jpg As soon as we were out of the clouds we got some pretty good views of the Caribbean http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3697/8...c9dcdce606.jpg Someone passing overhead http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8133/8...38acd155a5.jpg http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3819/8...1b23fa2319.jpg Looks pretty nice down there http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5445/8...788881dbb9.jpg http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2862/8...17b2bda7b2.jpg There were lots of nice looking islands http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7421/8...5239533395.jpg http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5342/8...61edd25d7f.jpg http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5463/8...73040f89c0.jpg Not sure what island this is, but they have a fairly big airport. http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3740/8...3b80e36805.jpg |
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8547/8...c34777f32d.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8537/8...f61364f845.jpg Stunning blue water http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3800/8...2cacdc2ff2.jpg We started our descent and even though I was exhausted, I was extremely excited to be going to St Maarten! On finals! http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3694/8...7f5c04d845.jpg There it is! Maho Beach :D http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5346/8...3a8d1b004c.jpg http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5457/8...b0c546b333.jpg Slowing down! http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5448/8...8a8fe61414.jpg Backtracking the runway to the terminal http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7332/8...9a0b15e1a5.jpg Nearly there http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7446/8...f514ebc600.jpg The terminal with a Jetblue and US Airways A320 http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7378/8...f3790a2898.jpg Got off the plane and passed through customs, got my bag and then caught a taxi to the hotel :) St Maarten We stayed at the Sonesta Maho Beach, a nice hotel and just a 5 minute walk to Maho Beach. We left our bags in the room and then went straight down to the beach. It was only 3pm so it would be best to try and stay awake a bit longer. Maho Beach! Not the best day though. http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5452/8...0b1fe10ebb.jpg Westjet Boeing 737-700 lining up on RWY10 http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7366/8...54aeca2717.jpg DANGER! http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3737/8...4f9ffebc47.jpg |
Jetblue E190 lining up
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7341/8...e07184c766.jpg Lunch at the Sunset Bar and Grill :D http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2837/8...96ebb0f2c3.jpg After a bit of spotting and something to eat we went back to the hotel. Stayed up a bit longer but by 6pm I had to go to sleep, and we didn’t wake up til 9am, 15 hours sleep haha! DAY 11: PLANE SPOTTING AT MAHO BEACH The first big plane for us, Caribbean Airlines Boeing 737-800. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8254/8...1206d6348e.jpg Soon followed by an Insel Air MD-83 http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7376/8...ba41a2c3bb.jpg A much nicer day! http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5465/8...2636ac6296.jpg Now that’s low! http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2874/8...8607761ae1.jpg Caribbean Airlines has a very nice livery http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3737/8...a326319dac.jpg And the biggest one of the day, Air France A340 from Paris. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8124/8...f4d3571cd8.jpg Winair DHC6 Twin Otter PJ-WIJ. PJ-WIJ and WIS were constantly flying in and out of SXM during my stay. They usually just do 15 minute hops to nearby islands. So you can see the same plane arriving 10 times a day! http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3724/8...0e529a50eb.jpg Jetblue A320 lining up http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5448/8...c78efd4d53.jpg Dutch Antilles Express MD-83 N836RA arriving http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2832/8...865cd35392.jpg The arrivals board http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8254/8...31a2d0305d.jpg US Airways 757 lining up http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8550/8...5118f89713.jpg DAE lining up http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3780/8...8ff77e03fb.jpg |
DAY 14: DAYTRIP TO SABA, PLANE SPOTTING AT MAHO BEACH
The Saba trip will be Part 5 of the report! Here are some photos from Maho Beach later that day. Spirit A319 lining up on RWY10 http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7401/9...4a33c78540.jpg Turns out I missed out on the busiest day at SXM! Luckily I got back at 3pm so I saw some of them. http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5331/9...ab6901b362.jpg WIS over Maho Beach http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5450/9...3529084621.jpg Good to see a new AA B738 at SXM http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2877/9...fa326af320.jpg United Boeing 737-700 departing http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3733/9...42815a4a3e.jpg Nice G-IV at SXM http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2872/9...a0e96e26cf.jpg Delta 757 http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3775/9...d66a8ff015.jpg A five hour delay meant we would see the Air France A340 arriving. The flight diverted to an island somewhere in the Atlantic. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7373/9...0152765172.jpg http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7348/9...9c156dd336.jpg http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3830/9...dede49640d.jpg Nice lineup at the terminal http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5548/9...04d3162a6e.jpg G-IV departing http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3821/9...5421004dd6.jpg Insel Air MD-83 about to depart http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3779/9...6616064898.jpg Night arrival at SXM http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7392/9...d343a03edb.jpg Air France departing http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3729/9...57b3994146.jpg More photos from the day can be found here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/brandon...7634014403385/ |
DAY 15: PLANE SPOTTING AT MAHO BEACH
KLM Boeing 747-400 about to pass overhead http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5497/9...4e7aea8d35.jpg WOW! http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2888/9...df4809d3ef.jpg Insel Air MD-82 http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5346/9...4fd31f4b42.jpg Copa Boeing 737-700 arriving http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7368/9...0f0c2c689e.jpg KLM departing http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5520/9...f109b1c0ba.jpg Kicking up lots of water on departure http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3743/9...9109fca63a.jpg American Boeing 737-800 arriving http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7351/9...50350a08e4.jpg Westjet Boeing 737-700 arriving http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2826/9...4519105ede.jpg US Airways Boeing 757 arriving http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3809/9...fa0e2ec715.jpg More photos from the day can be found here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/brandon...7634014403385/ Well that’s it for Part 3. Hope you enjoyed! Part 4 will include the flights from SXM-SBH and SBH-SXM as well as photos from St Barths. Part 5 will include the flights from SXM-SAB and SAB-SXM as well as photos from Saba. Part 6 will include the flights from SXM-MIA, MIA-LAX and LAX-BNE. St Maarten is awesome. Spotting at Maho Beach was amazing. I really want to go back! Brandon |
Ive got nothing more to say except WOW
And you got the pick of the days, makes me so jelous Jacob |
Nice Brandon, & great effort into posting it all for us to see. What focal length lens are you using for the side on shots landing at Maho Beach ?
I visited SXM once way back in 1987, when I was working on a cruise ship. Well before the internet & e-mail, so I didn't even know that the beach was there ! I managed some slides of Windward Islands DHC-6's (earlier in the PJ-WI* block !) & an Air Guadeloupe ATR. Seems to be a lot more popular now. |
Speachless... The missus has promised me a trip for my 50th... I can't wait that long... This will have to hold me til then... Thanks Brandon... *sigh*...
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Awesome pics!
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