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Old 25th June 2013, 02:16 PM
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Brandon Giacomin Brandon Giacomin is offline
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Default 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


American Airlines Boeing 757-200 N630AA would be taking me to Miami


Sunset at Sea-Tac


Just after 9pm, boarding commenced.

June 3, 2013
American Airlines
AA1070
SEA-MIA
N630AA B752
Seat 24F


On-board in Seat 24F


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


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


As soon as we were out of the clouds we got some pretty good views of the Caribbean


Someone passing overhead




Looks pretty nice down there




There were lots of nice looking islands






Not sure what island this is, but they have a fairly big airport.
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Last edited by Brandon Giacomin; 25th June 2013 at 02:32 PM.
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Old 25th June 2013, 02:17 PM
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Stunning blue water


We started our descent and even though I was exhausted, I was extremely excited to be going to St Maarten!

On finals!


There it is! Maho Beach




Slowing down!


Backtracking the runway to the terminal


Nearly there


The terminal with a Jetblue and US Airways A320


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.


Westjet Boeing 737-700 lining up on RWY10


DANGER!
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Old 25th June 2013, 02:17 PM
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Jetblue E190 lining up


Lunch at the Sunset Bar and Grill


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.


Soon followed by an Insel Air MD-83


A much nicer day!


Now that’s low!


Caribbean Airlines has a very nice livery


And the biggest one of the day, Air France A340 from Paris.


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!


Jetblue A320 lining up


Dutch Antilles Express MD-83 N836RA arriving


The arrivals board


US Airways 757 lining up


DAE lining up
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Old 25th June 2013, 02:20 PM
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Air France heading back to Paris




That was it for the day. Those are just some of my photos from the day, more can be found here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brandon...7634014403385/

DAY 12: DAYTRIP TO ST BARTHS

This will be Part 4 of the report!

DAY 13: PLANE SPOTTING AT MAHO BEACH

Amerijet Boeing 727 over Maho Beach!


The early morning AA flight to Miami


WIJ completes one of her first flights for the day


WII on finals, this Twin Otter only flew a couple of times while we were over there


Copa Airlines Boeing 737-700 taking off on RWY28


KLM Boeing 747-400 on short finals for RWY10!




United A320 overhead!


KLM ready to head back to Amsterdam via Curacao




Cute little FedEx Cessna Caravan


Jetblue Airbus A320 over Maho Beach


DAE Fokker 100 PJ-DAC


More photos from the day can be found here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brandon...7634014403385/
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Old 25th June 2013, 02:21 PM
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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


Turns out I missed out on the busiest day at SXM! Luckily I got back at 3pm so I saw some of them.


WIS over Maho Beach


Good to see a new AA B738 at SXM


United Boeing 737-700 departing


Nice G-IV at SXM


Delta 757


A five hour delay meant we would see the Air France A340 arriving. The flight diverted to an island somewhere in the Atlantic.






Nice lineup at the terminal


G-IV departing


Insel Air MD-83 about to depart


Night arrival at SXM


Air France departing


More photos from the day can be found here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brandon...7634014403385/
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Old 25th June 2013, 02:22 PM
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DAY 15: PLANE SPOTTING AT MAHO BEACH

KLM Boeing 747-400 about to pass overhead


WOW!


Insel Air MD-82


Copa Boeing 737-700 arriving


KLM departing


Kicking up lots of water on departure


American Boeing 737-800 arriving


Westjet Boeing 737-700 arriving


US Airways Boeing 757 arriving


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
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Old 25th June 2013, 06:15 PM
Jacob L Jacob L is offline
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Ive got nothing more to say except WOW
And you got the pick of the days, makes me so jelous

Jacob
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Old 25th June 2013, 09:34 PM
Ian Gains Ian Gains is offline
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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.
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Old 25th June 2013, 10:28 PM
NeilP NeilP is offline
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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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Old 26th June 2013, 04:29 AM
Radi K Radi K is offline
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Awesome pics!
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