This was our 7th trip to Anguilla (AXA), but our first time flying direct to Anguilla from the US. Typically, we would fly to either Charlotte (CLT) or Miami (MIA) and then on to St. Martin (SXM). From there, we would take a charter over to Anguilla. I loved to have a rum punch on the ride over, but it was a bit of time to get to the island. On the way home, you had to plan the time to get to the ferry terminal, take the boat over, and transfer to SXM to fly home. It added a couple hours on each end of your trip.
In April of 2022, American started flying direct from Miami to Anguilla, so we thought we would give it a try. Overall, it was a great way to get to Anguilla. We were there early in the afternoon, around 2:00 p.m., and we just walked out of the terminal and picked up our rental car. The time savings was huge, on both the arrival and the departure. There are a few things to be aware of when planning your trip.
Making the Connection v. Staying Overnight in Miami
Be mindful of the connection time. The connection time for us was approximately 45 minutes between the flight from Milwaukee to Miami, and the connecting flight from Miami to Anguilla. That is a tight connection to make to begin with, especially at the moment. Miami’s airport Skytrain has been down since September 2023, and is not expected to reopen until March 2024. Miami’s airport is huge, and your flight to Anguilla will likely depart from Gate D60 which is the very last gate on the concourse. If you’ve ever flown to the Caribbean from D60, you’ll remember that it’s a collection of smaller gates down a twisty path, so it takes a bit of time to make it to your plane even after you make it to the end of the concourse. I have raced for a lot of connections in Miami, but with the Skytrain down, the odds were against us. We stayed overnight in Miami, and flew out the next morning, so it was stress-free!
Smaller Planes May Present Other Obstacles
With the smaller plane, there are other issues present. First, overhead space is extremely limited and bags which can fit with the end out on a large plane have to go sideways on a smaller plane, limiting space even more. Think about your carry-on and your need for space when you make your seating choice, especially if you’re not in the first boarding groups.
Holiday Travel
Also, consider the time of year you are traveling. Flights seem to be full most of the time these days, but if you’re traveling around the holidays, everything seems to take longer.
I would definitely fly direct to Anguilla on our next trip. We were on the beach earlier, and could linger longer. With a little planning, it’s a great way to get to our favorite island in the Caribbean.
