Kevin,

The American Airlines non-stop flights to and from St. Thomas are only on Saturdays. It's been that way for a while.

I am leaving from JFK on a non stop AA flight to STT.

I forgot to indicate that we usually travel on weekdays and have not had a problem getting the non stop on AA out of JFK for the past 9 years. Just hoping they will add the non stop on weekdays as time passes and high season gets closer. Stopping in San Juan or Miami usually seems to make something go wrong. We just returned in Feb and flew non stop from JFK to STT on a Wednesday and returned on a Saturday non stop.

Kevin F

Just for fun i searched for non stop JFK to STT on weekday in August and it still showed non stop flight, but after that (Sept, Oct...)just the flight with stop in MIA or SJU

Kevin F

Hi Kevin,

I'm flying direct from JFK to STT in May on a Saturday and returning on a Monday. I check other days during the week and they do fly direct. Flight 655 leaves around 8:00 AM getting in around noon.

Are you trying to fly in Sept or October to STT.? I believe that's when they cut back flights due to less travelers going to the Caribbean. Just a thought.

What day are you trying to fly out?

We are not traveling till next March, using the new software download from AA which will notify you when the fare goes below a set amount. I was trying to see what the fare would be now and thats when I discovered that the non stop was not being offered on weekdays anymore. We flew non stop this past February on weekdays with american.

Kevin F

I swear by Continental. Never had a snafu.

Very interesting Kevin and very inconvenient on the part of American Airlines. Maybe they will bring it back. My flight in May is fully booked going to STT from JFK. I did hear that airlines were cutting back on flights to save fuel but I don't understand cutting back in the middle of high season. (March)

Good Luck I hope they bring back your midweek flights.

Kevin,
I am retired AA sales, so can shed some light on the sked changes you are finding. What is happening with the JFK-STT non stop flight is a combination of (regular) seasonal sked changes, coupled with the new AA "Capacity Plan". The capacity plan is being put into place to cope with higher fuel prices, economic factors and adjustments to crew availability at the JFK hub.

The JFK-STT flight, AA 655- 8A departure, 12N arrival- is a daily flight in April, May, June and July (except it does not operate on 01 JUL, but that's because of "Holiday Frequency Sked Change- another topic all together), daily in August, and is daiily up until 03SEP.

On 03SEP, with the Fall sked change, the flight becomes "Saturday Only" for the remainder of SEP, Saturday only for all of OCT (note that times for the flight change on 11OCT to 730A departure, 1115A arrival), Saturday only for all of NOV, and Saturday only for the remainder of 2008 and all the way up to mid-March, 2009.

AA's computer system, Sabre, which powers all the AA online reservation info/bookings , is programmed to allow advance bookings/reservations up to 330 days in advance. Today, you can only do a request for a reservation date up to March 17th/2009 (330 days from now, if my date calculations are correct).

If you are traveling after March 17th, 2009, wait a week or so and check the March/09 schedules online again. It's very possible that the JFK-STT daily non-stop flight will be added back on sometime in March/2009 when the Spring Sked Change is loaded into Sabre.

Any time you make reservations, make sure you sign up for the flight notification changes (you can send them to your email or phone).

The LGA-STT nonstop flight operates daily year round, and so far has not been impacted by either seasonal sked changes (except for minor time changes) or the capacity plan.

Hope this info helps you- I , and my pension plan, appreciate your flying AA!

Wow, Carolina girl, thanks for shedding some light on the flight issue, I appreciate your response!!

Kevin F

My travel dates are March 2 returning March 13 and I checked for direct flight out of LGA and there was no direct flight avail from there either?

Kevin F

When I looked at Sabre yesterday, it showed direct flights both ways LGA/STT during month of March/2009. Note that direct means "1 stop", not "non stop".

Today, Sabre shows that the LGA STT flight/AA 775/ is still a direct daily flight going down on March 2nd, 2009

AA 775 LGA STT 02 MAR 830A 415P 757

But shows connecting service (change planes) thru MIA for the return flight on March 13/2009.

I expect that AA will be making lots more changes to their flight skeds for the rest of this year, and into 2009. With the rising cost of fuel, more FAA inspections of older aircraft, pilot retirements/staffing and AA divesting itself of American Eagle in 2009 (which certainly has to greatly impact MIA, STT, SJU and all of the Caribbean), I don't see any way that the skeds that you look at today for any future date will remain the same. All you can do is book what they show today, and trust the airline to re-schedule you and notify you of any changes.

Guess you can see why I am very happy to be hanging my toes over the side of the boat in the Caribbean rather than still working?

Island Carolina Girl, excellent information. Nice to have professional input instead of a guessamactic.:-)

I really appreciate your information. Good to know for future travel.

Thank You8-)