Sangster Airport Circa 1996

[Lisa C]

Hubby and I honeymooned at the original Couples in Ocho Rios October 1984 (coming up on 30 years!!) We have such fond memories of our arrival in JA. 22 year olds who had never been out of the country and wow - what a great time we had that week! Some photos of our departure - just waiting on a plane to take us home. After several (too many) Stripes on the goodbye bus it was nap time on the berm until the plane came to take us back to reality :-).Attachment 35151

[HoneyBee]

ahhh the air...the heat hit you as soon as they open the doors. I usually sat at the back of the plane, cuz back in those days they used to let you out the back door/stairs

[STRIPER]

Back in early 90's at age 21 I got deported for "over staying my welcome" A little over a year into stay I went to the airport to meet some friends flying in. As I waited two men in uniform walked up behind me, asked my name, and handcuffed me! They took me to a small office and locked me in. Showed up an hour later with a letter stamped from consulate saying "to the best of our knowledge this is Patrick Pattison" as all my ID and everything I owned in Jamaica was at the villa that they wouldn't let me return to. 2 hours later they walked me onto airplane, escorted, and in cuffs. They undid cuffs and let me take my seat, and waited by door until they closed it for takeoff. 4 hours later in Toronto. Came through customs with flip flops, shorts, and t-shirt with a big pink fish on it that said "I did fishy business in Jamaica" and the letter. That's it! A month later I got a bill from Canadian government for $800 for the flight home. OH to be young and stupid again!
Never did pay that bill, and never heard another thing about it. Been back to island twice in the last few years and no problem entering. WHEW!

That story is hilarious! I can picture you walking along like spicoli,cops grab you...wait.....what?

[Integrity]

1977 - sitting outside overlooking the runway before leaving Jamaica

[debthediver]

My first arrival was in 1984. Had a similar experience to Todd of weed in the airport. And yes that smell of salty humid warm air as soon as the plane door was opened was sweet enough to melt your soul and I could hardly inhale this sweetness quick enough. Loved travelling the old road!

[sunwise]

Sangster airport.

[Flipadelphia26]

This thread has turned out better than I ever expected. Thank you for all the cool stories and pictures.

[Integrity]

1977

[Creasemon]

That photo above from Sunwise is the old Charter Terminal ( or so my memory thinks!) - I remember watching the plans pulling away from the old Charter terminal with that same view as Lisa C's pix.

[Lisa C]

Yes - we were on a charter Ryan Air! Back in the day when they could change plans at a moment's notice. We had to stop in Baltimore on the way back to Philly to "drop off" some people before heading back to Philly. Just pulled up, opened the plane, let them off, and we took off again. I don't think that would work today :-)