Both Mayan and Tropic will put you on an earlier flight is they have space and you are there.
I found that out five or six years ago when I had about an hour and a half between landing at Goldson and my flight out to Placencia. I went outside and across the parking lot to rent a cell phone. I had just picked up the phone when I could hear my name being paged to report to Gate X immediately for my flight on Maya/Tropic (don't remember which). I looked at my watch and saw that I still had an hour plus. Nevertheless, I walked back over and got in line at the security checkpoint. They kept paging me over and over again. It was kind of embarrassing. Finally made it through the checkpoint and headed for the flight desk. Told the guy that I was the one being paged. He was like, "Run! You can still make it!" and he took off running for the plane.
I'm on vacation. I'm not running for anyone.
Walked over to the plane, and they were like, "Man, you just made it. Next time, please be on time" I didn't bother to tell them that they were the ones responsible for moving me up with zero notice. Squeezed onto a packed plane. All the other passengers glared at me like I was an *sshole for delaying their flight. Touched down 30 minutes later in Placencia. No luggage, including my scuba gear. Grrr. Had to wait around for an hour for the next incoming flight, which was my original flight, for my luggage to arrive.
Next time I'm not getting on an earlier flight unless a) there's room and b) they can show me my luggage is on the same flight. I'm not paying them money to make their lives more convenient.
There will be a lot of people in the airport wanting to handle your luggage for you (for a fee or course - not a lot of money) I suggest that you just go with the flow and have a few bucks available. It used to bother me but I finally grew up and figured out they are just trying to "legally" make a few bucks. Good jobs can be few and far between.
Our first time in Belize, we were headed for Turneffe Island Lodge (now Resort). They sent a shuttle van to pick us up. We hook up with the driver, and a guy asks if he can carry our luggage. I had no idea how far we were from the van, so I said sure. We then followed the driver across the entryway into the parking lot to the very first space. About 30 feet. I gave the guy $20. I felt kind of sheepish about it, but as DD said good jobs are hard to come by in Belize so I make it a point to be generous when I'm there.
Nowadays, I rarely leave the airport since I finally got an unlocked cell phone unless I'm renting a car. When I arrive in Placencia there's often a couple of kids hanging out to tote the luggage to the waiting van. I'm happy to tip them, if Mr. Ralph doesn't beat me to it.
