American Airlines cancels flights to Bonaire

[Bonairetrip]

If you can do the weekend to weekend thing, from the west coast, I think CO is the way to go. That arriving at o' dark-thirty thing is pretty harsh though. I did it last year and the flights were great.

From SEA, it is two plane rides (SEA to IAH to BON). Otherwise it is at least three (SEA to DFW to SJU to BON) or sometimes four (SEA to somewhere to MIA to CUR to BON).

 

[reefdiva]

Stu --

I would pick Divi over DAE. Yes their planes are smaller but they are super reliable and always on schedule. Small planes also means quicker trips through immigration, getting the bags at the plane and a very quick trip through customs.

I have never had an issue with my luggage at Divi. It has always been on the same plane as me -- and the planes were typically full. That was with two 70 pound bags plus a heavy carry-on plus a personal item.

Worst case: You get what is on your lap plus one bag and they fly the extra bag over on the next plane (90 minutes later). On your return leg, you drop the bags early and they fly it to Curacao as they have room (and not later than the flight you are on).

I agree that Divi is a wonderful airline with great customer service. However, folks need to know that this past winter they began charging for bags over 45 pounds so while our bags were the correct weight for AA we were charged on Divi. That being said, someone I know flew the day before we did and was not charged extra. Also, the charges seem to be in Curacao, not Bonaire.

 

[JackSpearo]

hmm, I'm going June 24 to July 8th, everything seems to be ok?

 

[mike_s]

It is big news down in this part of the world. American is slashing flights from US to the Caribbean from 40 a day to 18. Pretty devastating for the Caribbean tourism industry.

I think that's just a 'reflection' of what's going on in the US Economy.

The economy is down, groceries cost a lot more, gas cost a lot more, and people are reducing the "Big Trips" they are taking.


American is having the same "pains". Gas cost them more to operate, so does everything else. They have to cut somewhere as a business decision.

personally I hate to see them stop service down though...

 

[Codyjp]

If there is a demand for flights another airline will fill the slots.

I just book on Continental and I am glad I did. we originally planned to take AA with frequent flyer miles but the shortest route they would let us take was 26, yes, twenty six hours from LAX to BON. AA sucks.

 

[dvrliz1]

FYI,

TCB (Tourism Corporation Bonaire) has made an announcement that they are working with other airlines currently serving Bonaire to see about adding another flight. The island IS working to replace the lost flights. As soon as I know anything further, I will let everyone know.

Thanks

 

[Nesher]

This is absolutely the worse time for them to cut travel to Bonaire for me.

I have a group of four - six persons from various cities in the US attempting to arrange travel for a trip to Bonaire in November.

The logistics for us to travel to Bonaire is absolutely brutal. Due to the tremendous difficulties some in our party face, we're forced to reconsider.

It was already a bit of a hassle before the cuts...now it's just plain rough.

 

[dogenia]

How bout flying to Curacao first, then on to Bonaire.

 

[Nesher]

How bout flying to Curacao first, then on to Bonaire.

That is the only option we have at this point and quite a few of our group are not happy with it.

AA flies out of Bonaire on Wed, Fri and Sun.........the Sunday we wish to leave all flights leaving Bonaire on AA are completely booked.

So Curacao is the only option we have to fly back home in time to meet our responsibilities on Monday.

Many of us have so three to four connections just to get to Bonaire on AA if we came on Tues, Thurs or Sat.

Curacao not only add connections but it becomes a mulitiple destination as opposed to a round trip.

This raises the costs further and becomes a logistic nightmare to coordinate because it add's two more connections to the trip for some of our club members.

At this stage of the game we aren't sure if it's worth this amount of effort to get there.

We can easily find some other dive destination in this hemisphere with comparable diving and less hassle w/additonal flight connections.

I think the consesus is why go to Bonaire if we're already in Curacao. (No one other than myself has ever been to Curacao? )

And why not go to Bonaire if you're already in Curacao. We don't really have more than four to five days total. So let's not waste precious dive time traveling let's go somewhere else.

It's actually costs more money for each of us to travel to Bonaire than the resort/dive package.

I was truly looking forward to my first dive trip to Bonaire but it may have to wait until 2009.

If we were flying to Indonesia or Micronesia we could easily understand the travel situation. I just don't think it's going to happen.

 

[DeputyDan]

It's actually costs more money for each of us to travel to Bonaire than the resort/dive package.


This is true for ever trip I've taken to Bonaire