Bonaire Airfare and travel advice - help!

[reefdiva]

Thanks for all the information. I been reading some comments about lost luggage and issues with the smaller airlines and interisland flights. Does anyone know how reliable they are, especially regarding losing luggage?

I have used the interisland flights from Curacao to Bonaire and back many times. I usually use Divi Air and have never lost luggage with them. The only issue for them is weight and if the plane might be over weighted some luggage may be delayed until the next flight. They have many flights a day so your luggage will be there fairly soon.

You do need to know however that they will charge for overweight bags.

 

[divemaster86]

I just booked tickets for November over Thanksgiving through Continental via Expedia (ORD --> BON through Newark). They were $705 a ticket (after taxes and fees). The flight to Bonaire is an overnight flight Sat night (arrives at 5:30 am the next day) and the return flight leaves early in the morning (7:00 am on the following Sunday). You can probably find a similar schedule for a much lower price if you don't travel over the holiday

 

[clc3251]

I hate red-eye flights, but the continental flight is not that bad, particularly if you pay for an extra night and can get into your room when you get there. It is worlds better than the old "ALM" or "Dutch Caribbean" (or whatever they happen to call themselves at the time) airlines. They had the worst service and went out of business several times stranding passengers and luggage. The last time we used them, we watched as our plane pushed away from the gate in Miami and our luggage was on the tarmac with several thousand (yes thousand) other bags in the pouring rain. When we got there, of course our luggage wasn't there and there were numerous irate people in the airport who hadn't gotten their luggage all week. Apparently the airline was out of money and was flying in passengers without their bags to save fuel before they went belly up, which they did while we were there. Had to book new flights and eat the cost of our tickets. I hope "Insel" isn't the continuation of that franchise. Just got back from my 17th trip to Bonaire and the only problems we had were gas theft and mosquitos. Both are really bad this year. Every year for the last 8 years or so, we have had our gas (or someones diving with us) stolen from our rental truck. The thieves reach up under the bed of the truck and stab a knife into the filler hose (which is cheap plastic, with no guard of any kind) and siphon out the gas. They hit hard on Friday and Saturday nights because they know travelers fill up the trucks to return them on Saturday before their flight, and new renters on Saturday are given a full tank. We keep the gas at about 1/4 tank and try to return it empty. The cut hose costs you $120.00 if the rental company finds it. The petty theft on the island is out of control. Don't leave anything out at night and lock your doors and windows in your room. I don't want to sound too negative since I still plan on going there again next year, but the theft is very annoying. On the bright side, the water is really warm this year. 84 deg or so in mid July. Not the greatest for visibility, but diving in a bathing suit or a shorty sure was nice.