Bonaire Trip Disaster!

[cmm1970]

One comment I am not seeing here is that this scenario HAPPENS EVERYDAY between SJU and BON on American. I had one checked camera outfit stolen on the way to Bonaire and one taken on the way back. Come to find out that the feds are investigating luggage theft out of SJU and that there is something more than petty theft going on.

Net-net on this situation is that if you are flying through SJU, DO NOT CHECK ANY of your valuables. You must devise carry-ons for camera equipment. It is the photo equipment that gets stolen EVERY time somen checks a bag that looks like it might contain some kind of goodie.

Now, before the travel hounds start making claims that they have made x number of trips and never had their equipment stolen, let me say this. I am not talking about other destinations, only the SJU-BON on American Eagle. I did, however, use this as an opportunity to retool my carry-on gear and I now am able to get onboard without checking any of my cameras, lenses, computer, housings, or strobes. The scuba gear goes into vanilla looking "regular" luggage and everything gets to Bonaire and back just fine.

PLEASE HEED THIS WARNING AND THE WARNINGS OF OTHERS!!!!

 

[VGdiver]

Ain't this the truth!

Coming back to the States from the BVI each year, I have no choice but to fly into San Juan. It's gotten so bad that I keep an extra set of stuff back in Texas so that I don't have to travel with anything essential. Usually it's lost luggage (even on the direct flights) but lately we have heard more and more of thefts.

Though on the other hand, it has been good for my dive business. Lots of folks arrive on VG and have to buy shirts, shorts and flip flops as their luggage is floating around somewhere. At least once a week, we have families come in to stock up as they wait for their luggage...which always arrives the day before they go back.

Boo on AA!

 

[scubadobadoo]

I always carry on mask, regs, computer and camera, and make sure my checked gear bag only contains damp smelly stuff (wetsuit/fins/BC).

Theives don't want damp stinky items. They're harder to sell.

Even if they do get stolen, the wetsuit, fins and BC are easily replacable anyplace that has diving.

Terry

Agreed!

 

[tedtim]

Trust me there are just the same amount of gripes with every airline. You can always find someone who has a bad experience with just about all of them.

Yep. We flew Air Canada from Ottawa - Toronto - Aruba, then were booked on DAE to Bonaire last February. There was a storm in the Toronto/Ottawa region the evening before we were to depart. Ottawa flight started to board at 5:50 AM for a 6:00 AM departure. The engine intake covers were still in place. At 6:25 the captain informs us that there will be a delay because they found some snow in one of the engine intakes. Surprizes me that they did not find this in the pre-flight inspection before we boarded. The aircraft departed over an hour late. We arrived in Toronto with only twenty minutes to catch the connecting flight. Fortunately it too was delayed, but by fifteen minutes.

We arrived in Aruba, but our bags did not. Two other couples also did not receive their bags. All of us had made a flight connection in Toronto. We all filed reports in Aruba. Off we went to Bonaire. It was a nightmare just trying to reach the AC folks by phone. When we were finally successful they told me that I had not filed a report. I was holding the darn thing in my hands when I called them. Two days and about ten calls later they told me that they had "located my luggage." They could not tell me where it was or when it would arrive. They also had no concept of where we were despite my repeating the address on every call. The troubling aspect was that they thought we were in the Netherlands, not the Netherland Antilles. We finally received our luggage on Wednesday afternoon. The kind folks at Golden Reef Inn made a few calls on our behalf to the local airlines to find out when the luggage would arrive. No call from Air Canada.

When we returned home we found out that the call centre for lost luggage is in India.

Air Canada told us that they would "consider a claim" for delayed luggage. It took them six weeks to send us a form to complete. Fortuantely we had insurance through our credit card. They reimbursed us for the stuff we bought while waiting for our luggage.

So, we had to dive with some rental gear. We had our regs and I had my camera, but not the case. There is only so much that you can put in a carry on. My wife's concept of what is important is different from mine.

 

[scubamickey]

This problem at the San Juan airport...does anyone know for certain that it is AA employees and not other airport employees involved in the ground transportation?
I know that some airlines have contracted out the ground crews so I'm just wondering.

Is this problem just with AA or are other airlines flying out of San Juan having the same theft issues?

 

[sasscuba]

This problem at the San Juan airport...does anyone know for certain that it is AA employees and not other airport employees involved in the ground transportation?
I know that some airlines have contracted out the ground crews so I'm just wondering.

Is this problem just with AA or are other airlines flying out of San Juan having the same theft issues?

I personally have never had any problems with my bags at San Juan and have flown through there over 100 times in the past. Working for AA myself I can tell you bags touch many hands and there is a mix of AA employees and contract workers in SJU.

I have never had one item come missing flying any airline.

 

[Damselfish]

I personally have never had any problems with my bags at San Juan and have flown through there over 100 times in the past. Working for AA myself I can tell you bags touch many hands and there is a mix of AA employees and contract workers in SJU.

I have never had one item come missing flying any airline.

When you fly, is there anything on your bags that indicates you're an airline employee? Just wondering if they would be more likely to leave that stuff alone.

 

[cerich]

http://tv.ksl.com/index.php?sid=134722&nid=5

Food for thought.

Whoever is the guy in charge of security in Atlantic City in Jersey, he needs to run the whole show.

 

[sasscuba]

When you fly, is there anything on your bags that indicates you're an airline employee? Just wondering if they would be more likely to leave that stuff alone.

Sometimes if the flight is very very full but for the most part no.

 

[highlandfarmwv]

I think the best route to Bonaire is fly to Aruba (or Curacao, but that's probably more expensive) and take the DAE to Bonaire which goes 5-6 times a day.