Dutch Antilles Express

[gert7to3]

Some things never change....re: Lonely Planet link,

So DAE lost their plane temporarily? Well, Air Jamaica used to go to BON. One time we spent 6 hours in Montego Bay, because they hadn't paid their fuel bill and our plane was impounded at Newark. Another one of their planes diverted to us after finishing its regular day in Kingston.


We made it to Chicago around 2 am, right behind an Air Pakistan flight. We were stuck at customs for quite a while. It was an interesting tableau, underdressed, still drunk Jamaican party goers, Bonaire divers (slightly less disreputable) and a bunch of Pakistanis in veils and PJs. Welcome to America.

 

[jimw]

We used Insel out of Miami nonstop on April 20th and it left Mia about 1.5 hours late. Coming back last Sunday via Curacao was mol ontime. But they DID have 2 people in the same seat--me and somebody! The plane was full but they did find a seat for me at the back where it smelled like pee and was very loud from engine noise. DAE left Bon about 40 min late and some of those passengers were on the Insel to Miami. I saw among the Curacao gates--a DAE flight to Orlando on Sunday morning scheduled about the same time we were--10am. I think my preferred route is still AA mia-cur and DiviDivi Air to bon. There are 2 AA flights a day and DiviDivi is reliable!! Take the morning AA to Curacao and you have 2 or 3 Divi flights then available. An advantage using a single airline thru Cur is that luggage is checked thru and little time is consumed getting to the connecting flight. No transit tax and a quick look at security and into the waiting area......much easier than collecting luggage, going outside to another ticket counter, checking in, checking luggage, paying transit tax, thru customs and security. Despite all that hassel, AA and DiviDivi reliability make it worthwhile for me.

 

[uvadave]

I figured I should probably give an update on this. We flew BON to CUR on May 4th on DAE with no issues. The flight even took off early and we got there 2 minutes after we were originally scheduled to depart Bonaire. I had told myself that if we had issues going to Curacao, I'd rebook the return trip to make sure we had no issues getting back home on the 11th. With the ease that we made the first flight, I figured there wouldn't be any issues on the return so I stuck with DAE.

Then the morning of the 11th comes, I get to the airport at 8:15 which is earlier than necessary. Travel schedule as planned is 10:30 flight CUR to BON on DAE and then 2:30 BON to DCA through ATL on Delta. Walk up to the DAE counter:

Me - "Hi, we'd like to check in for the 10:30 flight to Bonaire"
Ticket Lady - "You mean the 3:30 flight? You're pretty early"
Me - "No, I booked the 10:30 flight."
Her - "That flight doesn't exist"

We continue this for a while. I let her know that we have the 2:30 delta flight from Bonaire to Atlanta, that I plan on being on. I came prepared and had all of the printouts of my original reciepts and tickets showing that I booked a flight at 10:30. Luckily, the whole thing ends up being a non-issue. We get rebooked on a Divi Divi Air flight that leaves at 9:30 and make it to Bonaire before our original flight was supposed to leave.

If I had to do it again, I'd book the Divi Divi flight in the first place. Flying in the 9 passenger plane was tons of fun and a much more unique experience. Either that, or just check in with DAE and confirm that my flight exists before showing up at the airport.

 

[tom041959]

Booked a flight with DAE on the 8th of June departed at 7:30 am flight was cancelled , and we we put on a 4:30 flight We payed extra to get into the rental early . Next time AA

 

[phelana]

Try Divi when at all possible, then EZ Air, then Insel then DAE.

 

[ericjespersen]

We have a cancelled flight from Cur to Bonaire coming up next week costing us an entire day of our vacation. I will never use them again! contacting them is difficult and they really don't care if they cause you problems.