Flight recommendations

[judydivescoz]

What is the best plan to fly to Bonaire from the New York metro area? I am looking at Travelocity and all the flights seem very long or in the middle of the night? Is there a secret to getting to Bonaire from the east at normal hours without flying for an entire day??

 

[tedtim]

We flew to Bonaire in November via Curacao. Continental has the redeye non-stop to Bonaire, but we wanted to avoid that. They also fly to Curacao on Saturday with departure at 9:20 AM arrving in Curacao at 3:00 PM. There is a DAE flight from Curacao to Bonaire. We arrived in Bonaire around 5:00 PM.

 

[diversteve]

What is the best plan to fly to Bonaire from the New York metro area? Is there a secret to getting to Bonaire from the east at normal hours without flying for an entire day??

Probably not, it's a long flight to South America..

Two options:

Delta is starting next month from Atlanta:

New service to Bonaire, Netherland Antilles will begin 09 February, 2008 and will operate on Saturday only.

Just checked - 6AM dep from JFK - 2:45PM arr on BON. Must be nice being in the same timezone...

American/American Eagle thru San Juan - There's an almost daily flight from SJU-BON at 6:40 PM. I'm thinking you can get to SJU that afternoon direct from NYC - a friend did. It doesn't always show up on travel websites so try AA.com

I've been on the AE flight, it's a really small turbo-prop so plan accordingly. Any larger carry-on will be taken from you and checked at the plane. You're allowed to board the tram with it but take your passports etc. out beforehand, there's propwash from other planes once on the tarmac.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

We are doing delta from pittsburgh. 7:15 departure to atlanta in at around 9 something. approx 1 hour layover and in Bonaire at 3:15.

 

[dvrliz1]

Orange County, NY....home of OCC...love those guys!

Ok here goes.

Continental Friday night at 11:30 pm out of Newark, redeye arriving early morning is probably best. A little over 4 hours. If you don't like the red eye, look at Sat-Sat to Curacao, then a short hopover via Divi, DAE or Insel Air (about 12-15 minutes)

American from North East to San Juan right now high season 7 days a week then to Bonaire via American Eagle (LOOOOOOONNNGGG travel time can exist due to long layovers) We have found that if Spirit Air is at your airport, it is best to take spirit to San Juan then change over to American. SJU is a small airport, so it is fairly easy to get luggage and re-check. Also layover times are shorter.

Delta starting 9 Feb 2008 (Sat-Sat) from Northeast to Atlanta, then direct to Bonaire.

If you can get an inexpensive flight to Aruba direct from your airport, consider that. Tiara Air (direct to Bonaire from Aruba) and DAE (via curacao) have a few flights daily to Bonaire (about 45 minutes to 1 hour flight), but can be pricey at around $200.00 RT.

Hope this helps.

Liz

 

[gert7to3]

You may want to check your luggage weights carefully if you are taking DAE.

 

[Bosun]

DAE were in a real mess at the end of 2007 with many delays.

 

[judydivescoz]

Orange County, NY....home of OCC...love those guys!

We see the OCC guys around alot here..their new building is just a few minites away from our home!
Thanks for your help...the airlines do not make it easy. With the red eye being the quickest flight, do hotels and resorts accomadate the early arrival?

 

[scubadobadoo]

Orange County, NY....home of OCC...love those guys!

Ok here goes.

Continental Friday night at 11:30 pm out of Newark, redeye arriving early morning is probably best. A little over 4 hours. If you don't like the red eye, look at Sat-Sat to Curacao, then a short hopover via Divi, DAE or Insel Air (about 12-15 minutes)

American from North East to San Juan right now high season 7 days a week then to Bonaire via American Eagle (LOOOOOOONNNGGG travel time can exist due to long layovers) We have found that if Spirit Air is at your airport, it is best to take spirit to San Juan then change over to American. SJU is a small airport, so it is fairly easy to get luggage and re-check. Also layover times are shorter.

Delta starting 9 Feb 2008 (Sat-Sat) from Northeast to Atlanta, then direct to Bonaire.

If you can get an inexpensive flight to Aruba direct from your airport, consider that. Tiara Air (direct to Bonaire from Aruba) and DAE (via curacao) have a few flights daily to Bonaire (about 45 minutes to 1 hour flight), but can be pricey at around $200.00 RT.

Hope this helps.

Liz

What she said.

I would avoid connecting in Puerto Rico on AA if you can. I have done it twice and it makes for a very long day. The layover in Puerto Rico can be as long as the red eye Continental flight all together from start to finish. It doesn't get much better than non-stop from NYC even if it is a red eye flight. Plus, that red eye flight frequently drops below 400 bucks so keep watching it.

Good luck!

 

[robint]

Orange County, NY....home of OCC...love those guys!

We see the OCC guys around alot here..their new building is just a few minites away from our home!
Thanks for your help...the airlines do not make it easy. With the red eye being the quickest flight, do hotels and resorts accomadate the early arrival?

yes.....depending who you are staying with.
We were staying at Buddy's last june, they picked everyone up on a bus and put all luggage on a truck, and took us to the hotel. They had everyone check in and then go eat breakfast while they waited for dive briefing that started at 9am (?). Everyone must attend the dive briefing when diving in Bonaire, pay for your annual tag for your BC, then you are free to go diving that day! So the overnight flight sucks in some respects, but we were in the water doing a dive right there at Buddy's before noon on our arrival day. In fact, we got in 3 dives that day. To me, that is much better than flying in during the day and having to wait until the next day to dive.