Flights to Bonaire

[jimw]

Most of the info here is close or correct. For more info take a look at Bonaire Talk - The place to discuss everything and anything about Bonaire! As I understand it, there are mostly weekly flights from Atlanta, Houston, and Newark--Newark and Houston are late nite non stops on Continental Sat and Friday respectively. Insel would be my current choice out of Miami, nonstop to Bonaire on Sat during the day, and via Curacao 5 additional days a week. We live in south Florida. Our last trip we took the Delta nonstop out of Atlanta which goes on Saturday only--they are starting a JFK nonstop during the high season this winter.

So, if you are able to get to Atlanta or Miami on Saturday early enough--that's the way.

I would suggest Miami simply because if the flight is missed you could go to Curacao and the short and frequently flown route to Bonaire. If you miss in Atlanta, then you likely will need to go thru Aruba and there are fewer options for travel to Bonaire from Aruba.

There's a succinct description of all this on bonairepros.com

 

[TheWizard]

It's a better bet for those of us up north to fly to Atlanta on Friday, stay over night, and get the Saturday 9:40 AM flight for sure.
You can check your luggage through and it can be fun taking MARTA to downtown, walking thru the Centennial Olympic park, and having dinner that night at Max Lagers...

 

[DeputyDan]

The Delta flight through Atlanta is top shelf if the price is in line.

The pricing on that flight is just crazy. $650 today $1,450 tomorrow - it bounces all over the place with wild swings all the time. DUH - what's up with that?

 

[dvrliz1]

Don,

We have been trying to figure that out for a while....Delta tells us supply & demand....no clue...However, Continental, starting 12 Feb until 05 Mar 2010 is having an additional direct flight from Newark/New York (EWR) to Bonaire direct on Friday nights, same as the Houston flight...

I checked on pricing and found including taxes that flight is @$480 RT...excellent price.

Based on past experience, if the temporary flight stays pretty booked, they will continue it. A couple of years ago they did the same with the Houston flight for Sat/Sun and the extra flight that was only supposed to last a few week ran 8 out of 12 months last year.....

At least another option.

Liz

 

[cschmidt4214]

My wife and I are heading to Bonaire in March from DTW. There is a Sat to Sat flight on Delta through Atlanta and you get there the day. I booked in October and the flight to Atlanta was almost full. It might be a little late.

 

[vann evans]

We have been to Bonaire many times and tried almost every airline, every connection, every combination listed and schedule available. We have settled on the overnight flights from Continental as the standard. It leaves on Friday and Saturday nights at 11:55 pm and arrives in Bonaire at 5:30 or 6 am depending on its departure from either Houston or Newark. the return flights are Saturday and Sunday mornings at 6 am or 7:30 am depending on arrival locations(Houston or Newark). we can usually get these flights for $650-750. They rotate the departure location between Houston and Newark depending on the season and projected need.

We have done this flight sequence about 6 times and it has always been on time with no luggage problems. It is a rough start to the vacation, but it is dependable. We have heard and read about many problems, delays, flight changes, flight cancellations on Delta via Atlanta, so would be very careful there. We also had luggage overload problems with Divi and got our luggage the next day. We also had lost luggage with American on the Miami-Curacao trip. Don't know much about Insel-fairly new route, but read on Bonaire Talk that the planes were old, dirty and cramped.

We decided to stick with Continental until something changes or something better comes along.. We are booked for Feb 27-March 21 . The tickets were $694.20 per person round trip with all taxes and fees included. That price includes a connecting flight both ways from Raleigh/Durham to Newark.
Hope this helps.
Vann Evans