Freakin airfare - why so expensive?

[pconsidine]

I didn't find airfare to Cur a whole lot different than Bon. The only advantage that I saw was in reasonable flight times and that's from NYC. I'm in a bad spot to fly from (Albany, NY). And, no it's actually worse and more costly driving to Newark/JFK/LaGuardia. I've tried it several times and it sux and overall saves no money.

On the other hand I can fly nonstop to Ft. Lauderdale for <$200 roundtrip with a couple of hours flight time from Albany. Rent a car and drive to Key Largo, stay at a hotel, eat out, and dive with Rainbow - 2 morning, 2 afternoon dives a day for a lot less than Bonaire would currently cost.

Don't get me wrong, I love the freedom of diving Bon and I'm not comparing Bon to KL. I'd much prefer Bon, but KL is so much less expensive right now, and there are no customs lines to deal with, no connections, and with a direct flight I won't have to pack a carry-on because It's going to be hard for them to lose my checked bag. Really critical stuff (computer, perscription mask, reg) will fit in my "personal item".

Being philosophical, I won't have to decide when or where I want to dive - that's decided for me. Yeah, I know, that's a real stretch. Like I said, I would much prefer Bon. I just can't justify the current cost nor could I endure 18-72 hours either going or returning.

I agree with you 100%, myself being in the West Point area I could fly out of Newburgh to Fla. and drive to KL and am planning to do this in the fall with a group of friends

 

[Insta-Gator]

If the price of airfare to the Caribbean doesn't come back down, that will force us to look hard at driving to Florida for our diving. Normally we can fly direct out of Atlanta to almost anywhere. Very convenient. But when you build in the early check-in for security, the cost of parking for a week, then they jack up the airfare .... SE Florida may be just the place to go.

 

[dmaziuk]

It's bringing all those diving jobs back to the States, just like the man promised.

 

[Dan]

If the price of airfare to the Caribbean doesn't come back down, that will force us to look hard at driving to Florida for our diving. Normally we can fly direct out of Atlanta to almost anywhere. Very convenient. But when you build in the early check-in for security, the cost of parking for a week, then they jack up the airfare .... SE Florida may be just the place to go.

I prefer going to Florida than the Caribbean nowadays. I’ve been to Cayman Brac, Bonaire, Utila & Tobago. I see pretty much the same kind of fish & critters there that I would see in the Keys. I can go muck diving under Blue Heron bridge or see Goliath Grouper spawning in Jupiter. I can swim with manatees in Crystal Rivers. Plenty of wrecks along the coast from Pensacola down to the Key West & up to Jupiter. Lots of more choices to pick in Florida.

 

[arew+4]

Warning, the following post contains generalizations, cliches, and potentially not factual content


Poor people don't dive.
And non divers don't go to Bonaire.

Two full planes a week makes it a profitable route.

Supply and demand.

 

[scubadada]

I'm going to take a once a week flight on AA in August, I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

[arew+4]

You might want to look at Saturday thru the following Tuesday, the extra three days rental on the house was less than the savings on five tickets for us when we went December 2016

 

[Kharon]

I just wish there was some shore diving/snorkeling in the keys. But boat diving can't be all that bad. I'm thinking of getting an accomodations & dive package through Rainbow Reef Dive Center. I think Dr. Rich has used them and speaks highly of them.

Something much in their favor (at least for me) - I asked about my somewhat unconventional buoyancy configuration (soft backplate/harness with bladder snorkel vest underneath). Their reply - as long as you are comfortable with it, it's not a problem for us. Same with my solo card. Quiescence wanted a picture of my gear to decide if it is acceptable to them and require a buddy.

I looked at some videos of Key Largo and the vis seems as good or better than my last Bonaire trip (which wasn't so great). The fish seem to be there in numbers and possibly bigger. The dives seem shallower (I have no interest in deep wrecks, or wrecks at all, for that matter), so more bottom time (though I don't go terribly deep on Bon). I've got to give it a try.

 

[Insta-Gator]

I understand they speak US English very well, and the currency exchange rate is practically 1 to 1. .

 

[Trailboss123]

I prefer going to Florida than the Caribbean nowadays. I’ve been to Cayman Brac, Bonaire, Utila & Tobago. I see pretty much the same kind of fish & critters there that I would see in the Keys. I can go muck diving under Blue Heron bridge or see Goliath Grouper spawning in Jupiter. I can swim with manatees in Crystal Rivers. Plenty of wrecks along the coast from Pensacola down to the Key West & up to Jupiter. Lots of more choices to pick in Florida.

Living out here on the West Coast, I find myself often encouraging local divers to consider Florida as a dive vacation destination. Not really on many people's radar. I think the default reflex is to leave the country, but there is so much good diving in Florida. My 3 experiences in Florida have all been outstanding-- 1x in Key Largo/Islamorada and 2x in Boynton/West Palm/Jupiter. I am a big fan.