Help! Baggage restrictions to Bonaire

[farsidefan1]

I just got an email from Sharilla representing DAE :mooner:air for the leg of our journey from Aruba to Bonaire (tickets already in place so no alternative airline suggestions please- we leave Friday). She said we could take 20 kilos (44 lbs) as check in baggage and 5 kilos (11 lbs.) carryon. Holy shnikes. That is worse than my Red sea trip or the jump from Cairnes to Lizard Island! How do folks do it? ok, my dive gear runs bout 49.5 lbs - without reg or computer (I carry those on). For the island I planned on shorts, t shirts and hawaiian shirts, tivos (no socks lol). I can move more into my carryon normally but with an 11 lb limit? Maybe wear 3 shirts, 2 pair of shorts oh yes, and my BCD with camera and lights in pockets or dangling from c rings. I asked about a break for dive gear but NO. I've already switched out my beloved split fins for the old blades (saved 2.4 lbs) and decided to buy batteries for the lights in Bonaire.

Any suggestions? Thanks, Jay

 

[Rynomar]

I recently got back from a trip to Curacao and Bonaire. We flew to Bonaire from Curacao on Divi Divi. They informed us of the same baggage restrictions. I got my wives gear and mine into a duffel that weighed 42 lbs . You can save a ton of weight by using a lightweight duffle, which weighs around 4 pounds. We also trimmed down our clothing to the bare minimum. Our second checked bag was my camera crap and batteries (40 lbs). Granted, our carry on bags were both about 20 lbs.

My father-in-law showed up with 2 50 lb bags and two 10-15 lb carry on bags. Divi Divi did not say anything about his luggage and everything went made it to and from Bonaire for no extra fees. Please note however, the planes used by Divi Divi were really small and space was definately limited. We had our carry on bags on our laps.

I would not chance travelling to Bonaire via Aruba or Curacao and having to leave some dive gear. With a little planning you can really minimize the weight of your gear and Bonaire is a warm place where you don't need to wear alot of clothing.

Good luck.

 

[Scared Silly]

Get a vest and put stuff in it. Stuff batteries and regs into your pockets. Yeah it will look funny when you go through security but what the heck.

 

[farsidefan1]

Thanks, so Rynomar, did you just pony up the bucks for your overage? Scared silly, lol actually I have some pants with about 20 pockets and a shirt with 5, I just dedcided to use all of them. Figure the only thing I won't consider is the prison method - Yuck. I'm curious about the degree of enforcement.

 

[reefdiva]

My experience with dae is that enforcement depends on the agent, the day and how full the flight is. If the flight is not full they will sometimes allow you the extra weight -- sometimes for free and sometimes for a charge! I know that does not help much but I have never seen them refuse luggage. Are there any dive items you can cut down on? For example, how many lights and how big? Can you go smaller? As for clothes, you are right that shorts, tees and shirts are fine but maybe take less?

 

[Bosun]

I don't know what the current charges are, but in March 2007 they were

Every kilo above 20 kilos will be charged as follows:
$2 per kilo between BON/AUA-CUR and AUA-BON
$3 per kilo between CUR-VLN
$4 per kilo between AUA/BON-VLN
$6 per kilo between CUR/AUA/BON-SXM
$8 per kilo between SXM-VLN

A Kilo is 2.2lb, if you are a couple of Kilos over I doubt that you would be charged. I have never had my carry on weighed and always paid the excess on our check in bags.

 

[driftin' by]

I've already switched out my beloved split fins for the old blades (saved 2.4 lbs)

Ah, another reason split fins stink! Lol... JK. FWIW, I'm a blade fin only guy and for father's day I got a pair of the new Aqualung Sling Shot. IMHO, a bit gimmicky but I'm gonna give them a shot. Anyway, I didn't think a open heal, blade fin could get any bigger than my old Aqualung Blade II's but those new Sling Shots dwarf the Blade II's. Fortunately, we're taking the IAH-BON red eye so won't be subjected to wearing my kit to board the plane. But it's good to know for next time. Good luck getting everything you need to the island.

 

[seaducer]

Contact your resort and see what kind of gear they rent and how much it costs. Then contact DAE and try to pin the customer service rep down on whether they will refuse your extra luggage, charge more, or send it on another flight later.

I am sure you can find a way to trim some weight from your gear. I travel with almost all my gear (save computer and prescription mask and camera) in my very heavey wheeled duffel and always come in just under. 6 pounds of that is eaten up with my SS BP so if I can manage I am sure you will do fine with a lighter duffel Rynomar suggests and trimming the fat down to the minimums.

 

[farsidefan1]

Thanks for the suggestions and info. I have my dive gear down to 43.4 lbs. and my carryon down to 18. At those rates (which I was able to verify, thanks again) if I get busted I'll just pay the difference. At $2. per Kilo I'm good. As to the split fins, I'm in the "I love them " camp but at 6 lbs. they have never been to some of the more exotic dive locations. Blades come in at about 2.6 lbs. game set match.

 

[gypsyjim]

Just returned. Delta allowed 50#, one bag, but out of JFK on return they hit me with a new $15 per checked bag fee.

I don't know what my back pack-carry on weighed but it contained my reg, camera, all batteries, laptop, etc. I really moved anything with weight to that pack, put rest of needed gear and minimal clothes into a lighter duffel.