Trying to get to Bonaire

[Kat]

So, I'm trying to pull my vacation plans together yesterday, since we leave on Sat. 8-6 Going to Aruba with the boyfriend & 3 kids. Then, sending the kids home the following Saturday & going over to Bonaire. Sounds like a great plan. Except...

I can't find a flight to pre-book AUA - BON. Bonaire Excel web site is down & can't get an answer when I call them.

Then, as luck would have it, there is Travelocity, with a flight.
Eco Air $207 R/T - P/P With flight times that are perfect for me. For an extra $24.95 I can have the paper tickets by Next Day Air with Fed Ex.

Man, I can't believe my luck!

I book it ASAP & wait f/ my confirmation...nothing. Just a white screen. Hummm. I give them a call, because I'm concerned. I am on & off hold w/ the rep for about 20 min. as he is looking into the problem. He finally gets to the bottom of the problem. Eco Air has told them that I have to buy the tickets directly from the airline. Travel agents, tour ops etc. are not authorized to sell the tickets. What? Then why are you selling the tickets?
But it gets worse. My credit card has been charged for the tickets & it will take a few days to "clear things up"

Man, I can't believe my luck!

I get the 800# for Eco Air from Travelocity. then dedicate my next 3 hours to getting the charges taken off my card. Finally, all but $34.95 is removed.
Ok, I'm back to trying to booking airline tickets. Call Eco Air ph#...surprise, they are not an airline. Just a company with the same name.
Grrrrr. I might have to kill that Roaming Travel Gnome!

So, I am hoping that I can just but the tickets to Bonaire at the Aruba airport sometime this coming week.

 

[Jetwrench]

This may be too late for you, Kat, but EcoAir IS Bonaire Excel(now called Bonaire Express). They do not sell tickets on line or through travel agents, only at the airport ticket office. And forget about a credit card. Cash only. If anyone wants to make a res, call Irene at Bonaire Express in AUA or email her at irene.figaroa@bonairexpress.an with your travel dates to get the latest flight schedule(new times). She has done so for me and I now have confirmation#'s for October.

Jet

 

[dvrliz1]

Jet and Kat,

If you are staying at the smaller inns or resorts, you can ask them to get the booking for you. We book most of the people who are coming thru Aruba via Ecoair (AKA, BonairExpress). Basically we go to the airport here on Bonaire, make the reservations, pay then send the confirmation numbers to the clients. The tickets are waiting for the clients when they get to Aruba. It has worked without a hitch here for us.

Liz

 

[Kat]

Just back from Bonaire. Yes Bonaire Excel, Aruba Excel, Curacao Excel, Bonaire Express & Eco Air are all the same airline.
It just ticked me off that Travelocity is offering & collecting money on something that they can not provide. Then holding onto that money for a few days before refunding your credit card. I will never do business with Travelocity again, because of this.

 

[IlikeItwetPls]

American Eagle React to Air Jamaica's Phasing Out of Service to Bonaire
Thursday, May 26 2005

The Tourism Corporation Bonaire (TCB) and the islands government have announced that after negotiations with American Eagle, effective July 2 through September 5, 2005 the airline will offer daily flights from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Bonaire. From September 6, 2005 to May 30, 2006 American Eagle will operate five round-trip flights per week to/from Bonaire.

During this time period the southbound flight to Bonaire will operate on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, while the northbound flight to San Juan will operate on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

American Eagle announced this new flight schedule as Air Jamaica revealed its plan to reduce and suspend service to Bonaire. Beginning June 27, 2005 Air Jamaica’s Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday flights to/from Bonaire will no longer operate.

The Saturday flight to/from Bonaire will continue to operate until August 28, 2005, at which time Air Jamaica will no longer offer service to Bonaire. This announcement comes just months after Air Jamaica began a corporate restructuring program to improve the viability of the airline by increasing efficiency and reducing operating costs.

 

[mike_s]

Air Jamacia did announce they were canceling flights to Bonaire, but then they came out with another announcement that said they were not going to cancel the flights a few weeks later.

From the horror stories I've heard, I'd still fly with AA over Air Jamacia.

 

[vapovick]

Just got back from Aruba, and dove with these guys... they were great http://www.searuba.com/

and they will fly you to Bonaire for diving, at below 2000' feet I belive, so you could fly to bonaire after a day of diving.

have fun !

 

[scubaaaronh]

Air Jamaica stinks i would rather swim.
The are only flying sat to sat i heard to bonaire and a friend of mine was stranded for three days because of the great way they fly.