United slashes airfares to BON (at least from EWR)

[tursiops]

Most of the airlines are offering one free change with these low fares. So if the island is still closed, the tickets can be rescheduled for a later date. As mentioned earlier, if you're booking a resort or other accommodations, be sure those have that option as well.
Late July is still possible. Gotta stay optimistic!

Yeah, rescheduled, but you don't get the nice low fare if the price has gone up. This, from the United web site:

Tickets: For tickets issued March 3 through April 30, 2020, customers will be permitted to change free of charge to a flight of equal or lesser value for travel up to 12 months from the original ticket issue date. If the new flight is priced higher, the customer may change for no fee but must pay the fare difference. If the new flight is priced lower, the customer may change for free but no residual value will be given. If the customer decides to cancel their flight, they can retain the value of the ticket to be applied to a new ticket without fee for travel up to 12 months from the original ticket issue date.​

 

[woodcarver]

Yeah, rescheduled, but you don't get the nice low fare if the price has gone up. This, from the United web site:

Tickets: For tickets issued March 3 through April 30, 2020, customers will be permitted to change free of charge to a flight of equal or lesser value for travel up to 12 months from the original ticket issue date. If the new flight is priced higher, the customer may change for no fee but must pay the fare difference. If the new flight is priced lower, the customer may change for free but no residual value will be given. If the customer decides to cancel their flight, they can retain the value of the ticket to be applied to a new ticket without fee for travel up to 12 months from the original ticket issue date.​

Yeah, that would be too good. But it's a pretty good wager on reopening day in the meantime!

 

[tkaelin]

Delta just extended the term of any credit to may 2022. No doubt in response to pressure to issue refunds.

 

[tkaelin]

Looks like those low fares are no longer being offered.

 

[woodcarver]

Yep. Saw that this morning

 

[wgw04024]

Sept, Bos to Bonaire is still dirt cheap.

 

[nippurmagnum]

As of yesterday, there are no cases on the island. 7 tested, 80+ quarantined, but no cases. There were 2 people who had been on the island and tested + several days later. I believe they left last weekend. So keep your fingers crossed, but so good, so far.

No confirmed cases. If 80 people are quarantined but only 7 got tested, I’d say the odds of the virus having reached the island are not insignificant.

Anyway, from a standpoint of traveling someplace, I’d rather it be a place that has already gone through the viral cycle and come out the other side, than go to a place that hasn’t had its first confirmed case, and has its lockdown freakout ahead of it. Not to mention that I’d hate to be treated (not unjustifiably) like a leper by the locals.

 

[tkaelin]

Airport now closed to April 28. BTW GCM just announced their airport closed to May 31.

 

[DustyC]

AA just canceled some July flights according to a post in the FB Expats group

 

[Ray and Pam]

We got in on the cheap flights for Oct 3-12 out of Tulsa, United going over and AA coming back. After upgrading to be able to pick our own seats etc and getting insurance for the flights it was just over $400 each.

Could have got them cheaper but 7 days is just too short. Also we've done that 6am flight out of Bonaire on United and much prefer the pm flight out on Delta or American even with having to overnite in Atlanta or Miami.

Unfortunately, Buddy Dive didn't have a studio available that week, only a 1 bedroom apartment. Seems it's TEK week at Buddys so we settled for next door in one of Captain Dons motel rooms. Stayed in those 3 times before so know we can survive with a minifridge, uwave and coffee maker.

Good things about Capt Dons is it's the same reef, I prefer the less crowded gearup and dive locker area, it's closer to Cliff, it's closer to Zhung Kong grocery store and their restaurant is even closer now that it's moved to just north of Bamboo Bali due to expanding the grocery store, saw a Manta Ray there, did a resort dive there about 13 years ago which converted us from snorkeling to diving.

Also, we each got the 4 free boat dives that came with the 6 boat dive and unlimited shore package for that week so no truck rental this trip. Free nitrox on the boat dives may have to try that.
Now just stay healthy and hope everyone else does also.