What's up with Houston to Bonaire flights?

[highdesert]

Does Continental still fly the redeye from Houston to Bonaire? If so, what days? Any other options out of south central US? Dallas? New Orleans? Coming from Colorado, trying to avoid flying to Atlanta or Miami to get to Bonaire.

Thanks!

 

[Kukuisa]

Continental flies to Bonaire on Saterday night only. Their flight Co-1898 arrives on sunday morning very early.

 

[diversteve]

The Continental flight also flies on Friday night. Actually it's the primary flight, the Saturday flight only flies 8 months a year:

Continental Airlines also flies weekly non-stop flight from its Houston hub. Flight #1898 departs Houston on Fridays at 11:30 p.m., arriving in Bonaire on Saturdays at 6:15 a.m. The return flight, #1899, departs Bonaire on Saturdays at 8:00 a.m., arriving in Houston at 10:50 a.m. During the eight busiest months of the year, Continental also operates a second rotation from Houston each Saturday evening, arriving on Bonaire on Sunday morning. For more information about when the second rotation operates, visit the Continental web site.

Not wanting to go through Atlanta or Miami, that's probably your only option. Unless you can get something direct to Aruba and fly DAE over to Bonaire. Most of the Curacao flights go through Miami.

 

[DiveMaven]

We fly the redeye out of Houston on Friday nights to Bonaire and actually really like it....even though we're normally not fans of redeye flights. It's nice to get to Bonaire and have a full day to settle in and do a little diving on the first day.

 

[highdesert]

We fly the redeye out of Houston on Friday nights to Bonaire and actually really like it....even though we're normally not fans of redeye flights. It's nice to get to Bonaire and have a full day to settle in and do a little diving on the first day.

... a "little" diving??? Last time there, after the redeye, we did the orientation at 9:00 AM, then the first of four dives that day at 10:00 AM. No point in letting all those good dive sites go wanting!

 

[oly5050user]

Can fly to Newark and take Continental redeye on Saturday night direct..

 

[highdesert]

Can fly to Newark and take Continental redeye on Saturday night direct..

It sounds good, but the leg from Colorado to Newark is a tiny bit out of the way ...

 

[DiveMaven]

... a "little" diving??? Last time there, after the redeye, we did the orientation at 9:00 AM, then the first of four dives that day at 10:00 AM. No point in letting all those good dive sites go wanting!

<LOL> I stand corrected!

One thing we like about the CO flights is that it leaves early on Saturday morning on departure day, getting us home in the early evening the same day. That gives us a full day on Sunday to clean gear, grocery shop, etc., before going back to work on Monday. It also "forces" us to take Friday to off gas prior to departure, giving us the day to explore what Bonaire has to offer besides diving, though this year we're strongly considering doing a dawn dive on Friday morning just to get one last dive in.

 

[highdesert]

... this year we're strongly considering doing a dawn dive on Friday morning just to get one last dive in.

Last time there, everyone in our group (maybe 15?) did two dives that morning ... no ill effects on the way home or after. There were two 20-30 years' experienced instructors with us. That left us maybe 21 "dry" hours before the flight.

 

[DiveMaven]

Thanks Highdesert. Since DAN recommends 18 hours now instead of the 24 hours they used to when we got certified, we always shoot for a minimum of 20 hours to be a little conservative. We've already decided that 10am is when we will HAVE to be out of the water to begin off-gassing, which will give us 21.5 hours before our flight. Gotta get as many dives as we can!!