By Tel Aviv (BonaireTalker - Post #48) on Saturday, June 25, 2005 - 10:26 am: |
Amigoe.com
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By Freddie Hughes (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6234) on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 6:13 pm: |
and here is the official announcement from TCB
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By Linda Stoltzfus (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #582) on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 7:23 pm: |
I checked this out and Continental is now booking online for this flight. This is an excellent solution for us. In fact, we're seriously thinking of booking this for Megan.
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By Sue Goodman (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #190) on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 8:22 pm: |
just for kicks I checked it out from Newark for early March 2006:
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By Susan R. (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #356) on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 10:07 pm: |
Charlotte/Houston/Bonaire in April '06 according to the Continental website today is $688.65. I think I will like the early morning arrival and not having to connect in PR. Still hoping for a direct from Atlanta though...
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By mary pequinot (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #525) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 8:56 am: |
I hate to sound whiney, but those times are awful!
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By Carl Pflanzer (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #208) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 9:32 am: |
I totally agree. $857 is an awful lot for people from NY/NJ to pay to get there, and the salt in the wound is the 5am arrival time. Ouch! Yes, you have a full first day there, but wow! You'll spend the day exhausted.
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By Marcus L. Barnes (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #357) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 9:48 am: |
Agreed - starting your vacation out exhausted is not the way we want to go. We'll stick with American. We don't mind the San Juan layover all that much.
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By Ron Gould (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #159) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 10:26 am: |
Sleep on the plane people......... Ron
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By Marcus L. Barnes (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #358) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 10:34 am: |
As member of the US Military for the last 30 years I've spent alot of time sleeping on planes - I'm sick of it.
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By Tom Cousino (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2002) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 10:35 am: |
I totally agree with Ron. If the flights work for you, sleep during it. If either the flights or cost don't appeal to you, find an alternative.
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By mary pequinot (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #526) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 11:03 am: |
As for sleeping on the plane, I never have been able to.
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By John"Smack"Anderson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #762) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 11:21 am: |
I'm truely amazed at some of the reactions to this announcement. For quite some time, even before the AJ issue, many were hoping for a US airline to step up and provide direct service to Bonaire. Now Continental, be it a limited schedule, has decided to begin service to BON from IAH at a time that fits into their crew and equipment schedule. A QUALITY airline as you have already read on this thread. Yet some feel that now the times of departure and arrival that they have chosen doesn't "cut it" with the expectation that the service will run for their personal convenience. Well, got news for ya! It's been a long time since another US carrier even thought of picking up this route, and it may be quite alot longer if another does if Continental finds it's not worth the time or can use their fleet elsewhere with less cost. Cry about the times? No sympathy here. Deal with it! Continental seeing the potential...just a I would expect from a class act!
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By Kelly Baum (GDLW) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2772) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 11:37 am: |
It's right around $800 from Columbus for various dates I plugged in. Probably worth it to us to spend the extra 80 or so bucks be on a bigger plane, as my husband is not a fan of flying, and the less stops and the bigger the plane, the better.
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By mary pequinot (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #527) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 11:44 am: |
I wasn't criticizing Continental for their decision, just commenting that the times aren't good for me. It's getting so you can't make a comment without someone jumping on you on this board.
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By Josh Schrank (BonaireTalker - Post #32) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 11:54 am: |
Kelly, it costs you $720.00 to fly from Columbus to Bonaire??? Manno, I don't know what airlines you fly out of Columbus, but my wife and I don't even think of looking at tickets until they are below $500.00 from Columbus. No way I'd pay $800.00 for plane ticket anywhere in the western hemisphere.
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By Linda Stoltzfus (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #583) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 11:58 am: |
I agree the times aren't the best, Mary, but for those connecting in Houston, especially from the West....it's IDEAL.
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By mary pequinot (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #528) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 11:59 am: |
Linda, that's great it works out for you. Hopefully, by the time we can afford to go back, we'll be able to leave from ATL.
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By Kelly Baum (GDLW) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2774) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 12:09 pm: |
Josh, I have never paid less than $680 I think... and I fly on American. I've been to Bonaire 5 times. What airline to you fly? I went on Delta last time and through Aruba (onto Bonaire Exel), but I don't like having to re-claim baggage, etc.
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By Jim McCabe (BonaireTalker - Post #29) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 12:41 pm: |
Mary, negative comments of any type, directed towards anything even remotely related to Bonaire, are not accepted on this board. In fact, don't even THINK of a negative comment. In fact, the fact that I mentioned the word "negative" in this posts means that someone will probably jump on me for writing it. And I'll bet I'm in even bigger trouble for using the "n" word three times.
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By mary pequinot (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #529) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 1:02 pm: |
Yep, you probably are.
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By The Ginocchio's @ Golden Reef Inn (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #752) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 1:12 pm: |
Josh and Kelly,
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By Josh Schrank (BonaireTalker - Post #33) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 1:28 pm: |
Okay... here is where I blush a tad and smile sheepishly and say... "um, I dunno..." My wife has a fare watcher on Travelocity and it notifies her whenever prices fall for Bonaire. I know that we do the San Juan / Bonaire hop, so that is American Eagle. I don't know what airlines we fly from Columbus however. Whenever the tracker gives her a rate below $500, she instant messages me, we check all our bank accounts for loose change, I instant message her back, and then quick buy the tickets. Our tickets (prior to the obligatory fees etc) usually are between $460 and $480. After taxes and fees I'm guessing they come in just around $500.
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By Josh Schrank (BonaireTalker - Post #34) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 1:32 pm: |
<jump_on_mary_and_jim> wheeeeeee! better than a trampoline! </jump_on_mary_and_jim>
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By mary pequinot (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #530) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 1:55 pm: |
Ouch! This is beginning to HURT!
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By Kelly Baum (GDLW) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2780) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 3:22 pm: |
Josh, I have the farewatcher also, but I have found that it has always involved an overnight, or a very short or very long layover time. Also, in many instances, you actually have an overnight AND you have to change airports (in NY). No thanks for me!
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By Josh Schrank (BonaireTalker - Post #36) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 3:48 pm: |
Sorry to hear that Kelly. When we fly out, usually around 6 in the morning, we get into Miami or Ft Lauderdale (they all look alike after awhile), then to San Juan. We get into Bonaire around 7 or 8, get our truck and get to the resort to check in. From what I've been reading, that isn't any longer than what any one else is doing. Don't know what to tell you Kelly.. I've never had to fly through New York or anywhere else...
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By Kelly Baum (GDLW) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2783) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 4:13 pm: |
Oh okay that makes sense then... I DETEST flying through Miami. I prefer the Columbus-Chicago-San Juan route. Good for you for finding such great deals! What airline do you fly?
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By John"Smack"Anderson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #763) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 6:16 pm: |
Yup! I figured I'd get some heat over this one.(warned the moderators in advance) I guess it's all about perspective. To those who I may have offended, accept my apology. Your point is taken.
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By Carl Pflanzer (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #209) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 6:18 pm: |
Jet Blue is running a sale from JFK to San Juan for $99 each way. If you can find a reasonable timed flight from San Juan to BON, you're in great shape.
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By Sue Goodman (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #191) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 10:46 pm: |
I wonder if I will be able to use my OnePass miles on the EWR/IAH/BON trip? My cure for sleeping on planes was to have 2-3 beers just before boarding & I was usually out before takeoff. Too bad that's not a great idea if I want to dive the next day!
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By Jake Richter - NetTech (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5571) on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 11:28 pm: |
Sue,
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By Sue Goodman (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #192) on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 9:37 am: |
Jake,
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By Carl Pflanzer (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #210) on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 9:58 am: |
The Jet Blue sale from JFK is good through December, but you must order the tickets by June 29. There are six flights per day to San Juan from JFK!!! So you can get down there for $99 and have a reasonably short wait to fly on American Eagle over to Bonaire. So for me would be a $200 plus $325 round trip, not bad, and the layovers are around two hours down and three hours back. I am cheating a little bit, I will use miles for the American Eagle leg of the trip so flights will only cost around $200.
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By Jim McCabe (BonaireTalker - Post #30) on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 10:58 am: |
"Smack", why does Continental deserve an "ataboy"? Do you think they picked up the route just to be nice to all of us? I don't. They picked it up because they saw a business opportunity. Cash money. And they will drop it in a heartbeat if the business opportunity doesn't pan out.
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By Marcus L. Barnes (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #361) on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 11:25 am: |
Well said Jim.
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By Kelly Baum (GDLW) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2789) on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 11:28 am: |
Also remember folks, two things. First, there is no guarantee that this schedule will ultimately be "the" schedule they adhere to. Everything is subject to change. Also, if you don't like the schedule, just find another carrier that suits your schedule better. I will probably give it a try, but don't know about the early arrival. I can sleep on the plane pretty easily though, so it may be perfect for us.
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By Carl Pflanzer (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #211) on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 12:58 pm: |
I don't want to beat a dead horse, but I think a point that can be made about Continental, is that they claim to offer more flights to more locations than any other airline in the world.
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By Israel A. Sanchez (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #214) on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 5:00 pm: |
So far I haven't had a problem with Continental Airlines (knock on wood) so I was quite happy when I found out about their flight to Bonaire. If we get delayed, Houston International DEFINITELY beats skanky Montego Bay airport. So this is how I would plan my itinerary:
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By Andy & Dave Bartlett (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #289) on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 6:54 pm: |
i agree with Coach Izzy on everything except the first flight from Newark. We would only have a 1 1/2 to 2 hours drive from home to catch the flight to Bonaire. Would hate to have to fly to the east coast to catch an AJ flight or fly to MB or San Juan and change airlines to get to Bonaire. We can sleep while flying and the time will pass faster any way.
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By Israel A. Sanchez (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #215) on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 7:34 pm: |
Well, how awesome is that for you guys? I'm sure the news must have made your day! A 100 mile drive beats flying north only to fly south. I'm sure this flight will also make things a whole lot easier for folks from the west coast and maybe Canada. Good luck! Coach Izzy
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By Sue Goodman (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #193) on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 10:53 pm: |
Izzy,
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By John"Smack"Anderson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #764) on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 10:52 am: |
Jim,
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By Linda Stoltzfus (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #584) on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 1:47 pm: |
Thank you Continental......
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By Jim McCabe (BonaireTalker - Post #31) on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 4:57 pm: |
"Smack",
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By john merriner (BonaireTalker - Post #31) on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 11:24 pm: |
Continental doing what they are doing gives us all another option to get to Bonaire. If it works for you; go for it.
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By John"Smack"Anderson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #774) on Tuesday, July 5, 2005 - 10:14 am: |
Jim,
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