By Toby and Sandy (BonaireTalker - Post #37) on Wednesday, October 5, 2005 - 5:59 pm: |
Hi all. We're trying to get to the island again in March. After last years horror show with AJ we're ready to try something else. Have looked at a couple of options but so far its really pushing the budget envelope. Anyone book with Continental yet? Can we do a ten day or are we stuck with the one week lockstep - arrive late, leave early - which really chows into the diving. I know I'm asking a lot here but maybe someone has some info, even if its just a reality slap. Thanks!
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By Scott Phillips (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #245) on Wednesday, October 5, 2005 - 7:21 pm: |
As far as I know the Continental flight is only from Houston (not particularly convenient to those of us in New England) and only once a week. We flew AJ for 6 years or so, but besides the horror shows, they are not flying out of Boston anymore as far as I know. We did the AA/AE route thru San Juan a little over a month ago and got stuck in San Juan for a day (see my thread title "Stuck inside of San Juan..."). To my knowledge, the only options out of Boston are: AA/AE thru San Juan (ten day trip is possible); the upcoming charter flight out of someplace in Florida (also only once a week, so no ten-day trip is possible), or any one of a zillion airlines to Aruba or Curacao followed by a flight on Divi or Bonaire Excel (or whatever it's being called now). I personally do not think that Continental out of Houston is a viable alternative from Boston.
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By Ron Gould (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #323) on Wednesday, October 5, 2005 - 7:33 pm: |
Well it looks like you will just have to make it for 2 WEEKS!! ;-) Ron
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By Cecil (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4266) on Wednesday, October 5, 2005 - 7:33 pm: |
IMHO your best bet right now from Boston is through Aruba. There are quite a few direct flights on either American or US Air. Once there use Bonaire Excel for the final leg. You arrive around 6:00 PM and get to spend part of the day in Aruba. It's also fairly cheap and can be had for less than $600 total. The other option is Curacao and Divi Divi.
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By John Wulfken (BonaireTalker - Post #12) on Wednesday, October 5, 2005 - 8:58 pm: |
I was very interested when Continental announced their Houston redeye flight but with further thinking I asked myself if they were serving their demographics (a word almost as distasteful as paradigm). Perhaps they are since I have met people from all over the USA on Bonaire. But my thinking was that since Houston is their biggest hub they had a plane available. Well, anyway, I called them and suggested that they change (or add) from Houston to either their Cleveland or Newark hubs (based on population demographics). Newark flies to just about the same Caribbean destinations as Houston. Cleveland (my nearest airport) flies to only Nassau, Aruba, and San Juan. Hey, but Newark works for me. I can fly there right now for $89 RT (plus those pesky but necessary taxes & fees). They're always nice to talk to but when you bring up a subject such as this you don't get a lot of good conversation (know what I mean, Vern?). I can easily go through Houston from Cleveland (they're both hubs) in one day each way but they are LONG days. Has anybody else talked to Continental about why they decided Houston and not another hub? Or if they are trying out Houston before adding flights from another hub (i.e. Newark)? How about a Continental Express in the ABCs?
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By Linda Stoltzfus (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #669) on Thursday, October 6, 2005 - 12:04 am: |
John,
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By John"Smacky"Anderson (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1078) on Thursday, October 6, 2005 - 8:34 am: |
John,
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By Ann Phelan (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1963) on Thursday, October 6, 2005 - 9:51 am: |
I do the BOS BON leg often and since I cannot use Air Jamaica I will use AA. Sure, I can take USAir to Aruba or one of the several charters but with Bonaire Express's track record, weather issues and my luggage needs, I find AA the best option at this time via SJU.
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By DIANE AND BEA (BonaireTalker - Post #51) on Thursday, October 6, 2005 - 12:15 pm: |
We are doing a red eye out of Chicago in April 2006. Leaving Friday afternoon Chicago to Houston , leaving Houston at 11:30 pm and arriving Saturday morning at 5:15 am Bonaire. We will be ready for a full day on Saturday by arriving early Saturday morning ( if all goes well ) .
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By Benji Beaujon (BonaireTalker - Post #31) on Thursday, October 6, 2005 - 2:46 pm: |
Continental is flying out of IAH because of the high demand from divers. Several dive operators in Texas have also requested this. As for the time....probably used what was available.
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By Toby and Sandy (BonaireTalker - Post #38) on Sunday, October 9, 2005 - 9:46 am: |
Thanks for all the input. It does look like we'll be rolling the Excel dice via Aruba. Maybe. Hey we used to fly ALM, and for that matter AJ. As long as we expect a horror show at least we won't be surprised. Personally I'm usually satisfied with living through the experience.
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By steve kokkins (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Monday, December 26, 2005 - 6:27 pm: |
Bonaire-Boston travel: We have been going for 15 years and travel to BON is always a moving target. No more AJ flights via MBJ for us Boston people--but am always prepared for them to revive that. Had several good all-jet, daytime trips w/AJ--most recent was, however, May 05, w/a prior one in Jan 05. Now am going in Jan 06 but forced to take AA via San Juan. Propjet SJU-BON plus much wasted time, plus inconvenient early departure back to BOS, plus SJU not an easy airport to lug luggage. But, that is the least unpleasant way right now. Look for Ann Phelan's comments on BOS-BON travel--she is always up to date, plus she can make good Bonaire arrangements.
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By David Kaye (BonaireTalker - Post #85) on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 8:20 pm: |
Okay, I think I've got the message - these days the only practical choice from BOS-BON is AA/AE thru SJU. That's what my own searches today have come up with, also.
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By Susan (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1444) on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 1:11 pm: |
David,
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By Jerry Gauron (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #312) on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 1:47 pm: |
We made our res back in Aug for Jan 21, 06. Bos-SJ-Aruba-Bon.
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By Jerry Gauron (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #313) on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 1:49 pm: |
PS to the above. Total cost was $550.00. Make a res as soon as you can.
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