By Glen Reem on Thursday, September 20, 2001 - 12:43 pm: |
I received the following link from AA. It details the new airport security rules with a further link to an FAA FAQ. At the bottom of the AA link, is a 'no knives or cutting devices allowed' line. Apparently what has triggered the confiscations at Flamingo. It would be very diver-friendly of Bonaire if this could be promulgated to all those coming (as part of a reservations acknowledgement message?) and those who have arrived so that each can make arrangements to send/not carry their own things instead of being at the tender mercies of the excellent Bonaire Customs for forwarding. Also mentioning quite what Flamingo Customs is taking: the 'tools' item has surprized several, from the posts here. This would be a good task for CURO to lead and the dive ops and accommodations to implement.
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By Steve and Sandy Oliver on Thursday, September 20, 2001 - 1:28 pm: |
Having just been re-scheduled yet again for our ALM leg of our trip on Sat, I also found similar info on the ALM site
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By Kelly on Thursday, September 20, 2001 - 6:22 pm: |
Darn Glen you are very good at trying to delegate. "Diver friendly"....I do not think you will find an island more diver friendly than Bonaire. They (customs) were reacting to VERY vague directives intended to restart service to the US, ALM did NOT need the loss of revenue. As you are aware, Dash-8's have open cargo areas accessible while in the air, and as you can watch what the flight crew is doing the whole time, I would say their precautions where justified. Checked baggage is a few short steps from being carried on, as to the TV I think Jason already covered the shipment of cargo.
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By Glen Reem on Thursday, September 20, 2001 - 6:48 pm: |
My, my. I have suggested twice to my friends in the Bonaire dive ops community that divers coming to Bonaire be better informed of new situations by the dive community actually on Bonaire and look what I get. Never did complain about the new security measures; I understand and even explained why they are present. Oh, well. 'They also serve who only stand and wait' but action gets more done.
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By Jason on Thursday, September 20, 2001 - 7:36 pm: |
Glen,
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By Kelly on Thursday, September 20, 2001 - 7:41 pm: |
I noticed you posted your suggestions twice, and you are welcome to "stand and wait". I however feel more can be accompished by us the travelers advising fellow travelers of what to expect so the good folks of CURO can address more pressing matters.
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By Glen Reem on Thursday, September 20, 2001 - 8:10 pm: |
Jason, I am glad that SSI, et al, are getting the word out in the States. I suggested the same on Bonaire, eh?
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By Jason on Thursday, September 20, 2001 - 8:19 pm: |
Glen, I think that all the folks on Bonaire know.. (heck it is a small island.. isn't much which isn't known down there) for purposes of SSI organization,, bonaire falls into their definition of North America..so I know all the dealers down there got the emai and it is a small island.. The europeans traveling to Bonaire are receiving similar information.. There was an earlier posting on the web page from the current president of CURO, so I am not quite sure what else you see as being needed..
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By Glen Reem on Thursday, September 20, 2001 - 9:14 pm: |
Jason,
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By Jason on Thursday, September 20, 2001 - 10:10 pm: |
Glen,
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By Glen Reem on Thursday, September 20, 2001 - 10:56 pm: |
To each, his own way.
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By Jake Richter - NetTech on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 10:21 am: |
Jason,
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By Glen Reem on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 11:16 am: |
Jack Chalk is working it and will let the dive ops (and us?) know the results.
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By Jason on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 11:32 am: |
Jake/Glen.. I will repeat my observation... this is not just a Bonaire problem and is related to travel.... AS I mentioned earlier , virtually every travel agent has been in contact with their clients addressing new concerns.. At work we got guidelines of reporting times and requirements on carry-on abd packed luggage.. At the Dive Center we have been working with Caradonna who has been advising us on such "stuff" and the looming problem of the potential loss of DCA. If Jack has the time to take this own.. more power to him or the members of CURO..I know with our shop that we have only been ablte to do this through our travel agents and volunteer staff (I ran a staff twice the size of Habitat's with 1/10 the customer base) If I would expect anyone to deal with this it would be the travel agents.. ahh I know there are a bunch of people who use on line booking.. (which also will be impacted by this)... service costs money..and I certainly have never begrudged the relatively small dollars I have spent on travel agents. You mention once upon the time the concern over cut rate web service providers.. remember that sevice cost money. In this time of increases security I personally would not travel anywhere with a dive knife or sea snips in any of my baggage.
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By Glen Reem on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 1:05 pm: |
FYI. This BBC World Online link talks to current traveller's advice: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_1548000/1548125.stm
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By Jason on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 1:16 pm: |
I will admit that I have not carried a catapult in the last couple of years.(I tend to more a boiling oil type of guy). of interest is that I received a travelts update from USAIR and Travelocity, both providing great details on the restrictions and new procedures
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By Susan Feldman on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 1:33 pm: |
FWIW: last year in October, my husband and I were returning from New Orleans and had confiscated out of our carry on luggage a tiny (about 1 1/2 inch long) replica of a colt 1911 gun, on a keychain. We joked about holding up the plane with it grasped between our thumb and forefinger. It did seem a little silly at the time.
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By Kelly on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 1:50 pm: |
I believe anybody with reservations (regardless of airlines) and an email address has recently received a travelers update. Addtional efforts by Dive operators now seem somewhat redundant.
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By Glen Reem on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 1:52 pm: |
How about a snooker cue??
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By Kelly on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 1:55 pm: |
Susan there is/was available at Louisiana/Texas gunshows a cowboy style belt buckle with fully functional 22L caliber, 6-shot revolver. It was also available in a key chain model, the folks in New Orleans were very serious!!!
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By Jake Richter - NetTech on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 2:12 pm: |
Kelly,
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By Kelly on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 2:27 pm: |
Jake, point taken.
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By Jake Richter - NetTech on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 2:31 pm: |
It's not the responsibility of CURO, nor that of the individual dive operators. However, it would be a nice courtesy. That's all that's been suggested, I believe.
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By Jason on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 4:37 pm: |
Jake.. I have had my checked baggage searched before.. (my favoite airline) and yes they were on the verge of confiscation.(luckily I had copy of the appropriate FAA reg with me) . In the US baggage is routunely xrayed.. "confiscation" I think is strong term.. as I advised a couple headed down now that if they have any problem they might consider calling the resort they are staid with to see if the can pick up the offending article..so that arrangements can be made for getting it back to the US (resort not dive shop since the resort is who they are actually in most cases the customer of and who have staffs that can help in such matters) Actually by regs you can carry a standard dive knife in your checked bags.. the point being is that a minimum wage security guard airport when faced with search baggage because of a lack of an xray is faced with a unique situation and try their best.. This is NOT unique to Bonaire..The BVI and other small islands are having similar problems. Sea Snips actually do fall well within the prohibited inpretation since the break down into a knife type object..
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By Linnea Wimberly on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 5:06 pm: |
Me thinks that a Brit catapult is a Yank slingshot. Though boiling oil is very effective, especially when slung from a catapult (either type).
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By Jason on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 5:18 pm: |
Probably with out ice though... By all means I am willing to try new and exciting ways to entertain unwanted guests..
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By Kelly on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 5:32 pm: |
Dare I mention a device that "launched" a round starchy object about a hundred meters ???? Now that entertained guests wanted and otherwise !!!
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By Jason on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 5:40 pm: |
probably also banned under new coverage
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By Glen Reem on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 6:57 pm: |
Linnea,
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By Glen Reem on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 7:07 pm: |
Jake,
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By Jason on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 7:29 pm: |
Glen.. they say almost exactly the same things as have been stated earlier in fact difference cross links to the same url as earlier ones such as AA
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By Linnea Wimberly on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 9:31 pm: |
Glen, I dare you to try to pack a castle besieging sized catapult in your carry-on.
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By Kelly on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 10:03 pm: |
Thankfully Linnea you did not issue that challenge to Jason...you have NO idea what that man can carry in a back pack.
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By Barry Gassert on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 10:20 pm: |
There are two other things I would be concerned about:
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By Carole Baker on Saturday, September 22, 2001 - 6:06 pm: |
You guys are too much! What entertainment this has been!! LOL. How about fake fingernails.....could they be miscontrued as a weapon of sorts, too? Carole
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By Carole Baker on Saturday, September 22, 2001 - 6:07 pm: |
Don't even think about toothpicks onboard the craft, either...dental floss might be used as a weapon, too, if you think about it.....Carole
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By Jason on Saturday, September 22, 2001 - 7:33 pm: |
as I can see senaking down an aisle with a garrote made out of dental floss..
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By Hazel Scharosch on Saturday, September 22, 2001 - 10:19 pm: |
...my students say that I sometimes use my eyes as weapons...
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By Faith M. Senie on Saturday, September 22, 2001 - 11:12 pm: |
I'm a bit disturbed about the one that bans hypodermic syringes. What happens to diabetics on insulin if they're in a long layover? Last I checked, the "insulin pill" was still in research mode...
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By Jake Richter - NetTech on Saturday, September 22, 2001 - 11:25 pm: |
Faith - definitely disturbing (and discriminatory under US law).
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By michael gaynor on Sunday, September 23, 2001 - 8:01 am: |
for needles and meds, be sure you carry your perscription with you. I have a friend who arrived on American on Tues with her meds and had no problem. It was packed in an insulated bag in her carry on. Amazingly, no one even questioned her.
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By Scott on Sunday, September 23, 2001 - 1:24 pm: |
A good piece in the Washington Post about FAQ's and some of the new do's and don'ts, refunds etc.
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By Ann Phelan on Monday, September 24, 2001 - 6:43 am: |
Just back from my first flight/trip since..
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By Michael Mullett on Tuesday, September 25, 2001 - 9:57 pm: |
Does anybody know the weight restrictions for American Eagle from San Juan? Also, are there any
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By Jason on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 9:03 am: |
Standard internation convention.. I know weight is 70LB.per bag for two bags ,, with NO overage.. for isze you probably want to check the AA web site or your travel agent or if you aren't using one the airline direct
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By C Poteet on Friday, September 28, 2001 - 5:53 pm: |
Might I ask what has been the experience in the last few days checking in for the 6:15 am American Eagle flight to San Juan.
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By Ann Phelan on Friday, September 28, 2001 - 8:41 pm: |
My friend took the flight from BON last Thur. and checked in at 4 AM. He was searched very much .I am already dreading Oct. 14th when I have to do the same..Air Ja. is AWESOME..I can sail the day I get there and the day I leave. AA is losing a day in each direction..oh well. I saved 500.00 on AA. Annie
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By Jake Richter - NetTech on Friday, September 28, 2001 - 9:36 pm: |
Annie,
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By Ann Phelan on Friday, September 28, 2001 - 9:40 pm: |
I will be the grumpy looking one with 78 year old Mom and brown West Indian Maggie (9 years old) in tow. If I do not seem too friendly it is probably because the Post Bonaire Depression hit earlier that day at about 4 AM.
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By Ann Phelan on Friday, September 28, 2001 - 9:43 pm: |
Attention all Oct 14th departees..after we check in at the ungodly hour of 4 AM, where can we go play til 6??
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By Jake Richter - NetTech on Friday, September 28, 2001 - 9:48 pm: |
I'll be here at WebCam central during most of Regatta week, getting reacquainted with my soon to be reappearing wife, as well as cramming for the Patent Bar Exam, as well as doing some diving with Dan & Faith, who will be right across the street from us at the Divers Paradise apartments. We'll have a babysitter or two available at least one evening, so maybe a BonaireTalk dinner somewhere?
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By Ann Phelan on Friday, September 28, 2001 - 9:52 pm: |
I am in for a Bonaire Dinner or prob. better is drinks??
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By michael gaynor on Saturday, September 29, 2001 - 7:27 am: |
Mirage did not open last Wed at 4 30 My house is two streets south of the airport. I may be bribed into putting the coffee on.
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By Susan Feldman on Saturday, September 29, 2001 - 8:56 am: |
Geoffrey and I will be arriving on the 13th, midafternoon. If you decide to do the BonaireTalk dinner that night, let us know!
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By Ann Phelan on Saturday, September 29, 2001 - 9:21 am: |
Oh Susan, that would be fun but since it is my last night I will prob. not be able to do dinner but maybe drinks at Karels?? Tough for me to plan as I have to consider racing and Regatta sked first and foremost.
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By Susan Feldman on Saturday, September 29, 2001 - 9:55 am: |
That sounds good. We're arriving Air Jamaica from Boston, and we should be settled in to Captain Dons fairly early, barring delays.
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By Ann Phelan on Saturday, September 29, 2001 - 10:09 am: |
I wish I could say I am flying JA. Those flights are sooo good. AA are too darn weird. You lose a day at each end. Oh well..I am coming so that is all that matters. What number trip is this??
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By Susan Feldman on Saturday, September 29, 2001 - 10:25 am: |
Annie,
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By Glen Reem on Saturday, September 29, 2001 - 1:25 pm: |
Annie,
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By michael gaynor on Saturday, September 29, 2001 - 1:45 pm: |
Glenn...the problem is the lines that are waiting to have all the luggage searched. It is not really more than 30 people on most flights, so it is not too grueling. Paying the departure tax the night before is not really an issue since folks have plenty of time while waiting for the search to be complete. For that matter, people can buy their departue tax on arrival. Oddly, the payment window is located at the arrivals hall exit?
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By Glen Reem on Saturday, September 29, 2001 - 5:54 pm: |
My best reason for the two trips to the airport is that I very much prefer starting the trip in clean clothes after a shower instead of sweaty from wrestling bags.
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By Ann Phelan on Saturday, September 29, 2001 - 5:54 pm: |
Oh Glenn, good idea. I will get the dept. coupons sometime that week and will ask then if I can check in for Mom and Magster. Then they could sleep til 5 anyway.
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By Carole Baker on Saturday, September 29, 2001 - 6:57 pm: |
How is Air Jamaica handling the mass of humanity and checked in baggage searches with those long lines that "normally" gather in the afternoons?? They are flying LARGE aircraft which holds LOTS of people and luggage.....anyone have any input? Thanks. Carole
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By michael gaynor on Saturday, September 29, 2001 - 9:14 pm: |
I was there today and it was orderly, but time cousuming. Glen, they check all hand luggage as well as checked. It is amazing that once they have checked the carryons, you are free to wander off and do what you will. The do,of ocourse, go throgh the scanner, but I do think someone is not thinking.
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By Glen Reem on Sunday, September 30, 2001 - 12:56 pm: |
Check-in has always been orderly in my experience; I just don't like to stand in lines. Earlier, shorter. Better to be having an Amstel.
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By Glen Reem on Wednesday, October 3, 2001 - 10:53 am: |
Has anyone had experience carrying a Spare Air bottle in this new airline security environment?
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