By Verena & Andreas (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Friday, January 11, 2008 - 8:55 pm: |
We have travelled a lot in our life and have our fair share of airline experience – however, DAE (Dutch Antilles Express) has set new negative standards for us.
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By Reza Gorji (BonaireTalker - Post #29) on Friday, January 11, 2008 - 9:42 pm: |
Terrible experience.
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By Freddie (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #9490) on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 12:44 am: |
So was anything GOOD???? another 1st negative post how about the good stuff first and then the bad news???
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By bob...packing now! (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2446) on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 1:42 am: |
hey, give the poster some credit - they did post to "getting to bonaire" (not "trip report") and provided useful (if not new) information...
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By Brian Back in March (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3483) on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 6:22 am: |
DAE were in a real mess when we were travelling in October, how long can they carry on?
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By Susan - www.bsdme.info (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #533) on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 7:21 am: |
Verena,
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By Verena & Andreas (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 7:35 am: |
Just to respond to a couple of the comments:
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By Nathalie (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #228) on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 9:13 am: |
Verena & Andreas,
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By Nathalie (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #229) on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 9:22 am: |
Freddie, are you saying that unless someone chooses to take the time to post a positive trip report that you prefer that person post nothing? Even when he/she might have info of use to other Bonaire travelers? There is no dearth of glowing trip reports. Fortunately, most people who choose to post have had a great vacation. Info that helps us get to Bonaire in the least complicated way is very useful. Let's try not to discourage people from taking the time to post it.
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By Denise K (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1682) on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 9:50 am: |
Verena & Andreas, Thank you for your posting. Getting to and from Bonaire economically and efficiently is such a challenge. Input based on experience helps us as we decide from the options.
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By Bev Delarue (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #317) on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 9:57 am: |
Thanks for posting we are travelling with them in 8 days and will keep on our toes is something seems a little strange.
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By Boat Chick************** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4139) on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 9:59 am: |
Jerry, DON'T READ THIS THREAD...
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By Kobi in Virginia *** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3853) on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 10:36 am: |
BC, was just thinking the same thing! OYE.....prayers & good thoughts for those who are using them in the near future. Hope all goes smoothly....
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By Susan - www.bsdme.info (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #534) on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 11:06 am: |
Verena,
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By Verena & Andreas (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 11:23 am: |
Susan
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By Brian Back in March (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3486) on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 12:47 pm: |
How about Delays Always Expected
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By RONALD CHEEVERS (BonaireTalker - Post #13) on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 4:02 pm: |
Verena, we are looking at a 2-week vacation split between Aruba 1st & Bonaire 2nd (saving the best for last of course) next year but after hearing of your dilema, are a bit skiddish about using DAE for the hop to Bonaire. Are there any alternatives to getting to Bonaire from Aruba direct other than DAE?
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By Susan Taft (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #821) on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 5:40 pm: |
Verena, ouch .... that was certainly not the way to end a nice vacation! Several years ago we also flew through Aruba because we had "miles" on USAir. BonairExel (preDAE) caused us to miss our flight to the US and the folks at USAir were also wonderful to us in getting us on another flight without a charge. Getting to and from Bonaire is always a challenge but sure worth it!
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By Verena & Andreas (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 6:18 pm: |
Ronald,
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By Gallus50 (BonaireTalker - Post #54) on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 6:52 pm: |
Ronald - My son and I flew Tiara Air in November and were delayed slightly but did not have any signifcant problems. It was a direct flight and the fare was lower than DAE's. So I can recommend them and would say they sound like a much better option than flying DAE! You could also fly Insel Air to Curacao (I think) and then Divi Divi to Bonaire.
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By Sparty (BonaireTalker - Post #70) on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 8:00 pm: |
My wife and I have been to Bonaire six times and will be returning again in Feb/March for 5 weeks. Other than a hit and run on our car while we were dining, we have not had any bad experiences, in fact we love Bonaire. I will add that the body shop provide a very reasonable estimate for the repair ($500+), considering the damage that was done. Much lower than we expected.
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By Freddie (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #9491) on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 10:27 pm: |
I also appreciate the above post... But it would have been nice if they had posted their good times for their first post. Seems that when people post something negative for their first post they don't normally have anything else good to say about anything.. just an observation..the information was good, I would have loved to read it after reading their trip report..on post number 2 JMHO
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By Deborah Bennett (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #105) on Sunday, January 13, 2008 - 1:19 am: |
I am getting scared about my upcoming flights from Aruba to Bonaire and back! Last time we didn't receive our luggage fore several days at hom, but that was no biggie. (the reason was, they had put too much fuel in the plane, and so the plane was too heavy!!!! So they took off everyone's luggage.
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By Brian Back in March (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3487) on Sunday, January 13, 2008 - 4:28 am: |
We flew with Tiara Air twice in October and they were fine. http://www.tiara-air.com/
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By Deborah Bennett (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #113) on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 - 11:07 pm: |
We flew Aruba-Bonaire in Sept, and we got in and out ok, just our luggage was 2 days late getting home. Not a severe problem for me. I am always careful to keep my diving stuff in a carryon---just in case.
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By Verena & Andreas (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 - 9:10 pm: |
To our experience its not when things go smooth what tells you about the business practice of an airline - when they have problems its the way they deal with the situation which is revealing. DAE has not only set negative standards in this respect, they simply ignore and violate their own published fare conditions where they do promise compensation for delays they are responsible for - in reality they simply completely ignore the compensation request.
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By keith sutton (BonaireTalker - Post #58) on Friday, January 25, 2008 - 9:11 am: |
My travel in December involved DAE from Aruba to Bonaire...all went smoothly, and arrived 10 minutes ahead of schedule with bags intact, landing well executed despite a storm breaking over Flamingo at the time. The 4 hour layover at the Aruba airport was quite dull however.
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By Paula B (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #127) on Friday, January 25, 2008 - 12:29 pm: |
Thanks Keith, it is just a week and we will be using DAE from Aruba to Bonaire also. I'm sure more people are inclined to post negative thoughts than good ones. So yours is appreciated
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By Mickey McCarthy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #511) on Friday, January 25, 2008 - 2:17 pm: |
Hi
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By jay hinze (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Sunday, January 27, 2008 - 4:57 pm: |
I appreciate the comments provided on this topic. I have been following BT closely and would have liked to avoid DAE on my upcoming trip to Bonaire through Aruba. Few choices exist with decent connections from Aruba to Bonaire on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hopefully DAE customer service personnel and management read your feedback and try to improve performance. I am glad to see some positive feedback. I promise to report back when I return.
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By jay hinze (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 6:00 pm: |
Well, in my earlier post I agreed to provide feedback regarding my experience on DAE airlines last week. We used frequent flyer miles to get from Atlanta to Aruba. That left us with little choice but use DAE. (The other puddle jumpers didn't fit our schedule.)
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