Hi,

We were planning on flying RAA, but were just notified that they will not be ready for our
Aug 17th departure. We are using FF miles on US Air to get from Washington DC to aruba.

Suggestions or comments on Avia/DCA.

Thanks Lydia

Lydia,

When I was booking RAA for October, there was a DCE (Dutch Carribean Express) flight leaving Aruba at about 5 PM connecting in Curacao to Bonaire, arriving BON about 6:30. Returning was more of a challenge, with the DCE flight leaving BON to CUR at about 7:00 AM connecting to AUA and arriving about 9:00. These enabled you to connect to the USAir flights to Charlotte from AUA. (We too are using FF miles to AUA via Charlotte. If you are flying through Philadelphia, perhaps USAir can re-route from DC through Charlotte to take advantage of the DCE flights.) Good luck.

Mark

Lydia,

Forgot to suggest how to easily find out about DCE flights. Go to United's website (www.ual.com), click on "Advanced Search", log in as a guest if you are not a United FF member and already registered on their website, and then follow the screen directions to search flights from AUA (Aruba) to Bonaire (BON). Alternatively, go to the SideStep website (www.sidestep.com), download their software and let them search for you. Either of these sites will give you details of the flights available to BON from AUA.

Mark

Mark,

Thanks for the suggestions. Actually you can
go directly to DCA's web page and you can get
to the flight info, just have to call to make
the reservation. They made on for us, but did
not take a Visa card as it was too soon to send
the paper ticket.
Avia returned my email - took about five days, with confirmation of reservations as well without
VISA card. The time was actually better with DCa
so we are keeping those. Lydia

Lydia,

Glad you got something, and enjoy the diving. Pardon my ignorance but who/what is Avia? Are they an airline flying to BON from AUA? Or just a travel/booking agent? If an airline, how do you get in contact with them? And what type of aircraft do they fly?

Mark

Mark,

See http://www.infobonaire.com/airlineinfo.html for info on Avia Air connections from AUA to BON and back. Planes are small commuters.

Jake