If you are familiar with the T.V. show "The Amazing Race"....I feel like I am in it right now. Does traveling to
Bonaire really have to be this difficult. I am a pretty easy going traveler but I have to admit I am starting to lose
it. My husband has had it and just wants to cancel our whole trip and I have to admit I agree. I am utterly
frustrated with the whole thing. We made our plans in July and it has been a nightmare ever since and I am still no
closer to confirming flights for our February trip to Bonaire. I know I am not alone and you may have had even
more difficulties than us but I had to VENT!!!!!

We have been through three schedule changes and our latest issue is this....American Airlines canceled all
Wednesday flights from Aruba to Bonaire (including Jan, Feb and March) we are staying in Bonaire for a week
and then hoping over to Aruba for a week (traveling on Wednesdays). Our return flight was suppose to leave
from Aruba on Mar 6th to Bonaire and then home to Boston via Air Jamaica. Now American says they can not
get us to Bonaire on Mar 6th and have no responsibility to get us home to Boston on Wednesday. They would
be happy to book us on an American Flight from Aruba to Boston Flight but at FULL Fare!!!! Of course they
will apply the $70.00 refund from our canceled Aruba to Bonaire leg. And get this....on Feb 27th (our leg to
Aruba) they said they would be happy to get us to Aruba but via SAN JUAN!!! We would leave Bonaire at
7:00 AM and get to Aruba at 3:00PM. We have switched our traveling days, we are staying over night in other
cities and still we are in a mess.

I do not think even a RUM PUNCH can ease our frustration.....and I would have to think that these traveling
nightmares will eventually have a detrimental impact on the economy of Bonaire.

Oh Well on a brighter note....Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Ok, forgive me TCB and whomeve if I am treading in waters that are murky but should this be happening? Can the govt work with AA to rectify this mess. When I say mess I refer to the whole AUA/BON leg that WAS iniated then cancelled. BON needs reliable air carriers. Thank GOD Air Jamaica has it's act together (I hope) but what gives? They need to keep a routing in place for a certain period of time to give it a chance. This is pure BS. There is no reason a consumer needs to endure this.

Beth and others who are in a mess due to AA not being able to make up it's mind: Write polite cordial letters to AA and cc: your travel agent, IATA (see web), TCB inc. (BON's tourist board) and EVERYONE you can think of.

Speak up BT's...maybe we can impact change in a postive way?

Or am I off my rocker here..it is 65 degrees so maybe the heat has gotten to me..

Oh Beth, it DOES sound like the Amazing Race. I cannot BELIEVE ANY SANE AGENT would propose you go to AUA VIA San Juan..YIKES..sorry to yell but..

People please tell me Air Ja will remain intact..I arrive Dec. 22...PLEASE..

Annie
Cape Cod

annie, TCB and the Dept of economics are all aware of this and will register their loudest voice to try to set things straight. It really sounds like the old tricks ALM used to play...It may also be a political move to get AE the rights to the Curacao-Bonaire route....

Annie,

When I asked her how could any travel agent even suggest such a connection. She said she was not a travel agent and I booked the tickets through the WEB not a travel agent. I told her that I booked the tickets through the American Airlines WEB site as a Advantage Member and wasn't she a representative of American Airlines. She just said she was not a travel agent. And this woman (Patty Love, Tuscon, Arizona) was a Supervisor. Also American has a flight from Aruba to Boston which she would be more than happy to but us on but at FULL FARE plus we still have to pay for the Air Jamaica leg since it is non-refundable. I can not understand why they will fly us from Bonaire to Aruba via San Juan but will not fly us from Aruba to Boston. She said that American is only responsible for getting us to Bonaire, not Boston. What I find even more outrageous is that she used Sept 11th as the reason for the cancellation. Words can not express how that sickens me. I am utterly disgusted. I will write to anyone who will listen...enough is enough

Beth,

Try writing to the president of AA, with names. Can't hurt, might help. Might also include a URL(s) for other BT comments.

I understand the seeming silliness of Bonaire-Aruba via SJU but...wasn't it likely her only alternative to meet your needs within an AA schedule she can't change? At some point refusal seems to be cutting off your own nose to spite your face, frustrating as it all is.

It doesn't help travelers feelings or any thing else so FYI. There do seem to be 'island games' being played over the replacement of ALM on the Bonaire-Curacao route as Michael aludes. The contract is partly with the Curacao government, with DCE, Winair and AA, at least, trying to get the job. The Curacao government lost lots of money (well, maybe it was the people they owed money to) with ALM and likely has a stake in DCE. So the differences between Curacao (Curaocao doesn't care about Bonaire's economy-the central government just raises tax rates) and Bonaire are involved as well as two sets of islands politics. Certainly dive tourism on Bonaire won't pick up until a better solution is in place and proven.

I did write a letter to AA Customer Relations Department. What really frustrated us is that AA was unwilling to put us on a direct flight from Aruba to Boston. Instead they want to cut our trip short in Aruba and fly us to Bonaire a day early (I know what you are thinking, but it will cost us double in Hotel $$$) to make our AJ connection. And I know it will not make a difference but someone posted a speech ("local items") given by Dr. Tromp, President of BNA, on the Economic Future of N.A. so I wrote Dr. Tromp a letter regarding the "island games" being played in the N.A. In the letter I told him to scan some of the newsgroups to get a picture of the current situation. Even if my letters do not generate a response....I feel better. And yes Anne my letters were polite. I took your advice