AJ is indeed failing! After 5 years of relatively good service, our last trip was a nightmare. Flying BWI to BON via MB 19Mar05, we arrived 26 hours late with no luggage. The initial BWI-MB flight was cancelled purportedly for a faulty PA system. We waited 14hours for the next AJ plane finally leaving around 11pm. Arriving MB at 2:30am, we obviously missed our BON connection. They kindly put us up in the Buccaneer Beach Hotel (the dive you fly over at the end of the runway on arrival) where the rooms were filthy, broken and stunk. We were placed on teh Sunday BON flight which left a couple hours late only to arrive in BON sans luggage. This despite specifically checking on our luggage at 3am that morning and being assured it would accompany us! The story only gets worse as there are no AJ personnel on BON; they have subcontracted to KLM without giving them the authority to help. Translated, no bags, no reimbursement for essentials, no help. After numerous calls, our luggage was located in MB (big surprise)Monday. Despite pleading, they refused to route the luggage on another flight or airline through CUR, deciding instead to wait until the next AJ flight on Wed (which was also late). That left us with 2 of the planned six days of diving with our own equipment. No apologies, no reimbursement for our group who had to buy clothes and essentials to get through the first 4 days. Kudos do go to Bonaire Dive and Adventure who gave us rental gear for free (their lost luggage policy). Unlike AJ, they were extremely helpful. Our return flights were both late and our luggage did return with us to BWI. I would strongly recommend looking into alternatives to AJ. Unless a reliable service is found, Bonaire may have to take a lesser position in my choices of destinations.

Kenneth, I want to thank you for your post. It saddens many of us to read these first hand accounts on the decline of AJ.

I also want to thank you for you post complimenting Andre Nahrs' Bonaire Dive and Adventure helped your group out when your gear did not arrive:-{)}

When I bought the tickets on early December 2004, my returning flight was supposed to land in Newark at 9:40 p.m. from MB. Then the government took over. I arrived home last night at 4:00 am with a missing piece of luggage. Only the EWR to MB left on time, and had no problems. The rest of the connections were an ordeal. Ouf of 4 flights, 3 were LATE, and if you pay attention, you know well that AJ is full Basofia De Toro (the Spanish version of Bull S..). They DO know that they're going to be late, yet refuse to update their boarding times and departures until the VERY last minute. Needless to say, the immigration officials, customs agents, and aiport employees DESPISE Air Jamaica for all the grief they put them through. That was the general comment last night, Air Jamaica again huh? Are we flying AJ again? NOT A CHANCE!!! The only reason I did not change my flights before is because they refused to refund my tickets, so I was stuck with that piece of garbage airline. For those of you who still have a chance, stop the wishful thinking and get a grip on reality!!! (but I heard a couple of good things, I hope they improve by the time we fly) they WILL only get worse. Not a single passenger last night said they would fly AJ again, so I'm sure they lose customers everyday. The more customers they lose, the fewer seats they sell, the more they will combine flights, the more delays and lost luggage you can expect. Air Jamaica would be a terrific addition to a pictionary next to the word "Incompetence". That was the only low in our trip. Right now I'm in PBE (Post Bonaire Exhilaration) that I'm sure will crash into a severe case of PBD as I get my trip report ready. Well, Air Jamaica sucks, and if you choose to fly it despite all the warnings, do so at your own risk. As for us, we've had enough (of AJ that is) Coach Izzy

OOOH! I hope we who have tickets make out better.
Maybe in 6 weeks it could get better?
Dice don't fail me now!

Let's boycott AJ!!!! Go AA.

Coarh Izzy - Maybe I'll see on the Continental non-stop to Aruba next year? I think Aruba is that place to go - great non-stop service to the US, now we just need to get a reliable way to Bonaire from there.

Sue, It'd be awesome if Divi-Divi flew from Aruba. In the time that AJ parked its ugly bird, unloaded, loaded, boarded, then did "its paper work" and had us sitting in the runway for over 1 hour, 2 Divi Divi flights came and left. I was so surprised by their promptness and the fact that a lot of travelers were carrying full bags. I think they may be a good choice. We'll see. Coach Izzy

I've been quoted a charter fare for DiviDivi to fly non-stop Aruba to Bonaire. Given the headache of AJ, it might not be a bad idea next February if I can find another 4 travelers on a similar itinerary.

PS - you forgot to mention the pain of sitting in the broken seats that lost their cushions 10 years ago. Were the other EWR bound passengers as pleasant in MB as they were 4 weeks ago waiting for the flight?

Sue, DiviDivi sounds like a great alternative. Do you mind sharing the price that they quoted you for the charter and how many it was based on (6 people?). When in Feb. are you planning on going?

DiviDivi planes hold 9 people, we will be 4 or 5 (depends if daughter brings a friend). i'm not clear if the number i've been quoted assumes passengers coming into aruba or not. I need to get more info and it will depend on BonaireExcel/Express schedules. Assuming current BE schedules, we will probably just splurge on inbound.

We are looking at either Feb 11-21 or Feb 15-25, probably the latter, but still trying to determine which week we want to take the kids out for 3 days (school break is Th/F/M/Tues - go figure our school district).

Sue,

what were you quoted?

There's an old saying...Fool me once, shame on you...Fool me twice (well you get it)..
Good Bye AJ.. After our last fiasco with you, rest assured it will be a snowy day on Bonaire before I ever fly you again!!

Sue, Yikes! How can I forget those dreadful seats? Actually, I only got one bad seat, and that was on the flight back, from MB to Newark. No cushioning at all. Good think I was one of the first ones to beat the rest in the rat race to board. I took 3 pillows and had to park them under to make it more bearable. That, along with a group of terribly smelly people sitting ahead of us made for a very uncomfortable ride back. I'm not sure which one of those guys had that terrible BO that could easily strip paint off walls. Oof! Whatever happened to soap? Oh well, time to start looking for new alternatives. Air Jamaica won't stop us from returning. We'll simply don't fly them. Coach Izzy

I've been quoted just under $1000 for an 8 seat plane non-stop Aruba to Bonaire. If the plane flies into Aruba with people - it's half the price (or somehow pro-rated among the passengers). They will coordinate with commercial schedules into Aruba.

Sue,
Our school district sets its calendar in June so I'll know what my dates are for 06 then. We'd love to go in with the charter, keep us (3) in mind, but I won't be able to commit to dates till then.

Sue What a great price! Ed and I are concerned about flight as we are going the end of April or beginning of May sometime. Anyway, we've been looking for some alternative routes. For those of you, check your local carriers, but from NJ/NY area we found the following alternatives

Spirit Airlines to San Juan (out of Atlantic City Airport) then connect to AE (cheaper than the AA to AE flight)

US Air out of Philly to San Juan then to AE (good prices for US Air also).

Your local carrier to Miami than a direct flight via AA to Curacao then a hop over to BON

Right now nothing much flies into Curacao, I've tried. The best bet is to go through San Juan.

Good luck all. When we finally get settled in our new home and I make the reservations, I let you know how we decided to go and the prices.

Liz

sue...we have free tickets in a few weeks on AJ but we always go to Bonaire in feb - probably the 15-25. We would be interested in the Aruba connection. Nadine

My husband won't let me book anything on AA. We went to the Keys last June via MIA. They left all the luggage in EWR on the way down and 2 of 6 bags stayed in MIA on the way back. They also damaged one bag on the way back. The worst was we waited in the MIA baggage pickup for nearly 2 hours listening to their lies of how there was a problems with getting hold open on the plane, then luggage cart broke down, etc. I have a $200 AA voucher from the nightmare and am not too excited about using it with my dive gear.

Brian - since we had such a lovely time together in MB this February, send me your email so we can keep in touch on flight schedules.

Sue

It looks like my gut feeling of high priced airfare and travel nightmares are coming true.
I had planned to be back in Bonaire for the Fountain of Youth those waters are but instead designated 2005 the "Year of the Home".
So our $$ is going into the only investment Americans see growing these days.
My heart's in Bonaire but my Dollars stay here this year.
Best wishes Jerry