Flying out of Chicago on AJ has been soooo convenient that the idea of not having that flight is not sitting well with me. I was just bumped from my Wed. flight and had to reschedule a later departure date. So besides AA are there other alternatives to Bonaire which aren't going to cost an arm and a leg? I have always been able to get my fares under $600 and have noticed the AA is quite a bit more. I enjoy going to Bonaire each summer for a week but this may change my affording to go.

Hi Wendy,

Look at ATA. They fly Midway/Aruba (I've seen this fare for like US$ 230-something)! Then, BonairExpress for the Aruba/Bonaire.

Tim, does ATA fly a regular schedule out of Midway to Aruba?

United has non-stop service to Aruba on Saturdays, I believe.

Wendy,

Spirit Air flys out of ORD to San Juan, then you can catch the AE flight. We've flow Spirit Air quite a few times and they are great and inexpensive. You should be able to get a flight to San Juan cheap.

Liz

Hi Andrew,

ATA does Midway/Aruba every Saturday.

I went on ATA's website and found RT flights from Chicago - Midway to Aruba for around $500 through the summer. I think the BE add-on flight would be another $250 or so. I think this is a real option for Midwest travelers. We flew a charter flight to Aruba from Minneapolis in February and paid less than $300 RT for the Mpls-Aruba leg of the trip.

Since Jet Blue is making lots of money (so far!) maybe they would consider flying to Bonaire out of one of their destinations....I believe they do go into Florida....they don't fly out of Newark but they do fly out of NY airports. I have heard nothing but great things about Jet Blue, too. I'd be willing to get to NY airport to fly all the way on one airline into Bonaire the way we do/did on AJ.....just a thought. Carole

LIZ.....
I went to the Spirit site and without going through the reservation process...there was no way to get an idea of the cost.

Any idea what it would be TOTAL....out of NC to Bonaire and back.....just a guess???
thanks
rich

Rich,

You have mail.

Liz

Well, I looks like us Chicago travelers will have to work our creative magic to find flights and reasonable fares to Bonaire. I really got spoiled using AJ!!

Jet Blue already flies JFK to San Juan -- wouldn't it be cool if they continued on to Bonaire, even a couple of days a week!

Josie, that's what I'm thinking, too...that would be fabulous!! Carole

Hi Wendy,
We have our first trip to Bonaire planned for November and already purchased our tickets on AJ out of ORD. You can imagine how we felt after reading the posts that AJ was no longer providing service after August. My husband called AJ, a little upset to say the least, and they have rerouted us. We are now flying AJ out of ORD to CURACAO, then to Bonaire via BE. We just have to keep our fingers crossed AJ doesn't make any other changes!!!!

Jodie,
That is awful. At least AJ got you to Curacao. Did you have to pay more for the flight? I am thankful I only had to switch days at this point. I feel for folks like you who lost the flight completely. I really hope someone else picks up the slack to Bonaire so we can have options at least.

Hi Wendy,
AJ covered the costs for the BE portion of the trip also, so we are not out any additional money. Like you, I really up some other carrier picks up the slack....

The BE add-on flight from Aruba to Bonaire is really $250.00?

This AJ situation has really brought me down...that was soo convenient from Chicago. The brief layovers at Montego Bay were part of my Bonaire trips....it signified the beginning and end.

I could drive around to Venezuela and then take a boat on in.