Fresh news, just came in that Continental will be starting a new flight into Bonaire. Flights will be leaving Houston every saturday from Houston non-stop into Flamingo Int'l Airport. These services will be effective December. This week TCB and the Com. of Tourism hope to put their signature to officially clear this deal

wooooo-hooooo!

I hope they have about the same times as Air Jamaica had. Leave Bonaire about 3:30 PM so you can get 6 different days of diving.

That is (potentially) VERY good news!

Let's hope this is true!

It's in the local paper today, I understand, and the paper indicates if the deal goes through, flights would be starting in mid-December. Not sure if it's a done deal though. I'd certainly like to know the flight times too...

Jake

Bulletin (June 12, 2005) The Bonaire Island Government just announced that it has an agreement with Continental Airlines to fly daily from Houston to Bonaire beginning Saturday, December 16. Booking via the airline reservation systems should be available July 1. Meanwhile, efforts to organize weekly charters from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Bonaire are proceeding well and a public announcement is expected by the end of this month.

Just to clarify, is this every day of the week or just Saturdays?

I think there are two errors in the article. First December 16 is on a Friday and I think it will be a weekly flight.

It will be a weekly flight indeed out of Houston, TX. Probably on Saturdays.

This is great news for the West Coast folks... Keeping our fingers crossed that those in the east Coast will have good news as well.

Well if I ever get money again, Continental would be near perfect. they serve Midway Airport in Chicago which is less than 10 minutes from my home and would likely open up a "package" airfare.

I'm 15 minutes from Newark, why couldn't they have started non-stop service from here ???

I guess this will be a big help to the Midwest & West Coast, but what about us on the East Coast???

Patience Sue, I have been hearing that other cities are in the works.

OK, I'll try...

I'm already booked to Bonaire for Feb06 on AA. I need to call them today, as they've charged my credit card too much for the tickets - no credit for my $200 voucher from poor service on flights last June.

I've heard the local authorities are working on a weekly connection with Delta too, they are still in negotiation so if this deal can be sealed we would have connections from ATL too.

I share the same anxiety that everyone else shares about the air travel problems getting to Bonaire. I was left rather wide eyed after reading the article about Bonaire tourism in the Bonaire Reporter.(See the thread "Efforts for new US-Bonaire direct service", Glen Reems comments) , It seems that there are either not enough of us traveling to Bonaire to support too many flights or perhaps the airlines need to be more organized. I suspect that it is a combination of both. How many divers (most Bon tourists ARE divers) have been turned off by the delayed flights, missed connections, lost luggage, and other trauma encountered on getting to Bonaire? My wife and I spent a night trying to sleep in the waiting area at an airport because AJ screwed us up coming back from Bon this past April (still no word from AJ to date BTW). Yet, many of us love Bonaire so much that we are willing brave all of this. I suspect that if the airlines find a way to improve these aspects of their service that the interest and actual tourism will improve dramatically.

If you try to search online for tickets to Bonaire from most US cities you will find it difficult. In many cases you need to spend an overnight somewhere. But, what this information won't tell you is that in a lot of cases you will find yourself running to the gate in SJ or some other airport trying to get on the flight that is already in the air and trying desperately to convince someone who doesn't care who you are or where you came from that you need to get the next flight to Bon no matter which airlines or which connection. (I'm usually not this cynical)

Half empty airplanes cost the industry a lot of money. But, where does the fix start? Certainly not with the consumer! I suspect that we "die hard" Bonaire travelers have an untapped "consumer power base" that has some kind of voice if only we were able to get it to come together. Add to that the potential thousands of folks who would love to come to Bonaire if only the air travel were as easy as the diving (grin)........

The reason that CO is not departing from Newark is because they plan on have weekly saturday Newark-Curacao flights

The Bonaire Reporter article last week had a valid point: if the planes are not full coming to Bonaire, and the hotels on Bonaire are not full, then someone's not doing their job in marketing the island. They point out that there has been a lot of bad talk, especially on the internet, about crime on Bonaire (and this has been discussed in excruciating depth here on BT), and whether the bad rap is deserved or not is not the point: the fact that this perception is out there in public forums impacts tourism. Someone needs to do some serious marketing to change the image/perception of Bonaire to increase the number of tourists from the US. The police force also must work on THEIR perceived image. Airlines are not going to fly half full planes to Bonaire, and more hotel rooms does not equal more tourists if the existing hotels are not booking anywhere near capacity. How often do you tell someone that you're going to Bonaire, and they have no clue as to what you're talking about. Bonaire does have more to offer than just scuba diving (birding, windsurfing and snorkelling come to mind) and somehow needs to find a way to tell the citizens of the US (and the world, for that matter) "hey, come on down -- this is a really cool place to go on vacation."

This week's Bonaire Balance article in the Reporter expands on this theme. http://www.bonairereporter.com/

The idea is that Continental is leaving Houston Friday 11pm and arrives Saturday 6am on Bonaire, 1hour later returns to Houston ... it is done like that because otherwise connection flights are nearly impossible.
There was talk to fligh Newark Bonaire because Curacao would not make a decision, but when they heard that Bonaire is interested Curaco quickly said yes to Continental ... so there will be a flight Newark Curacao ...

Brigitte -

Thank you for the additional intelligence. You are always so ahead of the news!

Am I reading your note correctly that Continental is expecting to depart Houston on Friday's at 11pm (23:00 hrs) and return Saturday at 7am (0700 hrs)?

That is not going to be a very comfortable schedule for a lot of folks. Speaking just for ourselves who originate at DFW, American's schedule, even with the early BON departure, is relatively more attractive.

Also, might we ask how you learned of Continental's potential schedule? Is it a source which we might all access?

Charles Poteet
Dallas

I think there will be alternatives in the near future, which will be much more attractive to American travelers. If you arrive on Bonaire at 6am, you are exhausted, and resorts have check in times for late afternoon. Who would let you check in at 7am? So you get off the plane, can't check in, can't dive, and you're totally spent. I'd rather go to Curacao or Aruba and take DiviDivi, even if I have to recheck my bags.

But there will be other choices, I am sure of it, direct to Bonaire from the states.

Carl

I dunno, Carl. Seems to me if you get to the resort by 8am, you could still do the required Marine Park orientation at 9am (at least when most resorts seem to hold it, I believe) and be in the water by 10am. Sure, there are some logistical issues to resolve, but heck, they've got 6 months to figure it all out!

I'd be surprised if the resorts didn't have some sort of way of allowing people to check in and change into their swimsuits at the very least.

The more enterprising properties might even arrange to have the rooms vacated by those leaving on the Continental flight cleaned early in the morning (figure that people would probably need to be at the airport 2 hours prior to departure) so that they might be ready for new arrivals from the same flight.

Or maybe one could pay a half room day fee to get into the room early if there's availability?

How do the resorts currently handle it for guests on the early morning (2am-4am) KLM flights?

Sure would be nice to be able to make connections (I hate red-eyes personally, but from my perspective, I could do a full day of business at any of the locations in Texas I frequent regularly (Dallas, Marshall, and Austin) and still catch a flight home the same day (as long as it's a Friday, which is typically when I like to be heading home anyhow). This may give my loyalty to American Airlines a serious ding (assuming that there's space available for one-ways or for off-island round trip travel).

Jake

I don't know how other properties are handling the KLM night flights ... but CocoPalm takes in high season the full rate - but the flight from Peru arrives at 1.30 am and the one from Amsterdam at 4am .... in low season we take 50% of the room rate - we can not rent the room for that night to other guests, no way to clean in a small property the room in these early hours ... but we have also a simple room available for $15 and the guests can move into their normal unit after lunch. For the bigger hotels it should be even easier, they have a front desk and a hospitality room normally .... we offer to buy the breakfast items they want so they can have their breakfast , unpack the suitcases and by 8am they are off to the dive shop ... and for the late departure ... we handle it the same way ... the guests normally have a late dinner in town and than shower, change and off to the airport ... the KLM for Amsterdam leaves at 2.30am .... never a problem up to now ...

Oh... forgot ... my source ... no, I better keep that a secret -- but it came from a reliable source

Jake I agree logistically it is possible, but what a way to start your vacation! A tiring overnight flight, rushing to get to orientation and your dive gear together, and I'm not a diver but I don't think it is optimal to dive when you're tired and rushed like that. But heck I could be wrong, I work everyday like that! :-)

Much easier for another airline or charter service to arrange for a more convenient flight, even if it is only once a week. Similar to the AJ schedule, arriving in BON at 2:30pm on Saturday and returning on Sunday if the same pilot/crew, or back the same day late afternoon if different pilot and crew.

We're talking what, 50k tourists per year? For goodness sake, if we can't fill a 200 seat plane once a week, that is pathetic.

C

"Much easier for another airline..."

Heh. I don't exactly see airlines knocking on Bonaire's proverbial door to provide direct non-stop service from the U.S.

The reasoning for the schedule with Continental, I presume, is that it allows them to use a plane that would otherwise sit idle during the same time slots, meaning they don't have to cancel or seriously adjust flights in other parts of their network.

Beggars can't be choosers...

Jake

50k tourist a year but about half of them coming from Europe and they have a flight of 9.5 hours and fly now for 3 years at night and arrive at 4am ... and don't complain !
My information is these hours are chosen because otherwise connections to other areas in the US are not possible as the flight Houston Bonaire is about 5 hours and it has to fit into their schedule as well.
I dont think there is a possibility that Bonaire can demand time schedules from any airline ... and overnighting a crew and keep the plane on the ground sounds rather expensive ... but perhaps if you pay all $300 more each flight they will do it ?

Carl, maybe it is possible to make it to your 9 am (ish) dive briefing, get your dive site map, and NOT do your dive right away? Maybe go back to the hotel and get settled in, and do your dive after a nap and some food? I don't know the rules on this -- but I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have to do your dive right away after the orientation. Anyone????

Carl - I think Kelly is correct. You do not have to do your check out dive right away. I would go eat and take a nap and then go do the check out dive. None of the dives shops that I have used made me do a check out dive right away after the orientation.

I sent a feeler out to someone who may be able to shed some light on what CO has planned. I'll give you all any info I can release as soon as I hear back.

Ok, let's look at a best case scenario. You arrive at 6am, get out of the airport and to the hotel by 7:15am, situated, have something to eat and get to orientation at 9am. Remember that is best case scenario. Take your course and go back to the resort, take a little nap, have some lunch, now you can dive in the afternoon. Still best case scenario.

This is providing A)your resort will give you your room or a room to take a nap in and B)you make it to the orientation at 9am.

I'm not being negative here, but there are opportunities (maybe this is how I should have worded it originally) for others to make it a lot less difficult for vacationers to get to BON and relax, and want to come back.

Making things difficult will not attract more visitors to the island, that's all I can guarantee.


C

While this flight doesn't seem ideal to those of us on the East Coast that can make it to Bonaire in the daylight, it might be a welcomed option to West Coast folks who generally need 2 days to get to Bonaire.

Layovers or red-eye...I will take any flight that leaves when it says it will leave, and arrive when it says it will arrive! I do like the thought of diving the day I arrive! I can leave BWI in the afternoon, have 3 hour lay-over in Houston and be in Bon next morning to dive...no problem.

Opportunities exist here for certain enterprising entities to take advantage... Air Jamaica's leaving, while shutting one door, has opened several others. While I initially thought of it as a negative occurrence, I see many positive possibilities now.

C

A very reliable little birdie just whispered to me that the actual flight schedule will be as follows for the Houston flight:

The flight will indeed depart IAH at 11:00 p.m. but will arrive in Bonaire at 5:00 a.m....there will be a 3-hour turn around...then depart at 8:00 a.m. and arrive back at IAH at noon.

The flight schedule is such both because that is the best time for connections as well as availability of equipment. It will be a 737-900 with 12 Business Class Seats and 112 Economy. It should be in the computer for advance sales beginning around the 2nd of July.

and round trip from Dayton OH will only be $250???

Jake, in December their is two hours different in time, I don't believe they can fly there in four hours.

Josh - that's probably wishful thinking, but you'll know if you check with your travel agent in a few weeks.

Gary - the GWV non-stop charter from Boston to Bonaire used to take less than 5 hours (more like four and a half). I have to believe that Houston is closer (and the plane is probably faster than the GWV charter plane I was on).

Anyhow, we'll all know much more come the beginning of July.

Jake

Josh, If it's $250. from Dayton--it will be $1000. from Cincinnati!! (;>]

My dear friends:
Here are some details on the distances:
Houston to Bonaire 1,849 nautical miles (nm) ... Boston to Bonaire 1,822 nm - Ft. Lauderdale to Bonaire 1,073 nm - Newark to Bonaire 1,745 nm - Atlanta to Bonaire 1,566 nm - Miami to Bonaire 1,066 nm - Flying time depends on the type of aircraft being used - The 737-900 could make it in 5 hours direct from Houston. The aircraft should also have a range of a bit more than 2,300 nm otherwise it has to refuel in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale or Orlando before crossing. The route may be suitable for the Lower West - Lower Mid West and South - Unfortunately for the NE, Upper Mid West and upper West folks - this will be a very long haul - Connecting flights to and from will be a deficiency and lay over time runs high - Coming from Houston will also cost a bit more. I guess the thought is "Getting to Bonaire"
The Motto should be like the Verizon commercial "Speed and Price" and I wish to add "Comfort"

P.s.: Miami is the closest but most deficient in passenger handling. Houston is the furthest consequently more expensive - In comparison to getting there with the US Atlanta is cheaper to get to and it is a better hub position allowing all flights coming in timely enough to make a reasonable connection.

I agree - Miami is a terrible place to connect from; although in my opinion anyplace in Florida is a fine place to hook up with the ongoing flight to Bonaire. I was even thinking Memphis, Birmingham/Mobile AL or Louisiana. Even Tupelo Mississippi (just kidding). If a plane can be found down there that is normally idle a couple of days a week, I would think a flight could be constructed down and back, like CO is doing with their Houston run.

Now, in my opinion, I am used to paying AJ approx $700 (ok using rewards miles many times in the past) for the flight from EWR-MB-BON. For the total flight EWR - Wherever - BON, bags checked through, I can handle $800.

What would others be willing to pay to get there? More than in the past? The same?

C

Hi, Carl...if we can get from EWR/Newark, to Atlanta and into Bonaire in an effortless/painless manner we will pay what we have to pay. Joe and I like to fly Business class so it will cost more...hopefully there will be a business class on these runs, LOL!

We travel to Bonaire for at least a two week stay so the cost for us is sort of spread out in our minds....I guess that is one way of "rationalizing" our costs...we just want to be "there" and are willing to sacrifice during the rest of the year to get "there"! LOL.

Seriously, tho, if it takes a little more money than what AJ was charging, then so be it....we need to be certain it is affordable to the divers/snorkelers/vacationers and at the the same time enuff for the airline/charter to remain able to transport us to Bonaire.

Thanks for all of the research, snooping and input, folks! Carole

The savings in being able to shore dive for very little ($20/day most packages) vs paying $50-75/2 tank boat dives in other places add up very quickly to overcome the higher airfare. This is how we rationalize paying a high fare...if you could put me on a non-stop or one-stop from Newark, I would even pay more!

As of this morning, Continental has not added any info about this on their employee web site. BON doesn't come up as a service destination just yet, but if it happens it should in the near future.

As far as price goes, let's look at the current state of the industry(aviation). Crude oil at this time is approaching $60 per barrel (so much for the experts who said it would never get to 50). Jet A (the stuff they pump into the wings that make the whirly gigs whirl) follows that price in short order. An increase of .01(that's a penny US) per gallon of fuel will increase the annual fuel cost by 18,000,000 annually. Do the math! What does an air carrier do to offset this? The rates (hopefully) will reflect a balance between cost(continental's cost) and load factor, so Continental can come in and be what we need to get to Bonaire! The AJ situation leaves a big hole, and time will only tell. M2C

If all goes well Continental may start flying in december to be exact around December 17 which is a Saturday out of Houston.
At this present time possibilities are for Bonaire starting for the earliest July 17th for the latest August 7, 2005 Direct flights from Atlanta to Bonaire - Handicap in this project is - will there be a full load. Important will be to know how many persons will make use of this facility. Available configuration is min 172 passengers maximum 214. Bonaire will be confronted with a revenue guaranty and of course for the first few months can carry the loss but for how long if the volume is not there. It would reasonable to research how many persons would use the facility and when so the planning can go according to the volume present. It would be a great loss to fly an aircraft of 172 pax with only 40 people on board. Maybe with the help of the Moderators we can start a thread to evaluate this possibility and work from there.

Davidson: Is the Atlanta to Bonaire flight some kind of charter? What is the proposed schedule?

Okay I missed something somewhere.... Josh, where did you get the $250 round trip amount from Dayton? I'm only about 2 1/2 hours from Dayton and if it was that cheap I would burst into tears.

*chuckle* ... sorry Kelly, I should have put that in brackets with <sarcasm> </sarcasm> By the way, you may know one of my students that graduated last year.. Erin Dolan? She was from Newark and knew most everyone there.

Oh, no, Kelly! You bit the hook with the $250. R/T airfaire from Dayton....silly girl! LOL.

Wouldn't that be GREAT, tho?

I'm interested in a Newark/EWR to Atlanta and into Bonaire run but we only travel once per year to Bonaire. I hope we could fill up this plane on a consistent basis but it might be difficult to pin folks down so far ahead of time. I usually do book in October for a May trip, tho. Carole

Hi Marcus,
There are two possibilities:
(1) - Weekly charters on Sunday to Sunday flight schedule JFK (or Newark) to Atlanta to Bonaire 214 seats.
(2) Atlanta ( or Miami, or Ft. Lauderdale, or Orlando) to Bonaire weekly charters on Fridays - (or Mondays, or Tuesdays or Wednesday all one week) 172 seats - All flights will be scheduled charters.
Special provisions are being made for the Bonaire regatta for October 7th. to the 15th. and 8th. to 16th. Atlanta to Bonaire and Orlando to Bonaire.

Davidson,

Just some feedback on your proposed days of travel...

Most school vacations are full weeks. I know I prefer taking a full week of vacation, rather than splitting across 2 weeks. For these reasons, I think your Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday charters would be less attractive than Friday, Saturday or Sunday ones.

Davison,
We like the Wed - Wed charters to Bonaire. This put us into Bonaire a day or two before the weekly container ships. Usually by Sunday, the grocery store shelves are pretty bare. We are semi retired and splitting a vacation week is not an important factor. Also mid week (T W Th) fares are usually cheaper to a jumping off point (ATL, MIA, HOU…ect) from the states.
Yanagirl

In a perfect world, a Sunday and Wednesday or Thursday flight would suffice, some people like myself prefer more frequent, shorter trips.

Last trip in May was Saturday to Wednesday. That was great.

Charlotte/Houston/Bonaire in April '06 according to the Continental website today is $688.65. I think I will like the early morning arrival and not having to connect in PR. Still hoping for a direct from Atlanta though...

I am very confident Susan that there will be a direct flight from Atlanta. It is taking a bit of time but once it is up and running we shall all get the benefit of having been patient. During these moments a day seems like a lifetime - I know the feeling. If my father was Bill Gates or the owner of Fort Nox the problem would have been - "Where do we put up all these people" because definitely there would not have been sufficient rooms on Bonaire. Hope we can get to the bottom of things shortly.