I just returned from my first trip to Bonaire this morning. My wife and I flew to Aruba with Frequent Flyer miles and then from Aruba to Bonaire on Bonaire Express. The trip to Bonaire was on schedule and without glitches -- (at least on BE's part. The immigration officer in Aruba stamped our passports with a 8/29 date even though it was 8/31 which caused us to pay the $21 departure tax in Aruba. I'll have to send a letter with documentation to the Aruban government in a probably futile attempt to reclaim the tax).

The trip back started OK. The flight on 9/7 left Bonaire on time 10:00. Stopped in Curacao. A longer stop then expected because they were having difficulty with a baggage door and had to carry all the luggage through the cabin to store. Then, the flight took off and we made it to the west side of Curacao before smoke started filling the cabin. The stewardess announced that smoke was filling the cabin and remain calm as we returned to Curacao. Probably only about 5 minutes away from the point of no return to Aruba. We landed and disembarked the plane. After about 30 minutes they rescheduled the take off for 1:30. The plane never flew again this day , and, judging from the scheduled delays on 9/8 for BE flights, probably not the next day.

About 3PM, they put us on another plane (after springing for a soft drink and a snack in the Curacao airport a couple of hours earlier) that appeared to be the next flight scheduled to Aruba. We arrived in Aruba in time to see our US flight pull away from the gate.

We ended up staying the night in Aruba (at our expense) and taking the AUA to CLT flight the next day. Unfortunately, the late CLT to MCI flight doesn't fly on Thursday so we got to spend the next night in Charlotte (at our expense) and got home today.

I think I'll definitely take a direct US-BON flight if I go to Bonaire again.

A back-up airplane would solve a lot of problems for BE, although, it doesn't appear the operation is cash rich by any means.

BE works fine when there are no glitches -- they just don't have any reserves/contingencies for glitches

Robert, thanks for the post. We're scheduled to fly BE from Aruba to Bonaire next Saturday. Makes me a little nervous!! Anyway, what time was your flight to Bonaire on BE and how long before it were you able to check in?

Similar arrangements, US Air with FFM to Aruba and BE over to Bon. On time, no problem, all luggage arrived. (They actually stored it for a few hours in Aruba until our flight was ready. And we did keep an eye on the luggage during the stop over in Cur both directions, to make sure it was not unloaded incorrectly. Flight back smooth, except for a very very hot sit on the tarmac in Cur around 10:30 am.

You are right , no back ups.. Interestingly, the only glitch was in Charlotte, when they could not seal the door to the plane and after an hour hauled another out and loaded us and all luggage on it.

Renea,

Our flight to Bonaire was the 6PM flight and arrived about 7:15PM. It took a little time for the bags, but, we were checked in at the Divi before 8 PM and eating dinner shortly thereafter.

Our flight from Bonaire was the 10AM flight scheduled to get to Aruba at 11:30 AM with a 3:35PM USAIR flight from AUA to CLT.

Also, I'll note that all luggage made it fine.

All flights curently have a 2-3 hour delay.(well most of them for that matter)

I have been told you can check 66 lbs and carry on 22 lbs on BE. Can anyone tell me how many inches each piece can be Max?

They didn't pay too much attention to the size when I went. I had about 46 in a checked bag and at least 25 in a carryon. My wife had a 55 lb bag which I'm sure pushed the inch limit and a backpack. YMMV

Thanks Robert. Is there room to put bags in an over head or do they have to fit under the seat in front of you?

There are very small (compared to commercial jets) overhead compartments and some room under the seats. They took my carry on and stored it in a small space at the back of the plane. My wife's backpack fit under the seat. A roller carry on will definitely not fit in an overhead.

You can carry with you a standard roll-on bag, but as you approach the steps to board the plane someone will take it from you and put it in the luggage compartment. As you exit the plane it will be returned to you. No problem.

Thanks everyone. Packing this weekend.

on the atr's i've been able to carry a soft duffle on and cram it under the seat. my wife travels with a wheeled carryon which gets gate checked. if my soft duffle was full of hard stuff i'd have to gate check it but it's only a box with my uw camera and a change of clothes and some books.