By Steven (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Wednesday, December 7, 2005 - 10:38 pm: |
What is the minimum time needed on returning to the US on AA when connecting thru San Juan? Our connecting flight time was changed so that we have 1hr and 12 minutes between flights. I understand that we need to go thru customs, claim our bags and then return our bags while in San Juan. Three different AA representatives have said it is adequate time, and that we should have no trouble making the connection. Perhaps because it is around 10AM the airport will not be so crowded. Does anyone have recent experience with a close connection time returning thru San Juan?
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By Cyn Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15565) on Wednesday, December 7, 2005 - 11:43 pm: |
Steven, you should be OK as long as your origination flight is on time. I've had an hour connection before and made it. They make the whole process fairly smooth. The longest part is probably the walk from the bus that drops you off at the terminal and where you pick up your bags, but then that gives them time to get your bags to the terminal!
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By Scott Phillips (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #266) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 1:38 am: |
It's definitely a good thing to be aware of that walk from the gate to the baggage/immigration/customs area, because it is indeed a VERY LOOOOONNNGGG walk -- I would say around ten minutes walking at a good clip. No problem though if you're mentally prepared for it.
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By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #515) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 2:35 am: |
How important is it to you to make this connection? You've got a good chance of missing it.
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By Marcus L. Barnes (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #418) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 8:00 am: |
I agree with Tish. Our last trip we had to wait for the bags for quite a while. Personally, based on my expirience with 6 trips to Bonaire, I would not be comfortable with 1 hr 12 minutes layover in San Juan due to fact that you have to claim your luggage - this is a slow process in San Juan in my expirience. I'm not saying you won't make it for sure but I'd be prepared for that possibility.
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By Steven (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 8:32 am: |
Thanks for the advice. We'll try to change the connection to the next one.
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By Cyn Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15568) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 11:45 am: |
Tish, I've never had to go through security again when going through SJ (on the return). You have to put your checked bags through the x-ray machine before you give them to back to be checked, but have never had to go through any other type of security check...have they changed something since October?
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By Kelly Baum (GDLW) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3545) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 12:15 pm: |
Tish I'm so jealous that you can put "I live on Bonaire" in every post. It's just not fair. lol.
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By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #517) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 2:55 pm: |
Maybe they just keep changing what they require to confuse us all. But I have, indeed, had to go through security again. I sure do hope that's no longer true!
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By Cyn Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15578) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 3:00 pm: |
Tish, when was the last time you went through SJ going to the states? I'm with Kelly, never had to go through security going back (and I've been through 3 times this year...KELLY, DO NOT GIVE ME GRIEF ABOUT POSTING THAT) LOL!
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By Kelly Baum (GDLW) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3548) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 3:08 pm: |
Three times this year... that is CRIMINAL I tell ya !!!
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By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #518) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 3:10 pm: |
August.
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By Ginny Stokes (BonaireTalker - Post #31) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 3:51 pm: |
In November we had to go through security again, and as I recall that is the norm. You exit immigration & customs, the baggage x-ray system is to your right and they take your bags from you at that point. (If you have to stop by the AA Customer Service to rebook flights, you still have your bags with you at that point, but as soon as rebooking is completed, you drop off your bags for x-ray.) This is all in the immediate vicinity of the exit from customs. Then, without your checked luggage, you walk along a hallway which parallels the baggage x-ray, then make a right turn and you're ready to go through personal security again.
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By Jake Richter - NetTech (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5701) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 3:59 pm: |
Tish,
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By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2594) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 4:05 pm: |
Well, this past August, we had to get our bags in San Juan then they x-ray them, you put it on another belt to go where ever you are going next and you go through customs/security with your carry on and self. That's the scoop. same thing as it always has been since I been going. Now, I fly AA all the way, so I do not have to take luggage to get on a different airline and check the luggage, that would take even longer I think.
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By Kelly Baum (GDLW) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3553) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 4:08 pm: |
Ginny, this was my first vacation (in Oct.) traveling with my newly implanted titanium plate in my cervical spine. I showed my card once when I left Columbus, Oh, and when leaving Bonaire. Neither of those places even picked it up on the walk through security! I couldn't believe it! I don't remember another security in San Juan, but I know I didn't have to show my card at all traveling, coming OR going. Which, frankly, disappointed me. lol. I mean, I had a horrendous surgery, could someone please pay attention to me????? LMAO!!
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By Kelly Baum (GDLW) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3554) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 4:09 pm: |
Jake, you're home for the entire month? Wow! I bet the family is happy! (as are you!)
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By Jake Richter - NetTech (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5702) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 4:21 pm: |
I think they are :-)
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By Cyn Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15579) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 4:22 pm: |
Well, then I must need ANOTHER vacation to the Caribbean to re-trace my steps...I guess I must just block that little step out of my mind...geez...dang brain infarcts...CRS...
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By Kelly Baum (GDLW) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3555) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 4:26 pm: |
Cynde, I totally agree... we need to have a big "do-over" !!
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By Cyn Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15580) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 4:32 pm: |
I call "shenanigans!"
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By Cheryl Ferguson (BonaireTalker - Post #52) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 6:03 pm: |
Kelly, what card did you get? My neurosurgeon said that I would not need anything to identify my titanium plates & screws because the metal detector is not 'fine tuned' enough to pick it up. I figured if the alarm did go off, I'd just show them my scar! LOL!! Looks like something from out of the X-Files anyway ;o)
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By Kelly Baum (GDLW) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3556) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 11:14 pm: |
Hi, Cheryl! I have a card that is laminated that has my name (duh), what the surgery was, where the plate is located, and what the plate is called.
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By pat murphy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #445) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 9:44 am: |
kelly, you can show it to us on your next trip. we promise to be suitably impressed and oooh and ahhhh a lot (after you buy us some drinks)
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By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #519) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 10:51 am: |
Hey, Kelly, everybody on BT is paying attention!
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By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #520) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 10:54 am: |
Wonderful words of wisdom, Jake!
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By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #521) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 10:59 am: |
That's it, Cyn! Turn this thread into an excuse to fly to Bonaire immediately!!!
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By Cyn Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15594) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 11:05 am: |
Yea, kelly, you need to show us the card and the scar when you buy us lots of drinks next time...LOL!
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By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #522) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 11:09 am: |
The logical conclusion is that SJ varies the process, perhaps based on intelligence of terrorist threats?
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By Kelly Baum (GDLW) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3558) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 12:12 pm: |
Yes! They have succeeded in driving us all nuts. (short drive for me).
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By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2600) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 2:41 pm: |
Hey Cynde, What is the name of that hotel you stop by while at San Juan sometimes for a burger? I forgot to take the print out from BT, so hubby and I just went to Old San Juan on our layover?
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By Kelly Baum (GDLW) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3561) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 2:53 pm: |
Debbie, it's the Hampton Inn. ;)
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By Cyn Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15604) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 3:08 pm: |
Actually, it's the HampTONE (emphasis on the "tone") Inn in Isla Verde...LOL! At least that's the way the locals pronounce it (not those from the Dominican Republic however...LOL!)
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By Kelly Baum (GDLW) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3563) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 3:35 pm: |
Debbie, it's at the bar area at the pool. I would assume they have the same food inside, but you need to sit at the round bar at the pool. It's way cool.
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By Mare (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1214) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 4:18 pm: |
Kelly,
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By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2605) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 4:24 pm: |
Thanks, Cynde and Kelly! You have no idea the grief I gave hubby when we got to San Juan and I asked him where the print out was I had laid by the carry-on? He didn't have a clue what I was talking about. Now, granted we all start packing as soon as we get home from one trip for the next trip, but...., you know how it goes. LOL! Thanks, now see if I can keep this info in a safe spot till February!
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By seb (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2487) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 4:28 pm: |
Kelly, I don't care about the card, I wanna see the SCAR!
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By Cyn Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15607) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 5:11 pm: |
There is no restaurant inside the Hotel. The only food they serve is at the pool bar OH, and normally Jimmy is working the grill, he's a good and funny guy
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By Ginny Stokes (BonaireTalker - Post #33) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 5:43 pm: |
Kelly, my husband has fused vertebrae, too, and his back never sets off the personal wand - evidently not quite enough titanium. The knee, however, does. Without fail.
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By Kelly Baum (GDLW) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3564) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 5:48 pm: |
Ginny, I personally feel that for as much pain as I went through, the security people should say, "ohhhh you POOR DEAR!" and then offer me a drink. lol !!!
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By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #524) on Sunday, December 11, 2005 - 5:10 pm: |
So, Mare, your acronym would be ilawinyc?
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