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Getting to Bonaire: Newbie on US Airways & AA
Bonaire Talk: Getting to Bonaire: Archives: Archives 2006-2008: Archives - 2005-12-13 to 2006-04-01: Newbie on US Airways & AA
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cheryl Ferguson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #113) on Saturday, January 14, 2006 - 3:07 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We're flying Toronto to Philadelphia on US Airway Boeing 737.

Have checked luggage restriction site: max 50 pounds, max length 62" and carry on 9"x14"x22" - does this sound correct?

Does anyone know if meals / headsets are supplied by this airline?

I know that AA does not supply meals.

If anyone has any advice, I certainly would appreciate it.

Many thanks!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dr. Director (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #116) on Saturday, January 14, 2006 - 5:40 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

From USAirways website (http://www.usairways.com/customers/travel_policies/baggage/index.htm):
"A fee will be imposed if checked baggage exceeds a maximum of 50 pounds or 62 inches in overall length, width and height per piece or if the total number of pieces (checked and carry-on) exceeds three." Means the sum of length + width + height for each checked bag can't exceed 62 inches and max weight of each checked bag can't exceed 50 pounds.

We flew USAirways from Washington National to Aruba via Charlotte (with return via Philadelphia) in October, then to Bonaire on BonairExel. Aircraft used for the Charlotte-Aruba leg and Aruba-Philadelpha leg was a 757, not a 737, but seating configuration is similar. They served free mini-sandwiches (turkey and cheese) and beverages each way (tolerable, but nothing special, and not very filling), but you can bring your own food aboard if you wish. They sell headsets on board but you can use you own without fee.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By pat murphy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #626) on Saturday, January 14, 2006 - 6:32 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

cheryl, the size and weight limits you stated seem to be correct at this time. AA's limits for international flights had been 70# till last march then they dropped to 50#, then went back up to 70# and dropped again to 50# for tickets purchased after oct. 1, 2005. confusing enough??? i know it confused me. we bought our tickets for this trip prior to oct. 1 so we should be allowed to bring more but i'm going to try and keep under 50# anyway...but i'll have a printout of the AA baggage regs and the dated receipt of my ticket purchase with me just in case. it does seem that the 62" limit has been standard tho.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By carter farrell (BonaireTalker - Post #35) on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 2:35 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

AA must have changed their regulations regarding baggage again. According to their site international baggage may way up to 70lbs.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By carter farrell (BonaireTalker - Post #36) on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 2:36 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

of course "way" should be weigh

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #714) on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 3:10 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Not any more, alas, Carter.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cheryl Ferguson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #116) on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 4:55 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I thought it was quite funny that my carry on can weigh no more than 40 pounds!! Guess my fish & bird books will be carried on ..along with my spare set of everything I might need in case my luggage gets lost ... come to think of this ...do you suppose that is why there's such a generous carry on weight allowance LOL!~

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cheryl Ferguson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #117) on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 5:01 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

One more question regarding bringing food aboard ... now that Air Canada has gone to the 'no meal' plan there's dialogue regarding 'no peanuts' allowed ... is this considered by UA & AA as well (just food for thought, pardon the pun) not an issue since I subscribe to this policy for obvious reasons.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By carter farrell (BonaireTalker - Post #38) on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 5:07 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Tish, I stand (unfortunately) corrected. I looked at the baggage allowances before October date and assumed that the next baggage allowance table was for after Oct.
No problem though, my diving gear doesn't weigh that much and I guess I can wear the same pair of underwear for a couple of weeks!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By pat murphy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #636) on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 7:07 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

carter....underwear???? hmmmm...there's a concept.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Scott Phillips (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #306) on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 9:26 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Important note: unless I am mistaken, the maximum allowable for checked baggage is 50 lbs. PER BAG with a 2 CHECKED BAG LIMIT PER PERSON. This is in addition to carryon. Also, and again I could be mistaken, but I believe that if you are between 50 and 75 lbs. (per bag, 2 bag limit) that you are charged something like $25. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but if you normally have, say, one 60 or 70 lb. bag then with the new regulations you either have to pay $25 or merely pack your stuff into two checked bags.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cheryl Ferguson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #119) on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 11:30 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Scott, that is my understanding of the regulations, as specified in: http://www.aa.com/content/travelInformation/baggage/baggageAllowance.jhtml
Also noted is that the "Carry-on" weight is specified as no more than 40 pounds.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By pat murphy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #646) on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 5:42 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

scott, i think that is correct. and yes, the carryon can be 40#. that's not bad except my carry on doesn't have wheels and it gets pretty heavy carrying it from the plane to the customs area in SJU.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2848) on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 2:06 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Pssst, Pat, get one with wheels!!!! You do have a trip coming up, right, now, go get with the program! :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cheryl Ferguson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #133) on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 3:03 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Pssst Pat, Debbie is on to something ...they really are great and will get you through this weight down-sizing that the airlines are going through ... look for light weight luggage as well :o)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By pat murphy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #655) on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 6:09 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

i've looked for one...really, i have. and i might have found one. but i need something big enough to fit my cameras in it as well as other stuff. i'll check out the one i found. (actually, i "found" it in our basement. a friend has been storing some stuff there for a few years...it's her son's bag but he's out of the country till at least may and we'll be home by then)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sue Goodman (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #241) on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 9:54 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

we have bought 2 sets of cheap, wheeled luggage at Sears - 3 bags, the smallest of which is carryon for around $100. We need to replace the largest one of the first set we bought 5 years ago, but after 15+ dive trips of being beaten up by AJ, AA and other gorillas, we feel we've gotten our money's worth.

We have a wonderful wheeled Pelican case, but it weighs 25# when empty, so that's hard to justify with the new weight restrictions.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2853) on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 10:26 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sue, the cheapest carryon you bought was $100? That is not cheap to me. I go for $20 at Wal-Mart or K-Mart for carry-ons. Now, they work just as good to me. I checked the Pelican cases, way too much weight when empty, I agree.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sue Goodman (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #242) on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 10:34 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Debbie, the set of 3 was $100. Included a 30" (or whatever the biggest allowed is), 26" and 20" carryon - all on wheels.

I have a great $20 wheeled carryon that I got from WMT 3 years ago. It will also make the trip. It's nice, as it has several compartments, long handle (I'm tall, so this is key) and very, nimble wheels that turn on a dime.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cheryl Ferguson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #141) on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 11:29 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

The new luggage that I got weighs:
18" Carry-on is 5.8 lbs
22" - 7.8 lbs
26" - 9.8 lbs
30" - 11 lbs. They claim to be 30% - 50% lighter than traditional luggage and is made of polycarbonate and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (whatever that means). This will be its maiden voyage, so it will be interesting to see how many 'pieces' I get bacK :o)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2854) on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 12:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sue, Ohhh, now I get it. Good deal. I am tall too, so I understand about the long handle thing.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ric anthony (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 10:05 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I live in Naples, Florida and want to travel to Bonaire for our 5th trip. All the nightmares have me very worried. Is there any suggestions on getting there and back. I last checked from Miami ,it doesn't look bad getting there but returning is a 23 hr. trip. My dates are flexible.
Would like to leave as early as possible on the flight there, to try and dive that night. Coming back after a weeks stay I am open to leave whenever at whatever time. Just not into a 22 hr return trip.
PLEASE HELP

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By carter farrell (BonaireTalker - Post #39) on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 2:57 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ric, No problems (I think). Last year we took AA, MIA to CUR. This is a direct flight which means you have just a very small risk of your baggage going astray. CUR to BON is a very short flight with DIVI. No chance of baggage not arriving (Unless they just don't have room in which case it will arrive a few hours later. One catch to this is that DIVI just has small aircraft which scares some people. In addition you must yourself get your baggage and transfer it to DIVI (AA and DIVI have no partnership)'
I really don't understand why others don't use this route. The entire trip is only about3.5hrs and both companies have several flights daily

 


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