By Jake Richter - NetTech (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5728) on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 10:23 pm: |
Just a heads up to anyone with long layovers in San Juan on American. There have been reports on a number of underwater photo news boards about Pelican cases and other "likely" bags being opened by nefarious folks in San Juan and camera gear being stolen. In one case, the owner of the stolen items was even able to identify them when they were put up for sale on eBay.
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By Cheryl Ferguson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #157) on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 11:28 pm: |
Jake, thank you for the 'heads up'.
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By Linda Stoltzfus (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #769) on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 11:55 pm: |
Jake, Thanks from me too.
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By Jake Richter - NetTech (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5729) on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 9:09 am: |
Cheryl - with post 9/11 security issues in place, airlines don't typically let you check bags only part of the way to a destination (for the same day of travel). And to be honest, in the 20-30 flights I've taken through San Juan in 2005, I never had an issue (although I did have one of my bags tossed in Los Angeles coming east to Miami - nothing taken). The only thing that might have made these particular bags stand out is that all had "Heavy" tags on them, and all had TSA locks (although I always also travel with TSA locks, but not the Heavy tags that often).
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By Cheryl Ferguson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #158) on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 10:29 am: |
Thank you Jake, the links helped me to understand the situation more clearly ... I guess my snorkel vests may be safe afterall! LOL!
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By Cyn (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #16462) on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 11:15 am: |
Jake, big bummer for you (and Linda and her mom). This really really depresses me because I've now grown accustomed to 'playing' in Isla Verde on the long lay over in SJ getting to Bonaire...sigh...I guess after my next trip (airfare already purchased on AA) I'll have to seriously consider Continental if it continues.
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By Jake Richter - NetTech (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5731) on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 11:28 am: |
Well, I'm still trying to get hold of someone at the local AA "office" here on Bonaire to find out what they will cover and what they won't. That's to whom I need to report the damage to the baggage as well as the theft, but with the hours they keep it's a challenge. Maybe I'll have better luck tonight (or at least on Thursday morning when I next fly out).
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By George Blanchard (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #145) on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 12:54 pm: |
Jake, I just went through your hassle with AE. You will never get them on the phone, they simply do not answer. Also, they will not correct any damage or repair your luggage on the Island. Get a form for damaged luggage from them before you depart. When you arrive at your final destination in the States go to the A/A baggage office. They will assist you and in my case solved my problem including issuing me a check for lost items in less than 10 minutes.
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By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #763) on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 3:45 pm: |
Jake, when my bag disappeared for 48 hours last month, I was told AA no longer has an office on Bonaire. And even AA in the US was unable to reach anyone in Curacao either. And I discovered I could not telephone AA in the US (the 800 number kept cutting me off during the voice mail message). So I had to relay my loss report through a helpful friend in the US. When I mentioned this to Ann, who is a travel agent, she said she does the same kind of relay through a US friend.
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By John Gnann (BonaireTalker - Post #45) on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 3:48 pm: |
Cheryl-
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By Jake Richter - NetTech (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5732) on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 4:00 pm: |
Tish, it's not like we're more than a 10 minute walk (never mind a 2 minute drive) from the airport to go for counter service. And they do actually have a working phone number that AA gives out - 717-3668, but they are only there when there's a plane coming in or going out - so very limited hours.
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By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #765) on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 4:21 pm: |
Yes, Jake--no office, but a check-in counter. Glad to have that number. Thanks loads!!!!!!!!!
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By Jake Richter - NetTech (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5733) on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 4:24 pm: |
Tish,
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By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #766) on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 4:28 pm: |
Yes, Jake. I knew you would not really holler at them. You're the last person who would do that. Just my little joke.
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By Jake Richter - NetTech (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5734) on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 4:35 pm: |
No idea if San Juan's baggage handlers are part of AA or not, but if enough people complain loudly enough to AA about problems, one would think they might work to do something about the issue.
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By Cheryl Ferguson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #159) on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 4:54 pm: |
John, I agree whole - heartedly that my agent was 'fed'.
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By Reza Gorji (BonaireTalker - Post #20) on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 8:26 pm: |
I had my Pelican 1650 case cracked (yes literaly cracked open) in San Juan. This happened in pre911 days so the case was locked and nothing was stolen.
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By Sue Goodman (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #243) on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 11:16 am: |
my mother's favorite deterrent to having her purse checked was to put feminine hygiene products at the top. Not sure if this will stop people in SJ, but it's worth a try.
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By Cheryl Ferguson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #162) on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 4:00 pm: |
Sue, that's a good one!!
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By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #778) on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 4:14 pm: |
Your travel agent appears to have been given out of date information. At least a few weeks ago, AE (American Eagle) closed its office on Bonaire. I assume this was a cost-cutting measure.
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By Jake Richter - NetTech (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5735) on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 4:27 pm: |
Cheryl - one of the two numbers they gave me (717-3668 being one of them) was (599) 717-7400. However, when you call that number, you get a message saying the line is not available (effectively a disconnect notice).
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By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #780) on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 4:51 pm: |
AE had a ticket office that was on the corridor with the other ticket offices for a long time. I used to go there to obtain information and also make sure my flights were still flying (after one of my friends had her flight changed without knowing about it). That office was separate from the check-in counter. Eventually, the person in the ticket office had to go to the check-in counter to use the computer, which should have been a clue that they were going to phase out the ticket office. Still, I was surprised to return on Dec. 10th and discover the office had been shut down and the phone number disconnected.
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By Cheryl Ferguson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #163) on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 5:53 pm: |
Tish, sorry ... typos! 599 was the area code that I was given. Sorry ;-).
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By Glen Reem (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2301) on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 12:20 am: |
Where do the people who service AE planes (counter et al) go the rest of their lives?? Are they, in fact, contract from an Antillean company? It seems to me that was true at first. If so, they are likely on island all the while, just being 'invisible' except for 'The plane, the plane'. :–)
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By Jake Richter - NetTech (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5736) on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 7:02 am: |
Cheryl,
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By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #781) on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 7:52 am: |
Very useful info, Jake! Thanks!
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By Jake Richter - NetTech (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5737) on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 8:08 am: |
They are different folks. The screeners in blue work for a private company, while the ones at the X-ray machine are government employees with the SSV, I believe.
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By Cyn (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #16491) on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 11:18 am: |
Glen Where do the people who service AE planes (counter et al) go the rest of their lives??
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By Jake Richter - NetTech (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5738) on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 1:59 pm: |
Moderators,
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By Cyn (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #16507) on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 2:50 pm: |
Thanks :-)
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By Cheryl Ferguson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #164) on Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 11:58 am: |
Hi Folks!! Just want you to know that Aubrey & I arrived on AE last night safe & sound. Luggage intact and not damaged other than 'expected' wear & tear!! We flew US Air Toronto to San Juan, picked up our luggage at San Juan, checked in ~ 4 pm for 6:30 flight. At that time ,they said we did not have a seat (our ticket said we did)... but our name would be called. We got our previously issued seats. One gentleman was not given a boarding pass (his wife was) ..but later he was issues one ...plane had ~ 5 empty seats ..and prior to take off they shifted people to back of plane to evenly distribute weight. It was really a good flight and we are thankful for it!! Thanks for the 'heads up' everyone ... even tho we had knots in our stomachs, it is much better to know what you are facing and have back up plans.
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By Cecil (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4415) on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 12:20 am: |
Looks like it's still happening. Link.
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By Jake Richter - NetTech (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5770) on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 12:34 am: |
Nope. Makes me glad I'm flying through Miami on Thursday instead.
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By Cecil (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4416) on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 9:22 am: |
I'm glad, I'm using the Aruba route.
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By Cyn (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #16711) on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 11:16 am: |
Uh Cecil, the link went to a bunch of threads on scubadiving.com...is there one in particular that you were pointing too?
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By Ron Myers (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #241) on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 11:23 am: |
Probably the thread from Saudio on 02/05/06 at 9:10 AM. He lost two Oly 5050 cameras in San Juan.
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By Cyn (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #16713) on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 1:25 pm: |
OK, I'll look for that one. Didn't have time to search through all the threads.
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By Cecil (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4419) on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 3:43 pm: |
Ron is correct that is the thread. It looks like it was my formating that lost it.
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