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Getting to Bonaire: 1st time to Bonaire -going to try AA?
Bonaire Talk: Getting to Bonaire: Archives: Archives 2006-2008: Archives - 2005-12-13 to 2006-04-01: 1st time to Bonaire -going to try AA?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kim Stillwell (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 10:39 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Folks, I have ALMOST booked Bonaire for the past 2 years and backed out as nervous about "getting there". I travel w/ friends and I always do the planning (and have been successful for 15 yrs!). This one seems to be a challenge. We are coming from Nova Scotia...the easiest way seems to be Halifax to JFK to SJU to BON. If we leave on a Sat and get "bumped" can we get the Sunday flight? Are there any "tips" to minimize the risk? I REALLY want to get there this year....

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By roger kreager (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #9) on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 10:56 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Kim. I think the shortest route would be Nova Scotia to Miami to Curacao to Bonaire. You can fly on American to Curacao ( they use all jets no puddlehoppers )and then take divi or the other guys over to bonaire. It puts you in bonaire mid afternoon. Thats my 10 cents.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sue Goodman (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #275) on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 11:11 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Try Continental: Halifax-EWR-Cur. Leaves Halifax at 6:15am, arrive Newark 7:40am; depart Newark 8:50am, arrive Curacao, 2:30pm. There are no direct flights from Halifax-Miami.

The one hour layover, however, concerns me a bit. I know you clear US customs & immigration in the the bigger Canadian airports (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver) and come directly into a domestic gate in Terminal C at Newark, but have never flown to US from Halifax. I'm also assuming the Curacao flight departs from Terminal C, not the International Terminal B - anyone know which terminal this flight leaves from?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cheryl Ferguson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #208) on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 11:13 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Having just done the Toronto-Phila-San Juan-Bon route I would second Roger's "10 cents" .... whatever you do, don't back out! Go to Bonaire .... you will love it, and if you have any hassles, it will still have been worth it :o)))

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cyn (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #16885) on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 11:15 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Kim, if you do take the SJ-Bon route, just make sure you get your boarding passes to Bon when you leave Nova Scotia and when you get to SJ, listen to the boarding announcements and get in line as soon as they announce the Bonaire flight. 6 trips through SJ to Bon and other Carib islands this way and have never had problems.

San Juan Airport Travel Tips is also a good thread to read.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kim Stillwell (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 11:20 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for all the tips so far! Gives me hope. Cheryl...just curious why you did not go AA?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By roger kreager (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #10) on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 3:16 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

The Halifax to Ewr arrives in C at gate 130 most days, but I'm not sure if you need to clear customs at ewr. If not your connection time should work. The curacao flight departs close by.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sue Goodman (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #278) on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 4:00 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

If you arrive at C 130 you won't need to clear customs, that the large Continental hub terminal. Only Terminal B in Newark has customs.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By roger kreager (BonaireTalker - Post #11) on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 4:27 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sue. All continental flights clear customs in Terminal C not B. Continental C has it's own customs. Only code share flights like virgin?continental and very late nights where C customs close on rare times.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sue Goodman (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #279) on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 5:40 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

sorry - guess all my returning international flights are not on Continental (or it's Continental from Toronto or Montreal, which come into the domestic gates) - I remember rolling in at 6am last year from MoBay.

 


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