Hi:
I got back from Bonaire this Sunday on the Continental FLight on Sunday.
The airport was organized in almost all aspects.
The gates open @ 5 am and by 630 we were boarding the big 737-800. The flight took off in time (10 min delay). There were enough people to speed all the passengers thru the hoop. I dare to say that it was a better experience than leaving a US based airport.

There was also no hassle with batteries (Li).

Hope this is useful to people traveling soon.

Gorji

Thank you Gorji, it's good to hear that all went well for you. What time did you have to be at the airport? What do you mean 'no hassels with Li batteries? Spares packed in checked baggage? Thanks, Cheryl

Reza, did you have to have your boarding pass before you could pay the departure tax?s

Cheryl, I had the LI batteries in my carryon, and in the camera, they didn't even look going or coming at ANY of the airports

Hi:
I will answer both questions above:
1. Cheryl: Flight left at 7 am; we were told to be there no earlier than 5 am as they would not open before 5 am to check in. ( I had tried to check in night before).
I had put all my lithium batteries in a ziplock bag. I did not take more than 1 spare/device. This is new TSA regs.

2.Boat Chick: You HAVE to get boarding pass before you pay dep tax. I tried to pay it the night before and they said don't worry. THe line to pay the dep tax was not long. No more than 5 min to pay it. Make sure you have cash as the Dep tax CC machine was not working.

Gorji

I was very paranoid given my past experieces at this airport. I was really relieved to see good organization and management of crowds when I arrived.

**** OF NOTE: We did not have to have our checked luggage hand checked like last year. They must have had a machine to do it.

Now I am excited to go back. A week ago I was fearful of going.

Reza, thanks. In Janaury we also tried to pay our departure tax early, no go. Had to pay that morning after we got our boarding passes.

The odd thing was that there have been a couple of reports that folks have been able to pay the tax PRIOR to departure...weird eh?

Reza & Boatchick, thank you so much for the info. I'm relieved that we don't have to be at the airport 3 hours before departure; however our flight is scheduled to depart at 6am. Chances are we may have to be there by 4 am, but I'll look into it. The last time we left Bonaire (2006) we were in a huge line up while they hand inspected our luggage so I am pleased to hear that this procedure is no longer in vogue. Cheers!

Cheryl:

You are welcome.
Maybe they got the sophisticated luggage scanning machines. There was clearly no police with the long luggage table I'd seen everyday. There was a line but it moved and I also found the aiport workers in higher spirits quickly helping people.

Once in the transit area, they also announce all passengers to approached gate at say 630 am. They checked the boaring passes and passports then handed every one a purple laminated card. Around 645 they announced boarding and all we did was to then hand the purple card and walk out the tarmac.
Reza