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Getting to Bonaire: Carry-on question (AJ)
Bonaire Talk: Getting to Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999-2005: Archives - 2002-01-01 to 2002-10-27: Carry-on question (AJ)
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Stephanie Caviness on Monday, July 1, 2002 - 1:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hello,

We are flying AJ from EWR. I have seen some trip reports about people having their luggage lost and not getting it the entire time they're on the trip (!). Is the general idea to try to carry-on your gear? I have a BC, Mask, Snorkel & Fins that I will be taking and the possibility of them not making it to Bonaire with me concerns me a little bit. This is my first diving trip (just got certified last summer) so I'm not sure what standard procedure is :)

Thanks a bunch!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan Feldman on Monday, July 1, 2002 - 2:25 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Stephanie,

If you make sure that your luggage is checked all the way through to Bonaire it *should* all make it - sometimes the luggage is tagged only through Montego Bay. So watch when you check your luggage in, and make sure that they tag it through to Bonaire.

That said, we have always carried on our masks and regs. The mask because I have a prescription lens, and the regs because they're a high ticket item. We've debated on whether to just check them, but so far have opted to carry them. You can always rent BC, fins, regulator etc. for a day or so, should your luggage be lost. But if you have a prescription mask, you could miss a lot those first few dives.

Also, we've flown with AJ from Boston twice now, with no problems at all, and although it is possible they could lose your luggage, it isn't necessarily a high probability.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DIVER DEBBI on Monday, July 1, 2002 - 5:49 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

we have found that the standard size roll-on luggage carries our bc, wetsuit, mask, regs, computer,booties, bathing suit, tevas, extra shorts, all the things we could'nt be without if the luggage got lost for a couple of days...our fins are too long to fit but could always rent those easy enough...always feel more secure having my well earned dive gear with me..we check the bags with clothes, fins,and food we bring for the rest of the trip...make sure you check with airline about INTERNATIONAL luggage allowence not domestic"
have fun and dont freak...if you forget "it "you can always buy "it" in Bonaire

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker on Monday, July 1, 2002 - 6:37 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I agree, we always carry on our masks as mine is prescription, too. The fins can go in the check in due to their large size, but availability on Bonaire should we need to replace them. We have flown Air Jamaica three times from Newark to Bonaire without any difficulties with our luggage. We enjoy flying with them...nice folks and new planes,etc. We did have a delay from MB to Newark coming home this year, but they claim it was due to severe weather in Texas holding up our connecting flight, etc. We did make it home the same evening, however. That was the only time we have been delayed with AJ. Have fun! CArole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Meryl Virga on Tuesday, July 2, 2002 - 12:08 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

We carry on all our gear...and a change of clothes,,,meds...and some toiletries....We lost all our other luggage for the whole trip(only time this happened...) Check your tags at the airport and make sure all baggage tags say final destination Bonaire...that is where our trouble arose from...all went only to Montego Bay.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Christopher Cronin on Tuesday, July 2, 2002 - 11:53 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Just returned home to NJ via AJ. sadly, flew thru JFK, not EWR, but AJ did reasonably well. flight from MB was delayed 3.5 hours, and did not arrive in JFK until 1 am. carry on seems not to be a problem, but some things you might take for granted on major US air carriers are spotty.

I gate checked a baby stroller on the way down, and it got stuck in MB for a few days - even with a lime green tag. they also are a bit spotty on offering courtesy boarding for people traveling with infants, or folk with trouble getting around. You need to ask, and insist.

MB is not a great airport to be delayed in, but otherwise, AJ did ok. Take that with the price, and it's worth putting up with.

I almost forgot what I had orrigininaly intended to say- Always Check your regs, to and from, as the low presure in the cargo hold can cause your SPG to pop its seal, rendering it useless.

chris

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By seb schulherr on Tuesday, July 2, 2002 - 1:26 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Gosh Chris, I hope your SPG did not go blooey on you! We always bring the regs along with us in carryon, with other essential stuff.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linnea Wijkhof-Wimberly on Tuesday, July 2, 2002 - 7:06 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I always loosen the dust cap a bit on my reg, carry-on or checked, just enough to prevent problems with pressure differentials.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Christopher Cronin on Wednesday, July 3, 2002 - 2:31 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

yeah-

on the return from last trip to grand cayman, we checked the regs w/ the rest of the gear, and it must have popped then. didn't find out untill a couple of weeks ago, while having the regs serviced before this trip.

no problems with carrying on stuff this time - though between 2 divers and a baby, gear carry on was limited to regs, masks w/ perscription lenses, a bathing suit, and the video and still cameras. Whew!!!

chris

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By JIM KENNEDY on Thursday, July 4, 2002 - 4:40 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I carry my mask; computer; bottom timer; all my regs along with swim trunks and enough personal items to get me though couple days without my main luggage. That includes meds and first aid kit. So far I never had anything not show up in time or have the airlines loose any of my luggage.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steven Springer on Friday, July 5, 2002 - 4:55 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I have flown twice in June on dive trips to Cozumel and to Maui. Both trips were on American Airlines(via Cancun to CZM). American allows one carry-on bag and a "personal item" which can include a book type backpack. My backpack contained my medications, extra tee shirts and shorts, travel docs and passports, and dive log books and c-cards. My carry-on bag was a duffel type mesh dive bag that contained my BC, mask, regulator, snorkle, booties, swimsuit, and a small dive light. My checked bag was a Iglo ice chest that had wheels on the back and a handle in the front. I also checked a large dive bag that contained extra clothes, wetsuits, and fins.

We chose seats in the back of the aircraft. This way, we boarded near the first part of the boarding process which insured that we would have overhead storage space for our carry on dive bags. We also waited for the gate security to pull someone out of line to "randomly" search. This works unless you are flagged for violating some profile protocol such as buying a one-way ticket.

It looks like on Air Jamacia, that they allow only one carryon bag. Maybe you could get by with two - maybe not. Here is what their website says in part: "two pieces of luggage up to a weight of 70lbs. each will be accepted free of charge. In addition, you will also be entitled to one carry-on bag. All carry-on bags must be capable of fitting under the seat in front of you or in an overhead compartment. Cabin space is limited so maximum allowance for carry-on is approximately 40lbs/50 inches."
Also beware of the liability that the airlines have on international flights - again from Air Jamacia's website: " Liability is limited to US$9.07 per pound ($20.00 per kilo) based on the weight of your bag, if unweighed, a maximum liability of US$634.90 exists on each piece of checked baggage."

 


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