I booked a trip to Bonaire on ALM but I am hearing so many negatives from so many different sources that I am beginning to wonder if I should change it to Air Jamaica. Besides this board my undercurrent travel resourse book has tons of negative stuff about ALM. It would only be about $75 more for my hubby and I to change it. Should I risk flying ALM? Plus Air Jamaicas flight gets in around 245 and leaves later on the departing day than ALMs, which means more time in Bonaire. Any suggestions?

Tori,
I don't think it maters who you fly with-- your at the airlines mercy. Many of us have had no problems with ALM-- but then again many of us have had problems-- AA is really no better-- I've had plenty of horror stories that I could bore everyone with & Air Jamaica has had there fair share of problems as well.
One thing that I can share with you is attitude. Don't show it. Honey is much sweeter than vinegar.
Unfortunetly ther is no easy way to get to Bonaire-- Sometimes you can hook up with a charter flight-- But then those have been known to get canceled too.
Just kick up your heels and relax--
Enjoy your vacation while you are there---

And planning free days on both ends of the
vacation--no
urgent business, etc. results in more relaxing travel.

Jan seems to be correct on airline choice--something of
a crap shoot. Maybe the decider is what makes you two
more comfortable. $75 is usually a small part of a
vacation--peace of mind at the start is important to the
whole week. Fewer bad thoughts if something does go
wrong.

Totaly agree, the "luck of the draw".

Tori, I travel to and from Bonaire a lot, and can tell you that percentage-wise, AJ has worked out far better for me than ALM.

When ALM is operating properly they can be great to fly with, but even a small disruption in their very tight schedule, whether mechanical, weather, etc., domino effects its way through their entire system in a major way.

And, based on ALM's financial state, it's not clear whether they will be around, month to month.

That said, we're booked on ALM next month for a short trip, only because we couldn't find any alternative to Miami from Bonaire, and we're booked on the once a week direct flight, and hoping that all goes smoothly going and coming.

For trips to the U.S. we have planned for the summer (I've got three already booked for myself), two are on Air Jamaica and one is with American via the new American Eagle flights which start in June. All of these completely avoid ALM, by intention.

You've already stated a couple of good reasons to fly Air Jamaica - early arrival, late departure.

My _personal_ opinion is that you should switch to AJ, because even if you get delayed with AJ, you're likely to get better support than with ALM.

Jake

Tori,
I tend to disagree with Jake. Granted he has more trips back and forth over more time, but I have a fair number over the last 8 - 9 years...plus probably a lot more at peak times..

I think a lots depends where you are flying from. The only two advantages I have seen with AJ is their increased number of gateways. If you live close to a gateway. (Philly, BWI are a couple) that's one thing, if not well. The other is the fact that you can avoid MIA... That airport is a hell hole..
As far as times.. sorry its all numbers.. AJ has posted a earlier arrival, the people we have sent via our store are averaging an hour later..Our November store trip was two hour late arriving. The big claim by AJ was they would hold the flights in Montego Bay until all connections come in.. That is no longer the case.. Granted given a choice between overnight in Jamicia and overnight in MIA... hey that's easy choice (see my earlier hell hole comment). AJ is showing some growing pains. Also right now its a limited schedule.
ALM.. advantages.. don't know if the words go together.. but... more of a schedule.. in general they actually have been doing a good job of being close to on time when they are.. when they're not...well I have seen that they actually have gotten extremely good at helping out when everything hits the fan.. I actually find their flight times work well with connecting schedules from the North East. I am allowed enough time to make sure my bags make it and coming back to deal with customs without having to do an airport dash.
Their in flight staff is world class, but like Bob mentions elsewhere they have closed off the open bar.. (damn)

Just a passing comment about everyone looking upon AA ATR flight from San Juan to Bonaire. Most people have not spent that much time on a ATR Turbo prop. They are noisy.. I have done a number of 1 1/2 flights on them when they use to fly in the US and found it painful...and speaking of fun airports... but hey I am open in my great admiration from AA (NOT)...

Anyway.. as I posed a while back.. Its the Carribbean.. start your vacation mentality early... allow lots of times for connection and try to relax and keep a good attitude...both airlines have excellant safety records and both get good comments for in flight service. and hey look where you are going!!!!!

have a great trip..!!

Tori,
I tend to disagree with Jake. Granted he has more trips back and forth over more time, but I have a fair number over the last 8 - 9 years...plus probably a lot more at peak times..

I think a lots depends where you are flying from. The only two advantages I have seen with AJ is their increased number of gateways. If you live close to a gateway. (Philly, BWI are a couple) that's one thing, if not well. The other is the fact that you can avoid MIA... That airport is a hell hole..
As far as times.. sorry its all numbers.. AJ has posted a earlier arrival, the people we have sent via our store are averaging an hour later..Our November store trip was two hour late arriving. The big claim by AJ was they would hold the flights in Montego Bay until all connections come in.. That is no longer the case.. Granted given a choice between overnight in Jamicia and overnight in MIA... hey that's easy choice (see my earlier hell hole comment). AJ is showing some growing pains. Also right now its a limited schedule.
ALM.. advantages.. don't know if the words go together.. but... more of a schedule.. in general they actually have been doing a good job of being close to on time when they are.. when they're not...well I have seen that they actually have gotten extremely good at helping out when everything hits the fan.. I actually find their flight times work well with connecting schedules from the North East. I am allowed enough time to make sure my bags make it and coming back to deal with customs without having to do an airport dash.
Their in flight staff is world class, but like Bob mentions elsewhere they have closed off the open bar.. (damn)

Just a passing comment about everyone looking upon AA ATR flight from San Juan to Bonaire is a life saver. Most people have not spent that much time on a ATR Turbo prop. They are noisy.. I have done a number of 1 1/2 flights on them when they use to fly in the US and found it painful...and speaking of fun airports... but hey I am open in my great admiration from AA (NOT).and this is an AA flight.. talk about and Airline and flight delays/cancellations..

Anyway.. as I posed a while back.. Its the Carribbean.. start your vacation mentality early... allow lots of times for connection and try to relax and keep a good attitude...both airlines have excellant safety records and both get good comments for in flight service. and hey look where you are going!!!!!

have a great trip..!!

Jason,

" Most people have not spent that much time on a ATR Turbo prop. They are noisy.. "

And terrible in known icing conditions. That's why they've been moved to the Caribbean -BG- Just bring your headphones!

Bob

actually BoB I was overcome by a rare moment and was trying to play nice... Actually I think you also have overlooked the ATR's distinquished record of plow the fields of the mid west... Although I have changed jobs and don't fly that much through DFW.. I am glad to see that AA found a new place to place these distinquished aircraft.. they were cluttering up the aprons


Oh BTW quarry tickets now $10.. TDS importing a higher quality of quarry slime (I guess us TDI/SSI/Y instructors weren't enough)..

j

Our extended family has been flying to Bonaire with ALM for over 25 years and never had a major problem. The first leg of these trips was with American and we had many problems with them.

'You pays your money and takes your choice'!!!

Puerto Rico--Bonaire does seem a long way on a
turboprop. They fly lower as DC-3s did--should be like
old time flying when you got the real feel of the weather.
But then you youngsters don't know about all that. Jake
and Linda will have the word for us this summer.

We have flown ALM for the past three years and only experienced a delay on the Curacoa - Bonaire leg of the trip, usually a few hours and then we finally make it to paradise! All three times our luggage arrived when we did. The various folks in Bonaire that meet you at the airport are accustomed to late arrivals and always pick you up. I guess it is the luck of the draw. I'll probably fly ALM again in the future but really would like a direct flight. Mike

Glen, it is only 450 miles or so from San Juan to Bonaire. That is just over an hour flight for the turbo props. They are noisy, but I usually just put in the earplugs and sit back. At least you can see the pilot from your seat to see if he is minding the controls, LOL.........

David. You can certainly see him. But it always unnerves me to watch him flipping through the pages of what "they" claim is his pre-flight check off, and what I am certain is a quick aide-memoire. They're probably right. It's a check-off. Sure.

What's REALLY scary is when you get a glimpse of that yellow-and-black cover, and realize it's a "Plane Flying for Dummies" manual!

Just go prepared. We had everything we needed for three days in our carry on minus the snorkeling gear(too bulky). It seems that a lot of the scuba shops are used to this and will loan you stuff until your gear arrives. We allowed a day extra off for my husband at the end of our trip(the recovery time is always nice anyway), and warned his office we could be late a few days(I've read some reports of people having to wait several days to get another flight if theirs was cancelled). We said a silent goodbye to the rest of our luggage as we sent it on the planes. We arrived everywhere on time and with everything! We kind of looked at it as being part of our adventure of going to Bonaire. It helps to be prepared mentally and materially!

Linda, I couldn't agree with you more about being prepared. I will have everything I need for the week in my carry on including my regulator and dive computer. At the worst case, I can rent the rest of the stuff in Bonaire, I don't want to do that, but I could. I have learned to travel extremely lightly these past 20 years and it has served me well. My partner Gail, who never met a suitcase she couldn't fill...., is always questioning my low luggage count. Having had my luggage lost at O'Hare on more occassions than I have hairs left on my head, I just can't bring myself to trust the airlines.

Even in the cramped quarters of the turbo-props, I still manage to have most of my stuff safe within my grasp. It is always an adventure when one travels, and I do my best to be prepared mostly by making sure my sense of humor and a large dose of patience are with me at all times.

We'll see how this Bonaire thing goes! LOL

David

This month's Rodale's has a great review of potential carry-on bags and how much gear they managed to cram into them. Sometimes they even managed to get clothing and a wetsuit in with the mask/reg/toothbrush/etc, and I seem to remember they even managed to stuff a BC (albeit a travel one) into one bag with all the other stuff! Pretty impressive...

Ooh Ooh, where do I go to find the "Rodale's"
you mentioned above? Is it a book or what? I
am about to go on another trip with a couple of
connections, and have begun to consider
what to pack in my carry-on, or if I have THE
carry-on I really need/want. This trip is not to
Bonaire or anywhere where snorkelling/diving
is an option, but bags could get lost, and I still
want to be prepared...

You can pick up Roadales Scuba Diving Magazine at just about any dive shop or better newstands around. Just look for Scuba Diving Magazine, the Rodale's part is in smaller print so you won't notice it.

I read somewhere recently (Bonaire Talk perhaps?) about using your BC as a back-pack for air travel. They were using back-plate style BC's with "travel" wings (smaller bladders) Then bugie cords to attach the rest of the gear. Then they top the whole thing off with a nylon cover you get at sporting goods stores. The kind that hikers use to cover their back-packs in wet weather. Then just wear your bc as a cary-on!

I had planned to take a shot at that this year. (my BC is a big, bulky, cold-water monster, hard to travel with). But work has kept me bogged down in o.t. and haven't had time to get out and shop yet.

However... new BC, old BC, no BC, I don't care. Two more weeks, and I'm bringing my tired white hiney to Bonaire! Yeee Haw!

(sorry. I get excited thinking about it. First time to the Island.)

-Berk.

You should also be able to find the article on line at http://www.scubadiving.com

OK, Gail - I went to the above site you
mentioned but couldn't figure out how to find
the info. on carry-on luggage. Any hints? I CAN
try to find the magazine, and am sure I would
have success with that, but if I can locate the
info. from home computer, that would be ideal.

Thanks for the responses, everyone.