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Getting to Bonaire: Avia Air
Bonaire Talk: Getting to Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999-2005: Archives - 2002-10-28 to 2003-04-30: Avia Air
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ann Phelan on Monday, October 28, 2002 - 7:59 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I have several competitors coming to BON via AUA. I have emailed Avia Air 3 times with no reply. We need flight info and a means to make reservations. Does anyone have an email address of someone at Avia insted of the generic email address?

Thanks..

Annie

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Igor van Riel on Monday, October 28, 2002 - 8:09 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Annie,
I think I saw infor in an earlier thread (apr 17 2002). Here's the info, I don't if it is correct. But u could give it a try.
Good luck

"Try Avia Air: avia.do@setarnet.aw or calling 011-297-834600 or 011-5999-7850001."
"The employee for Avia Air here on Bonaire gave me her cell phone number that I could always call when I need information. That's Rinia at 011-599-7850001. She is very nice and helpful.
"

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By gregg brewer on Monday, October 28, 2002 - 1:58 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Annie,

When I used Avia in September to get to Bonaire from Aruba, I gave up on the emails (similar experience to you). I then called them on the phone...this was only slightly better. Unfortunately, you should have your friends make reservations because the plane is full. There were numerous folks very angry on my trip because there were no seats available. BTW, it took me 3 phone calls...just part of the cost of the airfare

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Director on Monday, October 28, 2002 - 2:10 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Annie,

My wife and I just returned from our seventh trip to Bonaire last Thursday and traveled through Aruba this time using USAir frequent flier miles to get to AUA and then Avia Air to BON. My arrangements had originally been made with Royal Aruban, and they took care of the Avia Air reservations and tickets(including one leg on DCA). I too never got Avia to return e-mails, but once in Aruba, we found Avia to be very helpful and quite pleasant. We would definitely fly them again if we had to go through Aruba, even with the long intervals between our arriving and departing flights. Here is what we had:

Avia 305 AUA – BON 19:00 – 19:45 Thursday, 17 Oct

DCE 3001 BON – CUR 08:50 – 09:10 Thursday, 24 Oct
Avia 406 CUR – AUA 12:00 – 12:30

The CUR connection was forced because DCE discontinued its connecting flight to AUA at about 09:40. We had to recover our bags in CUR, go through Customs/Immigration, and then check in with Avia and re-enter the departure lounge.

While waiting in AUA for our return flight to the States, we noticed an Avia Air flight leaving for BON at about 15:00. Not sure of its flight number or the return options. Also, from what we could tell, there are no convenient morning or early afternoon departures from Bonaire on Avia; mainly late afternoon and at about 8:00PM

Avia flies 15 passenger Embraer Bandierante 110 aircraft. While a bit older, they were more comfortable than the J-31's and J-41'2 many local airlines fly in the States. We cruised at about 7,000 ft, and the flights were fine. When someone asked the co-pilot about the difference between the Embraers and the Dash-8s that DCE flies, he responded that the Dash-8s were more comfortable but the Embraers were on time.

Only issue is the Embraers are small and have limited luggage-carrying ability. Avia limits you to 20-kilos (44 pounds) per passenger in checked baggage and some small carry-ons. Our combined checked weight for our two bags was 91 pounds (slightly over the combined 88 pounds allowed) but Avia did not charge extra or even comment. Plus our two carry-ons totaled about 35 lbs (28 lbs for the one computer bag holding our regs, dive computers and some other gear, and about 7 lbs for the knapsack), but Avia did not even question them. Only other issue with baggage is that Avia's cargo area cannot accommodate anything very large, like a wind surfboard.

Good luck.
Mark

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Beth Comeau on Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 4:05 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We flew Avia Air between Bonaire & Aruba in February. I too gave up on emails and phoned them direct. They took our reservations over the phone. We had no problems and really enjoyed the flight. The view from the plane was great. There were four of us traveling and they accomodated all of our dive bags, cameras, laptop etc. It is also nice clearing customs in Aruba.

 


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