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A delicate issue about flying to Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Eric M (199.91.37.---)
Date:   04-17-08 04:36

I want to go to Culebra, and definately flying will be the best option for me from San Juan. The airline's planes all look very small and I was wondering what the attitudes of these smaller arilines are in regards to larger passengers. How much is size an issue? Is it common for larger passengers to be forced to buy 2 tickets as the plane/seats are pretty small? In a regular commercial airplane, I have no prolems occupying one seat but in these smaller planes, I have never been in them so I don't know.
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Re: A delicate issue about flying to Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   04-17-08 08:43

Most often, the planes aren't completely full in my experience.

Once I was the only person aboard. (Well, there was a pilot, too!)

If the plane happens to be full and there is a weight concern, the worst that will happen is they'll ask you to wait til the next flight. This happens to luggage sometimes, but it's rare.

If you're flying to Culebra on a Saturday, or flying out on a Sunday, those days will tend to be the most crowded.

If you want to be absolutely safe and money isn't an issue, you can always buy an extra seat as you mentioned.

Did you call the airlines and ask them if there is a personal weight limit for a single seat ticket? They'll tell you. I'm guessing that they'll say it's only an issue of total plane weight, but I don't know for sure.
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Re: A delicate issue about flying to Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: beachbound (---.226.40.69.ip.alltel.net)
Date:   04-17-08 10:47

As Mort said, the planes aren't always full, but it does depend on time of year and day of the week. When you make your reservation they ask for the weight of every passenger. I would make sure to be completely honest about the number and ask if it will be a problem. You might not get your luggage on your flight if it is fairly full, but as long as you get over, that's what matters. Good luck and enjoy Culebra!

Sue
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Re: A delicate issue about flying to Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Debbie (---.sip.asm.bellsouth.net)
Date:   04-17-08 21:32

Eric,

The airlines require you to give them your exact weight when you are booking the ticket. They load the plane - people and baggage - based on the total weight. Call them; I'm sure they'll be able to give you a straight answer. The seats are bench style; two people to a seat, no armrests. You also have to climb into the plane through a small door, and sometimes crawl over another seat (kind of like getting into the backseat of a two door car). Hope this helps.

Happy Diving!
Debbie
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Re: A delicate issue about flying to Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: richard (---.hsd1.dc.comcast.net)
Date:   04-17-08 23:15

I think of it as a VW microbus with wings.

it's always been my impression the weight issues also regard how they seat the passengers.
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Re: A delicate issue about flying to Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   04-18-08 09:00

On a full flight, it will definitely be an issue.

The best approach is to do all of these:

a) Pick the least crowded travel days you can find (midweek in a non-holiday period is ideal)

b) Fly from an airport that has more plane options to Culebra (meaning either Isla Grande or Fajardo, not SJU) so that if you're bumped from one plane, there are more choices in that same day.

c) For the same reason as #b, reserve the first flight of the day, even if it means staying at a hotel at the airport the night before.

d) Consider flying from Fajardo where things seem to be a bit looser (and cheaper), though you'll have to pay for a taxi. At least on a taxi, you'll be more comfortable than in the plane for that portion of your trip. It's a shorter plane ride from Fajardo.

And Eric, thanks for asking us a question that doesn't come up much on the board. Though it still ranks far below last fall's famous post asking about the regulations regarding how to dispose of a body. But we appreciate new and different!
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Re: A delicate issue about flying to Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Ty Watson (---.dsl.stlsmo.sbcglobal.net)
Date:   04-18-08 10:03

"it's always been my impression the weight issues also regard how they seat the passengers."

I believe you are correct here...wouldn't be a good idea to have all the weight in one area of the plane. If all the weight was on one side I wonder if you wuold just fly in circles =) j/k....but in all seriousness...i think the reason that you have to claim wieghts is for two reasons..one for even distribution of weight and the other is fuel..obviously if you are carrying more weight it will take more fuel to get there, and with prices at the level they are im sure they are being concious about this. When we flew our baggage was about 10 pounds on the heavy and they didnt make a deal of it and we had a full plane. I would definitely give them a ring and let them know your situation and they can recommend what to do. Have a great time!
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Re: A delicate issue about flying to Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Ty Watson (---.dsl.stlsmo.sbcglobal.net)
Date:   04-18-08 10:05

sorry for all the gramatical errors on my prev post....havent finished my coffee yet and still a little "shaky" from our little earthquake this morning.
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Re: A delicate issue about flying to Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: richard (---.hsd1.dc.comcast.net)
Date:   04-18-08 13:09

you'll be offering sacrifices to the New Madrid fault soon...
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Re: A delicate issue about flying to Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Doug (---.dsl.stlsmo.swbell.net)
Date:   04-18-08 16:10

We had several, and the New Madrid Fault was on my mind each time...
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Re: A delicate issue about flying to Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Ty Watson (---.dsl.stlsmo.sbcglobal.net)
Date:   04-18-08 17:16

Thats what I was thinking as well Doug....also thinking this may be the start of something bigger....doesnt compare to being in the 89 San Fran quake though...that was nuts...I saw a shockwave going a gazillion mph down the street, raised everything about 2-3 feet and then back down...now that was scary.
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Re: A delicate issue about flying to Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Vicki moore (---.dhcp.jcsn.tn.charter.com)
Date:   04-18-08 21:37

VAL weighed each of us and then told us which seats to sit in, so as to balance the weight. There is not lots of room in the planes to maneuver around.

Vicki in Tennessee
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