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Flights to and from Culebra - HELP!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Anders (---.dep.no)
Date:   10-20-09 09:37

Hi, we are a Norwegian couple going to Culebra for the first time. We have read a bit on how to get there, and most people seem to agree that the best way is to go by airplane. We want to fly to Culebra from San Juan (Isla Grande) around mid day the 22nd of November and want to return the 28th of November for and international flight 01.00 pm. We are somewhat concerned about what we have read though, and hence has a few questions:

1. Does anyone know why the airlines seems redundant to answering e-mails? (In our view e-mail gives much lesser chances of misunderstandings on bookings)

2. Why aren’t the airlines displaying time tables on their websites?

3. There are some websites (looks a bit old maybe culebra-island.com/CulebraIsland/Transportat…

that are displaying some “On Demand approximate times” for Isla Nena, VAL and Flamenco Air to different locations.

A. We can only find that Flamenco Air flies once a day back and forth to Culebra from Isla Grande (in the afternoon 3-4 pm). Most other flights seem to be only to Ceiba. Does anyone know if this is true?

B. VAL seems to have one flight in the early morning (8.15 am) and one late in the afternoon (4.30pm) from San Juan to Culebra. Is this true? Is this from Isla Grande or the international airport? VAL seems to have just one flight to San Juan in the morning (7.15 am) – is this true?

C. Isla Nena seems to have four flights (one plane back and forth all day?) from San Juan to Culebra with returns. If this planes goes to Isla Grande, this seems to fill our needs better than the two others air lines. Still people seem to recommend the two other airlines. Why is this?

4. Does “On Demand approximate times” mean that Isla Nena, VAL or Flamenco Air can make agreements with clients and then still not execute the flight as agreed with the clients if the plane isn’t sufficiently filled with clients? If so, how can clients relate to this as to reach other flights, especially long haul flights overseas?

Kind regards,
Kristin & Anders
Oslo, Norway

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Re: HELP ON FLIGHTS TO AND FROM CULEBRA
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Geronimo (---.customer.broadstripe.net)
Date:   10-20-09 11:16

1. Does anyone know why the airlines seems reluctant to answering e-mails? Not sure. I have had success just fine by telephone but you may have to try calling many times to get a hold of someone. Call around their local flight times. when someone should be there. Ask them the flight times since they can change. Be very clear on the flight times (one or both of us has an accent). I have showed up for a 4:30 departure flight but it was actually 3:30. I heard it wrong over the phone. So I confirm it a few different ways now to be certain.

2. Why aren’t the airlines displaying time tables on their websites?
They seem to operate most up to date by phone. So don't be spooked by an incomplete flight schedule on the websites. Flamenco flies in the morning, I think one at 1:00pm and another at 4:30pm from Grande to Culebra. VAL is similar. You just have to call them to see which time works best for you.

I am getting in at 1:00pm to the big SJU airport but my flight from Grande is at 4:30pm so I am taking the advice of a previous post here to go to the Hotel La Playa on the beach for lunch (http://www.hotellaplaya.com/restaurant.html#bar). It looks to be a 5 -10 min cab ride from from SJU. Relax there for a while and then cab it over to Grande.

Be sure to try to build in some extra wiggle room time between your flights to allow for delays ex. traffic in San Juan, heavy rain on Culebra delaying your departure flight, a stop on Ceiba to pick up other passengers, llamas on the runway, etc. That is a Holiday weekend you are traveling on so be sure to reserve your transportation on Culebra if you are getting any. Maybe even grocery shop early too before Thanksgiving (not sure if the stores there run out of goodies at that busy time. They do here)

Enjoy your trip. Some of the uncertainty in the planning is what makes it exciting and Culebra.

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Re: HELP ON FLIGHTS TO AND FROM CULEBRA
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Anders (---.dep.no)
Date:   10-20-09 12:17

OK, definitely a few good pointers here, thanks a lot, Geronimo!

Anyone that can say anything about Isla Nena? (Question 3c)

And what about our main concern - reaching our return flight over the Atlantic? (Question 4 - what does “On Demand approximate times” really mean?)

Regards,
Kristin & Anders

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Re: HELP ON FLIGHTS TO AND FROM CULEBRA
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Geronimo (---.customer.broadstripe.net)
Date:   10-20-09 13:40

Anders, I believe what they mean by "on demand" is that if you have a party of 4 to 6 passengers and want to fly from San Juan to Culebra at 2:38pm they will do it since your party is large enough to make it worth their while. They will not fly off schedule for two passengers. And approximate times are what I noted before about delays; just as with any airline.

I'm not sure if Isla Nenya flies out of the big airport, SJU. The take off and landing fees are higher at the big airport hence it will cost you more to fly in and out of there.

And if you book a flight with either of them they will fly even if it's just the two of you. That has been my experience for many years now.

Enjoy your journey!

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Re: HELP ON FLIGHTS TO AND FROM CULEBRA
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Vicki moore (---.dhcp.jcsn.tn.charter.com)
Date:   10-21-09 00:06

You might also try a search on this site for a list of "good #'s". All the airlines have numerous numbers and someone posted the list of these numbers and which ones worked for him as well at the time of day to call, etc. Just keep trying. You might have to call several times a day for several days to book your flights. You will have a wonderful time. Where are you staying??

Vicki in Tennessee

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Re: HELP ON FLIGHTS TO AND FROM CULEBRA
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Anders (---.dep.no)
Date:   10-21-09 10:41

Staying at Villa Boheme.

Going flyfishing with Chris Goldmark, and hopefully some diving and lots of snorkelling, as well.

We are really looking forward to our trip, especially as it is freezing (below zero Celsius) in Oslo at the moment!

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Re: Flights to and from Culebra - HELP!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: J. Marie (---.dyn.optonline.net)
Date:   10-21-09 11:25

Keep in mind that even if your flight to Culebra is out of SJU, you still have to exit the terminal once you land at SJU in order to check in for whatever flight you take to Culebra. That means you have to go through airport security again for the second flight, and I've found the lines can be long.

It can be just as simple to take a taxi to Isla Grande to get a flight to Culebra.

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Re: Flights to and from Culebra - HELP!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Marywho (---.hsd1.ma.comcast.net)
Date:   10-23-09 16:57

i stopped using Isla Nena a few years ago after remarkable iinconsistency in their service---they are NOT reliable, and they insist on their right to keep your money if they change your flight plans, including cancelling flights on the day you need. AVOID THEM. They will only hold your reservation with non-refundable pre-payment, but they freely cancel flights and don't tell you what's going on. Consider yourself warned! We had to go to our credit card company finally, to get our money back, and many friends have their own bad stories

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Re: Flights to and from Culebra - HELP!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Debbie (---.sip.asm.bellsouth.net)
Date:   10-23-09 18:47

We stopped using Isla Nena at some point because of the cost. Once we used Air Flamenco, we have never even thought about using a different airline. Their employees are so friendly and they usually run very close to schedule. And, we like to give our business to them because the family is based on Culebra. For what it's worth, we NEVER have any trouble getting a hold of their main reservation number.

Happy Diving!
Debbie

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Re: Flights to and from Culebra - HELP!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: chuck (---.bstnma.fios.verizon.net)
Date:   10-24-09 00:02

Most people find Flamenco Air to be okay (once you realize that "on demand" entails a certain degree of uncertainty), and that was my experience, as well, until this summer, when an important piece of luggage completely disappeared between the time I checked it in and the following morning, when I was able to contact someone there to tell them I had inadvertantly left it at the airport. I, too, had found the airline frustratingly difficult (by most business standards) to contact, but friendly in person; but now the Torres brothers, the local owners, have steadfastly avoided answering or returning any of my dozens of phone calls, emails, certified letters, etc., even just for the courtesy of a response saying...whatever. Local-run businesses, all things being equal, may be more responsive on average than those operated from afar, but is far from a guarantee you'll be treated fairly. In this case, I may as well be dealing with United Airlines - in fact, I would be better off, because they would have responsiblities that Flamenco Air has avoided by virtue of their small size and they type of charter ("on demand") they hold. (I'm so mad about their completely ignoring me that I've looking into filing suit, though it may cost me more than I lost.) I do hope your transportation issues work out in the end, because if they do, you'll have a wonderful time on Culebra. Just watch your stuff.

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Re: Flights to and from Culebra - HELP!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Anders (---.80-202-87.nextgentel.com)
Date:   10-29-09 13:26

Hi, everyone!

We have now booked a 1.00pm flight from Isla Grande to Culebra and a return flight 7.00 am in the morning with Flamenco Air for our Culebra visit.

Thanks for every piece of advice so far - we might have a few more questions, and if so, we will post them here!

Kind regards,
Kristin & Anders

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Re: Flights to and from Culebra - HELP!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: tomc (---.adsl.tie.cl)
Date:   12-20-09 21:44

Can you share with us how much you paid per person for this return ticket?
Regards
Tom

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Re: Flights to and from Culebra - HELP!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: bosie (---.ulmer.com)
Date:   12-21-09 09:39

Hi tomc,
The round trip airfare on Flamenco Air from Isla Grande to Culebra is $105.00 per person, last time I checked.

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