Just read this in the Bonaire Reporter
Bonaire Airport Introduces Security Fee

Does not sound unreasonable, I'd rather be safe although I'd have thought that the increased exit tax would have covered this.

Brian, I think there is more risk involved in a 3-feet deep dive than a departing from Flamingo International Airport, or am I naive?

Brian, true (about not being unreasonable)...however, I wonder what steps they will take to "increase" security with the funds???

As an FYI to folks, you can pay it when you pay your departure tax

Windsurfer,

No offense, but I think you may be a bit naive.

I find it interesting that the cruise ship passengers Still pay no head tax or Marine Park fees (unless they dive in which case they pay a $10 day fee) for their visits to Bonaire but stay over tourists get to pay yet another tax even though it is a small amount. Without taking into account taxes relating to hotels, the average stay over tourist who dives already drops $32 for departure and $25 for their dive tag. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

I also heard that you have to have your boarding pass now to buy the departure tax, they staple it to your boarding pass. Anyone been recently and had that experience? Over on scubaboard a member posted that was what happened to them...

Susan, you are right on about that...tax the folks that love the island and don't tax those that just trash it for a day...what's wrong with that picture???

The new procedure that you must check in first has already gone into place.

Cynde,
I am with you. I just don't get it.

hubby and I are not happy with this either. Why is it now part of the departure tax? I agree wholeheartedly with Susan:
"but stay over tourists get to pay yet another tax even though it is a small amount. Without taking into account taxes relating to hotels, the average stay over tourist who dives already drops $32 for departure and $25 for their dive tag. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm"

Let me make sure I've got this straight:
you used to have to buy the departure tax ticket first, so you could check in. Now you have to check-in first, before you can buy the departure tax (and pay the additional rip-off fee)?

Sounds like more line ups to me . . .ugh

I'm not going to quit travelling to Bonaire but after the raise in the marine park fee a couple years ago and then the raise in departure tax this is just another expense I'll have to pay to visit Bonaire. I'll pay it (hey, I've got no choice) but I think it pretty much sucks that the Bonaire Gubmint is going to take even more of my money in February.

My question would be how drastic an increase?

"With the income derived from this fee, the airport will be able to drastically increase the level of security it offers its passengers."

Maybe they will require that you have to remove your shoes and will then provide a shoehorn for everyone to speed up the line...or that you will have to dispose of your liquids and they will provide each passenger with a 'secure' water bottle - gratis.

Sometimes Europe or USA determine what measures must be done outside their countries in order for secure entry and to absorb the cost Bonaire is asking for a pittance.

Well I'm not that concerned about the additional fee. What does bother me is waiting on lines.
We used to pay our departure tax when hardly no one was in the airport. Now we're going to wait on a long line to check in with the air carrier. Then we have to wait on another long line which will be at the place where you pay the departure tax AFTER getting our boarding passes. Really, who thought up this bright idea? It's going to be mayhem at the airport.

I too will miss not being able to pay my departure tax at a time when the airport is not crowded but that is not what bothers me the most about this. What bothers me is that once again those of us who stay on the island are paying yet another fee that the cruise ship passengers do not pay. Tickets for travel here in the US already have a fairly large "security" fee added when you purchase them and yesterday it was announced that the TSA is ranked right up there with the IRS as one of the most hated government agencies.

I don't remember a cruise ship being hijacked and sailed into a skyscraper killing thousands. So why would you care about the cruisers not getting taxed the same?

Why do you have to always compare to your hated cruisers? They stopped making records years ago...so please stop acting like a broken one. Let it be for at least til 2008.

I like reading these entries, but it's not right to keep bringing up the same boring subject. You really have become obsessed on this Susan. Let it be! This is NOT related.

I'm surprised you didn't blame the cruise ships for the increased price of cheese. Thank you for not boring us in that thread.

Mods - can you make a rule that one can't use cruise ships in any threads other than cruise threads?

Please! Give us a break!

Barry, get real. "I don't remember a cruise ship being hijacked and sailed into a skyscraper killing thousands." No, but if you sank the cruise ship, you could kill thousands right there. The horse simply hasn't gotten out of that barn yet.

At $1.40, the tax is an insidious irritation and way to find money from those who cannot complain rather than any real attempt to protect anybody. I think what most of us are surprised about is why an increase in the departure tax didn't already cover this.

Bonaire is still the only airport I leave from where the most important thing to the security folks is whether I still have batteries in my lights. Has this killed thousands?

Barry...this does apply. The most recent increases have all affected those choosing to stay on island, whereas the cruisers have gotten out of paying taxes due to negotiations between the cruise lines and the government. It is very applicable.

Back to the new tax and payment procedures. This is going to be very problematic for anyone on at early AA flight. When we fly with more than one driver, we end up splitting the "chores" that morning. One person returns the truck while another checks in at AA's counter. We purchase the departure tax usually the day before. My concern is solo flying. How will I have time to return my truck, check in and pay the departure taxes?

Every safe option will cost me yet more money. Several of the car agencies are now stating they will charge you extra if they have to come out before 6:00 am. More money. If you drop the truck off the day before, you need to taxi every where for that evening and back to the airport. More money. Can anyone see how this can be done without having to spend yet more money?

(Message edited by jeanineclark on December 22, 2007)

i agree that the "security tax" is just another way for the government to make one last grab at our money before we leave. i don't, however, object to the marine park fees. finally, one tax that goes directly to the preservation and maintenance of the park. i don't see the director of the park driving around in a hummer or luxury car. remember the plan a year or two ago to increase the exit tax to $75 and eliminate other taxes (room tax, truck rental tax, etc.)? bonaire might be very close to paradise but the government is like most other governments...they never met a tax they didn't like.

I am along the same lines with Tribs and Vince re: waiting in lines. We have to take AE, so getting to the airport at O'dark30, we also split chores. Michael gets in line while I return the rental car.

Last trip, on that Saturday morning, there was a KLM, Continental, and AE flight all leaving in the same hour (between 7 and 8). The line at the kiosk had bout 75 folks in it. Imagine all the folks that pre-paid like us? One window at the kiosk will mean hundreds of folks waiting in that line.

I am going to write Ronella Crowes at TCB and express my concern with this (and I would encourage those of you that are concerned about this to write as well). There is enough stress over getting to the airport early enough, now this??? COME ON BON GOV!!!

I swear, it's like they are trying to drive the divers that come to the island away and make room for the big cruise ships (sorry barry, but it applies).

I also hear rumor (just a rumor) that they are going to start letting folks rent jet skis...now THAT'S going to be a disaster with diving and jet skis????

Here is Ronella's email:

Ronella Croes: gm@tourismbonaire.com

Rant off, I'm pi#$ed...

This is what I emailed:

Hi Ronella,



I heard yesterday that we now have to have our boarding pass to pay the departure tax, and it needs to be stapled to the pass.



This is going to create a major problem (if it already hasn't) with mornings when there are several flights leaving the island. One of the nice things was that we could pay the tax in the week when there was no line.



Last trip, on that Saturday morning, there was a KLM, Continental, and AE flight all leaving in the same hour (between 7 and 8). The line at the kiosk had bout 75 folks in it. Imagine all the folks that pre-paid like us? One window at the kiosk will mean hundreds of folks waiting in that line.



Several other regular Bonaire Visitors feel the same way.



May I ask WHY this change was made? There certainly must be a rational reason???



Kind Regards,



Cynde Lee

Cynde, I did not have to have my boarding pass or even a ticket in hand when I bought my departure ticket last week, which I did, as usual, a couple of days before I left and did not hear any information to the contrary. The flight was delayed a few minutes by a lot of folks who didn't get it in advance and were still standing in the departure tax line after checking bags, etc.

Barry: You've been away too long to take shots at those of us who live here. Susan does is not obsessed with the cruise ship issue. Her concern is genuine unlike those who fled a small island for a bunch of big ones. I don't mind your comments, just don't direct them at folks who are making a difference.

AMEN Michael!

Babs, that is definitely odd...here is the thread on subaboard where a member said they had to have their departure tax stub stapled to their boarding pass...

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/abc-islands/213010-bonaire-departure-tax.html

I'm not taking shots at anyone. What I am doing is indirectly in my crude way asking to stay on topic.

This tax, nor the implementation problems it incurs, has nothing to do with the cruise lines. It's a serious matter for most as some have already expressed.

Cynde Lee wrote an excellent letter and it demands a response. There's no mention of cruisers getting advantages, or anything of that nature because she addressed the issue.

That's what I'm referring to. If the thread is about X, leave the stupid cruisers out of it. IT DOES NOT PERTAIN TO WHAT THE ISSUE AT HAND IS. IT PERTAINS TO WHAT CYNDE EXPRESSED.

It's not even remotely related. Stay on the issue and have all the intelligent comments come out. Frustrations can come out but on the proper threads.

Now if they are pulling airport security off duty to attend to the cruisers and need to hire more people, thus the increase, then complain complain complain. It's relevant.

I'm trying to keep up with Bonaire. It was and still is an important part of my life so why can't I try to keep the obsessions out of threads that are not relevant.

If she, not attacking anyone here, can bring in the cruisers every thread, then I have the right to complain about it....whether I live there or not.

I also did my share to help the island for 7 years and you of all people, Michael, know it. I feel I've earned the right to respond with my feelings.

I'm not attacking you, Susan...I don't know you, most likely never will, but you do seem to bring the cruisers in somehow. You're an intelligent woman and I understand your frustration, but please keep it relevant. Please

It sounds like we need to hear from more recent travelers to the island regarding this new procedure. Can we pay in advance or is it going to be complete caos (sp).

It would be interesting to understand the background to this new fee (collecting such a small amount per person and what precisely is to be added to the security system: 'With the income derived from this fee, the airport will be able to drastically increase the level of security it offers its passengers.' And, what hitherto unannounced security failure(s) are they fixing????) and why the requirement to have a boarding pass first (will there be extra cashiers to speed the process at peak times???? Are they afraid of some sort of fraud, such as people paying who aren't going to leave the island???) Certainly not a 'tourist friendly' change.

I hope a 'local' can inquire quietly and let us know. Or perhaps an official statement from Authority or TCB will appear. Or an intrepid reporter will dig. Many questions still.

It looks like only ONE person on scubaboard had that problem and they left the week before I did...so it seems unlikely to me that it's an "official policy". A lot of folks from the hotels didn't have their passes and were in the wrong lines last Saturday, trying to check in while still awaiting luggage, etc. Maybe that procedure resulted from folks wandering from one line to the next, not actually knowing what they were supposed to be doing???

My sentiments exactly Glen.

Has anyone who has gone through security last week noticed anything different in their luggage? A tag or sticker maybe? Anything different other than the inconvenience it has caused?

This small amount sounds more like something to absorb the cost of something really dumb to adhere to some ridiculous TSA requirement.

This is what I got back from Ronella:

Cynde hi.

Thank you for your email. I am hereby copying the Director of Flamingo Airport, so that he can send a reply and explain the rationale. Sorry, we have not been informed of this..

Marco, can you pls. answer? Thank you.

Saludos.

When I flew up to Boston last Sunday (12/16) I too did not need to have my boarding pass available to pay my departure tax - just photo ID because I was charging the tax to my credit card (no photo ID required if paying cash).

As far as this new security fee goes, it's being imposed by the airport, not the government - the press release came directly from the Bonaire International Airport. And it does feel like we're being nickel & dimed (speaking as someone who has personally paid close to a thousand dollars in Bonaire airport tax fees in 2007 for himself and his family, I figure I have basis for saying that).

I wonder what sort of extra security BIA is planning on paying for with the new funds they will be collecting. BIA's security is not much different than what I experience with TSA in the U.S. Maybe they are planning on buying the new imagers and puffers (to sniff out explosives molecules attached to your clothing) - both of which are a bit senseless for a place like Bonaire, IMHO.

Jake

Hi
I sure don't know any more about this situation than anyone else.
I DO think it' a little early to get our shorts all twisted up. I feel that in a very short time it will be back to buy your tax stamps whenever and get on line. Time will tell.
Mick

Just like searching the elderly & children, the least likely seems the most likely. Who would suspect a cute baby in a carraige or being carried through security.Or an elderly couple shuffling along. Some poeple are desparate and will go to the extreme. I am not so concerned paying an additional few $$, then I am having to pay the departure tax after you get your boarding passes. Unless they plan on opening several more lines at the tax window, it will really become a cluster_____!

TKS, Cynde.

Barry,
If I had just five cents for each time someone on BT went off topic.....
I, for one, did not schedule a trip to Bonaire because of cruise ship activity. I looked at my little window of opportunity, checked on how many different cruise ships would be there when I was to be there, did the math, and decided against sharing the small island with an additional 2000 folks per day. (On one day there were to be an additional 4200 folks in town!)
I cannot even imagine how much more fun we will all have waiting in line at the airport in Bonaire.
Does anyone remember the good old days when one would be greeted with a free rum punch after getting your luggage? That happened on our first trip to Bonaire many moons ago....
Maybe if we had some free rum punch at 6:00 AM it would make waiting in line at the airport a little more 'festive'.
tee hee,
Mare

You may be closer to the problem than you realize Jake.

The TSA requires foreign International airports to adhere to certain security precautions (sniffer's etc) and although Bonaire is not a very likely place of terrorism, it is close to South America and could be an easy access point to the US.

Coming from BIA and not the government tends to support that thought for the extra 'tax'.

I won't belabor the issue Mare, but point taken.

Susan, I apologize for my comments, though not meant to be a personal attack, I understand how it might have been viewed. I'm sorry.

I guess I don't mind so much the extra $$, but the lines are what will kill me ! I'm usually by myself so I don't have the luxury of splitting duties with Steve... maybe I'll just have to bring him with me every time now !! ;)

I liked getting my departure tax ticket the day before I left, it was so convenient.

It will be interesting to see how it all works out.

For those of you who are there now, please let us know what's up !

Kelly per above - from Jake "When I flew up to Boston last Sunday (12/16) I too did not need to have my boarding pass available to pay my departure tax - just photo ID because I was charging the tax to my credit card (no photo ID required if paying cash)"
and me "I did not have to have my boarding pass or even a ticket in hand when I bought my departure ticket last week, which I did, as usual, a couple of days before I left and did not hear any information to the contrary."

I'll check it out again in a few weeks when I head up to DC with the kids for a few days.

Jake

My friend had to get her departure tax AFTER getting her boarding pass 3 weeks ago. She said it was a pain in the &^^

I have not heard back from the flamingo airport person, but it sounds like a hit and miss? very very odd!

Hopefully Ronella will root the 'airport man' out after Christmas and bring us 'the Word'.

Yeah, Cynde the hit and miss thing makes me think they're doing "trial runs" before they add the security tax????????
Ann, did your friend try to get her pass on any day before her flight and then was denied???

I remember a few years back when everyone was saying have your departure receipt with your boarding pass and it was a HUGE deal, and then they didn't even ask for mine ! it was the only time that ever happened. It definitely seems hit or miss, but I'm usually hit, not missed ! lol!

Keep us in the loopenzie, Jake !

At the tax window they have a sign up stating you have to have your boarding pass to be able to pay your departure tax. last week when checking in for KLM i went ahead to buy tax a day before but was refused.

Madman, Maggie checked in online and had her paper boarding pass from KLM yesterday so got her tax right away.

Well, I pinged Marco (the ariport guy) once more. Hopefully he will respond soon. I'd love to know why the change...Since Kelly and I have both had the experience of them NOT taking our departure tax stub at the gate, I wonder if this is to make sure that everyone who leaves the island has paid the tax...hmmmmmm....

(Message edited by cyndelee on December 26, 2007)

Ha, I just realised Cynde posted a secret Christmas Message - "No L" for Famingo Airport

LOL Brian, you are the first to catch that!....no "love" for famingo airport!

Cynde is thinking more of Noel (No L)

Hmmmm, Looks fine to me.

tee hee

Mod mare must have gotten around to putting in some Ls.

La La La !

Happy Boxing Day to all over the pond!

HI, Guys! I returned from Bonaire on the 22nd. FYI, I had to get my Boarding Pass before Departure Tax. I didn't have a really long line, but both the AE Agent and the Departure Tax Collector were soooooo slow that it still took for-e-ver..... And there were three girls manning the tax booth!!! WHy?

Hello experienced Bonaire repeat traveles and residents,
Will the taxmake the airport safer? Will it make for better baggage screening? Available to pay security people aboveminimum wage? Because really, if you are making minimum wage but arein charge of great security, would you day after day do it to the most? THAT IS THE STATES PROBLEM. Income is needed for good security that won't just tear a bag up because it looks like a dive bag....it has happened in South America. I never really understood the cost to depart. Can someone post it? I have paid such taxes in many South/Central American Countries. I expected it .......how much?
I am a 10 yr vet of military and Iknow that airport personell will not work at minimum wage. Would you????????? Bonaire is very friendly and want tourists to dive and windsurf. I am happy to be spending a month there. If I am wrong, Please let me know why.
I always listen.
Steve M.

Mare, I kind of liked the "famingo"...lol! oh wait, I'm banning "L's" lol ;-)

I hope that the increase may provide a raise in pay for the local workers at the airport. I'm not sure if there is a yearly cost of living increase or even a minimum wage there but, I know from talking to locals that their pay is nowhere near what off islanders earn. I visit Bonaire twice a year and do not care about a few extra dollars going to a good cause. We can spill a five dollar latte in America and not blink an eye but, a two dollar increase is instated at the airport and we respond. No offense intended to any of the past posters. It's their island.

Bruce, it's not the 2 bucks that is upsetting, it's the having to have your departure tax ticket stapled to your boarding pass...meaning that you can't by the departure tax early to avoid the long lines on the day of departure.

As of yet, no word from our airport guy...Marco...Island time...

Cynde, if you're waiting for an answer from Marco van de Kreeke, you might be waiting for a long time. Here's an excerpt from Amigoe Online from the beginning of December:

Marco van de Kreeke, who must give up his position as director of Bonaire Airport per December 31, starts working on January 1 as operational director at Maastricht Handling Services (MHS). He forms the new senior management team together with Val Karren that started on December 3 as (Air) Cargo Development Manager at MHS, says Luchtvaartnieuws.

I heard he already left, probably a week to ten days ago. You might want to try redirecting your email to info@flamingoairport.com. Normally I get a fairly quick response (when it's not the holidays) from Christy who reads that mailbox.

Good luck. Susan

susan, thanks, mail sent...I'm got a chuckle out of your post, as I guess Ronella doesn't know either?

I'll let ya'll know what I hear back.

Thanks again Susan

Here's an update on the departure tax issue. Our friend Cinde tried to buy departure tax a few days ago for a flight back to the U.S. in about a week and was told she could not do it.

The reason is that as of midnight tonight (i.e. 1/1/08) the departure tax will no longer be a separate piece of thick paper, but instead a sticker which must be applied to your boarding pass. As Cinde was leaving in 2008, she could not prepurchase her tax stickers because she didn't have boarding passes to apply them to.

So, it looks like the requirement to purchase the departure tax after getting your boarding passes is a real one, and for physical reasons, not purely bureaucratic ones.

Hopefully someone with firsthand travel experience will confirm this shortly - maybe with a picture even?

Jake

OMG, that's horrible, Jake! They have got to figure out a way we all don't have to go thru that kind of hassle and security multiple times, etc.

I wonder if they will accept the boarding passes we print out from the PC at Flamingo? Not, no doubt.

I hope someone in authority wakes up soon.

Thanks for the update. Ayo. CArole

Unless this changes, it sounds like it's going to be more hurry up so we can wait on another line fiasco.

Carole

Good point we can check in and print our KLM boarding pass 24 hours before the flight. I will try that in March.

If you check in 24 hours in advance, what happens to your luggage? Just asking because I have never done this. Does anyone know if AE/AA allows this type of check in?

This seems like a bureaucratic mess to me. I'm willing to bet that someone found a way to save a few pennies by switching from paper to stickers and now we are going to have to deal with the repercussions. Not happy. This will make for a very stressful exit off the island.

Jeanine with KLM we can check in online and walk in with our bags the next day. I am sure other airlines can offer similar service.

AA/AE does not have early check in. When you do internet check in with KLM the day of travel you bring your luggage. The check in opens 11 AM. We were there at 11 and it took 5 min. to organize Maggie's luggage.

I left Friday for the weekend biz trip. Oh, I flew AA. I was told by Dudley/AA to check in at 5 AM. I did so and was the first in line even before he and his staff arrived. I checked in, got my departure tax and went home to shower and pack. I returned 6:45 to go inside. Piece of cake.

Traveling from Bonaire is starting to take on aspects of an ill thought out game show for this Pastafarian.

The harassment from the airport staff to rush everybody out of the check in area and through security was bad enough last time I departed. A fine example of island officiousness.

Who makes these decisions, Mr. Electrolux and Ms. Hoover? (Because I think they live in a vacuum.)

Egads! I don't think that is the smartest thing to do to folks who will now have to stand in multiple lines just to get to Immigration to yet go through more lines and longer too as they will no doubt be responsible for checking for the sticker there. I don't think the island time and getting planes off the ground in a timely fashion will mix well with this procedure at all.

Wes and I were talking about island time at breakfast. Even when you pay to have the car rental agencies open early, they show up when they want to. 6:00 means any time between 6:00 and 6:30. This is going to be ridiculous and near to impossible for single travelers. I'm envisioning getting to the airport at 5:00 and hoping AE is on time, not island time, then going to pay for my departure tax, then going to return my car.

I am normally a fan of island time, because it relaxes me. However, if you have ever experienced a trip go wrong on the last day, you know how quickly all of that relaxation turns into stress. Someone will have to crack down on all of the airport related employees, ALL of them, because this won't go well if any of them think they can stay on island time.

I left the island yesterday.
The procedure was: Check in first at the counter and then buy the departure tax (Nfl 57,60). They apply the piece of paper to your boarding pass.
They did not accept the printed boarding pass from PC.
The new security fee (Nfl 2,50) is included (resp. it is on the same bill).

That was not difficult. No row in front the counter. No chaos.

After that I brought back the car.

Thanks, Ilona! Glad to hear all went smooth at the airport.