Does anyone have any WINAIR stories? I have one.(FYI do not fly WinAir)

[scubamarc]

Last year myself and a few buddies went to SABA though ST. Martin on WINAIR Airlines. When we landed in SABA our luggage was not on the plane. So me and my buddies were annoyed but things happen.

This year we did the trip again. More issues with WINAIR. In the weeks prior to the trip after booking the tickets online, I received an email asking to send a copy of my passport and credit card. I did some research and found WINAIR does do this stupidity so it was not a scam. Still, I will not do it. I called WINAIR and asked them if I can verify the paperwork in person in ST Martin prior to the trip. They said ok. 2 days prior to going to SABA I went the main WINAIR office and received a printed confirmation for the flight. 2 days later getting ready to board the plane. The ticket agent said there were no reservations. We showed them the printed confirmation and said that it did not matter if was not in the computer. We did not want to miss the flight so we said we will rebook the flight and deal with the extra $$$ when we get back. The agent tried to get us seat but claimed the plan was full. Now we were screwed with hotel and dive reservations with no way to get to the island.

Since we had no options with the plane we decided to try to get the ferry to SABA. The ferry was perfect!!! We got to the ferry terminal, waited on line and got 3 tickets to saba. NO ISSUES.

If anyone is going to SABA, take the ferry.



BTW, SeaSaba were great in handling the missing dive gear and gave us free rentals for the 1st years trip and on the second years fiasco let us do a rebook our first 2 dives.

On the ferry ride back to St. Martin, the ferry operators gave us non stop beer for the entire ride back. Very Nice crew and boat.

[SlvrDragon50]

Hmm.. never even heard of WinAir..

How long was the ferry ride?

[mchain]

I've not spent much time in the NY area so I'm pretty lost as far as your story is concerned. Hope I don't look stupid but what is SABA?

[ntburchf]

Originally Posted by mchain

I've not spent much time in the NY area so I'm pretty lost as far as your story is concerned. Hope I don't look stupid but what is SABA?

Guessing it's
Saba - The Official Website of the Saba Tourist Bureau
or
Saba - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Saba C-Transport, N.V. DAWN II - The Saba Ferry traveling to Saba & Sint Maarten three times a week.

[scubamarc]

Originally Posted by ntburchf

Guessing it's
Saba - The Official Website of the Saba Tourist Bureau
or
Saba - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Saba C-Transport, N.V. DAWN II - The Saba Ferry traveling to Saba & Sint Maarten three times a week.

This is all correct, sorry for leaving it out.

[scubamarc]

The ferry ride is around 1:15 minutes.

I forgot to mention, when SeaSaba picked us up and we told them we could not rebook the flight, SeaSaba said there was only 4 people on the plane. 12 open seats. Winair said it was completely booked.

[scubasamurai]

hey that sounds like the islands hahahah welcome to st marteens!! i have some LIAT airline storeis as well. always take the ferry from st marteens this way no dealing with the dive fly issues and yes i klnow it is a non pressurized cabin but still, i loved drinking on the ferry back!!! sorry to hear your troubles, but that is how most people learn about the islands especially getting to saba which is really still abd very isolated island.

hope you had fun diving the tubes