rankourabu
Nov 26, 04, 6:47 pm
I've searched this forum, and have not found any trip reports on Bahamasair..
Since my recent move to this country I have been told many stories about the local money-losing flag carrier, Bahamasair.... I didnt believe most of them....until today.
A day trip to Nassau from Abaco was necessary for business today...
Arriving at Treasure Cay International Airport (ok so its just a shack) in the morning, I was greeted by a smiling, yet obviously disinterested check-in agent.
There is no seat assignments. The flight comes in from Marsh Harbour (25 miles down the road, <-- must be one of the shortest flights in the world you can actually buy a ticket on). Having been told that free for all seating on Bahamasair usually means the flight is overbooked, I knew to line up in the front of the boarding queue. True enough, when everyone boarded, it turned out that four people have been left standing in the aisle of the DH8.
One guy forgot something in the 'terminal' got off the plane and ran back across the airfield to get it, in the US he wouldve surely gotten arrested and thrown in jail....
These DH8's are a story of their own, they are left overs from the defunct Canadian Airlines regional service, still with their original tapestry on the seats, and loads and loads of duct tape holding various things together. My in flight magazine was from Fall 2003, I hope thats not the last time they cleaned out the plane....
Anyway, back to those unfortunate souls that were left in the aisles, they were told to get off ...and of course, this being Bahamasair, there is no such thing as compensation, you just get put on the next flight.... in 2 days in this case, or you can have your money back, and make your own way off the island. The plane took off for the 35 minute flight to Nassau, and shockingly was only 15 minutes late. The saying goes: If you have time to spare, fly Bahamasair.... not true this time.
I am not going to comment on Nassau, but having lived on Abaco, a smaller island, Nassau to me is unappealing, dull, and without character, and not really all that Bahamian. It is a rip off and a tourist trap. It is beyond me why people would go there on a holiday. True enough Paradise Island and Atlantis are great, but that is not what Bahamas really is, and there is much more attractive places in the Caribbean or in the Bahamas for that matter.
Returning this afternoon, the flight again was overbooked, but at least the people were told before they made their way out to the aircraft.
and in case youre still wandering... no there is no inflight service of any kind.
In conclusion, if want an adventure, fly Bahamasair, make sure to line up in the front of the boarding queue, and thank heavens that the routes they fly dont take more than an hour.
Since my recent move to this country I have been told many stories about the local money-losing flag carrier, Bahamasair.... I didnt believe most of them....until today.
A day trip to Nassau from Abaco was necessary for business today...
Arriving at Treasure Cay International Airport (ok so its just a shack) in the morning, I was greeted by a smiling, yet obviously disinterested check-in agent.
There is no seat assignments. The flight comes in from Marsh Harbour (25 miles down the road, <-- must be one of the shortest flights in the world you can actually buy a ticket on). Having been told that free for all seating on Bahamasair usually means the flight is overbooked, I knew to line up in the front of the boarding queue. True enough, when everyone boarded, it turned out that four people have been left standing in the aisle of the DH8.
One guy forgot something in the 'terminal' got off the plane and ran back across the airfield to get it, in the US he wouldve surely gotten arrested and thrown in jail....
These DH8's are a story of their own, they are left overs from the defunct Canadian Airlines regional service, still with their original tapestry on the seats, and loads and loads of duct tape holding various things together. My in flight magazine was from Fall 2003, I hope thats not the last time they cleaned out the plane....
Anyway, back to those unfortunate souls that were left in the aisles, they were told to get off ...and of course, this being Bahamasair, there is no such thing as compensation, you just get put on the next flight.... in 2 days in this case, or you can have your money back, and make your own way off the island. The plane took off for the 35 minute flight to Nassau, and shockingly was only 15 minutes late. The saying goes: If you have time to spare, fly Bahamasair.... not true this time.
I am not going to comment on Nassau, but having lived on Abaco, a smaller island, Nassau to me is unappealing, dull, and without character, and not really all that Bahamian. It is a rip off and a tourist trap. It is beyond me why people would go there on a holiday. True enough Paradise Island and Atlantis are great, but that is not what Bahamas really is, and there is much more attractive places in the Caribbean or in the Bahamas for that matter.
Returning this afternoon, the flight again was overbooked, but at least the people were told before they made their way out to the aircraft.
and in case youre still wandering... no there is no inflight service of any kind.
In conclusion, if want an adventure, fly Bahamasair, make sure to line up in the front of the boarding queue, and thank heavens that the routes they fly dont take more than an hour.