Getting to Roatan via Air Miles

[jbird71]

I'd like to head to Roatan April 7th - 16th (ish), and am hoping to use my air miles. The most economical way to do this is to use points to get to a hub close to Roatan, and then use a local airline to get me the final leg.

Do any US hubs service Roatan directly? What's the most common way to get there?

Thanks in advance!

[gb_williams]

Delta flies direct to Roatan from Atlanta on Saturdays. I believe Continental flies direct from Houston.

[hdtran]

I got 1 free ticket to Roatan via Continental from my origination city (which is served by Continental). I change aircraft in Houston. Depending on the date that you travel, the miles required will vary. The Sat/Sat trips tend to require higher miles than other days of the week.

The cost of going R/T on Continental from Houston is < $800. Going R/T from Atlanta on Delta is a bit under < $900.

Going TACA from Houston is less expensive than Continental, but you'll change airplanes some more, which I consider sub-optimal.

DandyDon is Scubaboard's expert on travel web sites, and can probably chime in on best airfares. I think there's a thread here a month or two old, about the changing airfares to Roatan.

Best of luck!

[RTBDiver]

I have been flying to Roatan on Delta miles 3-4 times a year since Delta started flying here

[BettyinToronto]

Maybe Rich from Fanatasy Island will jump in. Last week he was telling me about a great deal from a southern US city. Can't remember which one as I won't fly to through the US but cost from there to Roatan was really cheap. You could use 25k points to get there and then pay the extra.

[herbdb]

We flew from Newark through Houston for 35K miles each last December on Continental.

[LynnB]

Maybe Rich from Fanatasy Island will jump in. Last week he was telling me about a great deal from a southern US city. Can't remember which one as I won't fly to through the US but cost from there to Roatan was really cheap. You could use 25k points to get there and then pay the extra.

Betty how would I get in touch with Rich to find out this info?

thanks

[herbdb]

Betty how would I get in touch with Rich to find out this info?

thanks

Try this one: Rich@Time2Dive.com

I used it coordinating our stay.

Herb

[CajunDiva]

Lynn, Rich is on his way back from the island. He mentioned the flight to me...it is Spirit Airlines out of Ft. Lauderdale, connecting through San Pedro Sula.

[RTBDiver]

Spirit is quite cheap and does have some decent deals but they charge for carryon, checked luggage and everything you can think of and their schedule likely will require a stayover on the mainland for at least one leg of the journey so what is all that worth? If you lose even one day and maybe more then what is the value per vacation day along with hotels and cab on the mainland? Spirit has teased about direct to Roatan from Fort Lauderdale but so far that is not an option,

[CajunDiva]

I wish they WOULD introduce direct flights...the Roatan market needs more competition to drive the prices down :catfight:

[RTBDiver]

I wish they WOULD introduce direct flights...the Roatan market needs more competition to drive the prices down :catfight:

:rofl3::rofl3:
Thats what I would expect someone with little experience in Roatan travel to mention but NOT the Diva.. Come on?? For years I flew TACA direct from Miami for around $200 US R/T, their prices went up a little to the mid $300 range and continental came in and all cheered how the competition would bring prices down... NEVER Happened, Then a short time after, delta came in and the same folks Cheered that competition would drop prices and GUESS WHAT??? Never happened. Prices were cheapest when there were fewer options, If the trend were to continue and spirit began a direct flight then prices would go up even higher.
TACA For a long time had good prices and IMHO Great service on their direct flights but got bullied out, let whe whiners pay their high prices, who cares, I am flying on miles with Delta or Continental or even my back up TACA miles. If Roatan were as cheap and easy as a Cozumel trip then it would already be totally ruined

[CajunDiva]

:rofl3::rofl3:
Thats what I would expect someone with little experience in Roatan travel to mention but NOT the Diva.. Come on??

:rofl3::rofl3::rofl3: Busted! I confess...I do not have the years of experience you do - I bow to your superior knowledge :D I do fly to the island multiple times each year, but only have about 10 years under my belt...so far!

One would expect that flights to Roatan would be subject to the same economic conditions as other markets in the economy (hence my assumption), but I suppose there are MANY things in Roatan that don't turn out quite the way one would expect :D

[RTBDiver]

:I suppose there are MANY things in Roatan that don't turn out quite the way one would expect :D

When the government is concerned. MOST things on Roatan are not what you would expect, BUT on a FI note, I did see a unch of boxes for them from amphibico or something like that waiting at the dock. Another thing that would not be expected is those ready and willing to pay duty on items still have hoops to jump through, you would think they would grab the money and run