Blasted airlines, always making it tougher!

[DandyDon]

I'll be there at for a week starting Thanksgiving day. Maybe I will see you there.

If you stay for Valentines Day maybe.

No, my first paragraph said "I'd really like to see the eagle rays before I get too old for all of this. My favorite Op tells me December thru February is almost guaranteed for those beauties. I am not about to get on a plane in December, so I looked at the next two months."

I didn't organize a SB Supper last trip. I should do that more often. I see that Chief has one at El More.

 

[WetInPortland]

I looked at the next two months."

My bad, I missed the nuance and thought you meant two months from now.

As for the rest, see?! It's not so bad! And if you're staying downtown and can't find a bicycle porter, the taxists shouldn't gouge you too much. Or call me and I'll help you drag your gear up to the hotel.

 

[JamesBon92007]

I didn't quite get the layover part--are you flying out of Texas? If so, why would you need to change planes? That's one of the places where I sometimes change planes. Here in Sunny Southern California we have a choice--we can fly out of Ontario (ONT) on SWA and only have to drive 20 minutes to get there, but we may end up in Denver in the middle of a storm and get stuck (again). Even if we don't get stuck there is still a layover. If we drive further (1hr, 15 mins) to LAX we can often get a direct flight to CUN. Not only that, but the direct flights from LAX are cheaper. The airport parking is usually cheaper too. Is there possibly another airport you can get to with better flights? Personally I'd rather drive to LAX and not have to board the plane in Cancun dressed for sub-zero temperatures.

I have only been to Cozumel during November and December and have seen some very large eagle rays, usually over the more sandy areas. Unfortunately I have not been there enough times to remember which reef I was on--maybe another ten trips or so and maybe I'll begin to remember the names.

 

[kelemvor]

I didn't quite get the layover part--are you flying out of Texas? If so, why would you need to change planes? That's one of the places where I sometimes change planes. Here in Sunny Southern California we have a choice--we can fly out of Ontario (ONT) on SWA and only have to drive 20 minutes to get there, but we may end up in Denver in the middle of a storm and get stuck (again). Even if we don't get stuck there is still a layover. If we drive further (1hr, 15 mins) to LAX we can often get a direct flight to CUN. Not only that, but the direct flights from LAX are cheaper. The airport parking is usually cheaper too. Is there possibly another airport you can get to with better flights? Personally I'd rather drive to LAX and not have to board the plane in Cancun dressed for sub-zero temperatures.

I have only been to Cozumel during November and December and have seen some very large eagle rays, usually over the more sandy areas. Unfortunately I have not been there enough times to remember which reef I was on--maybe another ten trips or so and maybe I'll begin to remember the names.

It's because he's flying out of Lubbock airport instead of Dallas/Ft. Worth. Apparently no airline flies directly from Lubbock to Cozumel just as no airline flies directly from Tampa to Cozumel (so I have to take a layover/change planes).

 

[DandyDon]

I didn't quite get the layover part--are you flying out of Texas? If so, why would you need to change planes?

It's always at least two flights to anywhere for me, which has encouraged me to dive a variety of destinations. Seattle, Long Beach CA, Florida, North Carolina WWII wrecks, Belize, Roatan, Coz or Cancun - two flights each way. Getting to Montreal to dive the Saint Lawrence was three planes each way.

Apparently no airline flies directly from Lubbock to Cozumel

Or hardly anywhere else. Non-stop to Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Denver, and maybe a very few others with SWA.

Is there possibly another airport you can get to with better flights?

Amarillo is not much further, but no help on this one. Good to check tho. Midland has lower fares, but that's too far to interest me. I've driven to Abilene for lower fares but only when my Lubbock kids were flying with me.

 

[Snoweman]

From AA.com: "Customers flying Basic Economy are now allowed 1 free carry-on (in addition to a personal item) to all destinations."

I guess that changed two weeks ago... American Airlines Surrenders To Reality On Basic Economy

 

[DandyDon]

Here's a travel tip to share: I bought paper straws to carry in my car and use instead of cheaper plastic straws furnished by food establishments. A pain to carry, but I made a transport case out of 1" PVC. Last month I took it in my roll-on bag when I flew to Cozumel. It took longer to get thru TSA! I put it in checked bags for the return trip, and fortunately they didn't confiscate it.

 

[JamesBon92007]

Here's a travel tip to share: I bought paper straws to carry in my car and use instead of cheaper plastic straws furnished by food establishments. A pain to carry, but I made a transport case out of 1" PVC. Last month I took it in my roll-on bag when I flew to Cozumel. It took longer to get thru TSA! I put it in checked bags for the return trip, and fortunately they didn't confiscate it.
View attachment 480464

Yes, they can be kinda fussy about pipes with end caps after the ferry explosion

 

[horn34]

I guess that changed two weeks ago... American Airlines Surrenders To Reality On Basic Economy

Yep. It's the only reason I'm flying AA into COZ in November and not doing the CUN bag drag.

 

[JamesBon92007]

Yep. It's the only reason I'm flying AA into COZ in November and not doing the CUN bag drag.

Funny, but those are the same reasons that I still fly Southwest and do the bag drag. I finally managed to get all my gear in my carry-on and back pack (small, under-the-seat item). I suppose I could check the carry-on but to me checked bags are a PITA. What are the airfares like to CZM (COZ is the Dominican Replublic) ? It would have to be comparable (including ADO and ferry) and not hundreds more for me to quit the bag drag.