U.S. Air

[Island Notes]

U.S. Air has cancelled all flights to Marsh Harbour. Period. They will not be flying to Abaco anytime soon.

If you already have a confirmed reservation / tickets you should contact
US Air as soon as possible. They will probably tell you not to worry and they should be flying by then but, you can certainly expect to receive a call 7-21 days ahead of your flight reconnecting you via Bahamasair.
It's not going to cost you any money but it may cost you some time.

If you are planning a trip to Abaco you should avoid using US Air for the leg from Florida to Abaco despite whatever your travel agent or on-line travel service tells you. U.S. Air has their schedule "published" but they are not currently flying into Marsh Harbour.

[AbacoPeach]

My last conversation with U.S. Air is they are only doing re-ticketing a week at a time. Sure doesn't give you much time to make other reservations with the crap flights they give you in return!!!! And, yes, when I was asking for a refund, the ticket agent specifically said, "We are not flying to Marsh Harbour"!

[diannedri]

We're starting to wonder how they'll reschedule us for busy Christmas week (from New England!!) if it's needed... and it's starting to look like it'll be needed. I've called US Air several times and have heard all the excuses. Guess I'll keep looking for back-up plans. Very grateful to this board for the heads-up!

[AbacoPeach]

Definitely have a back-up plan!! When I talked to U.S. Air a couple of weeks ago before they cancelled our flight, I had already looked for back-up plans but the U.S. Air agent talked me out of following through with it!!

[Red Jacket]

Just got off the phone with USA and cancelled my tickets at no charge. Full refund of $ 788. The agent said that USA will no longer be flying to MHH after Jan 9.

Seems like thay are stopping service earlier than that with what is posted here.

Suggest you all check if you have USA tickets.

Re booked with Continental at $ 300 per person for a 3 month stay. That is $188 less than USA.

Continental also advised that a visa was required for stays of over 30 days. Anyone know about this or where a visa can be obtained?

Toby

[ncdd]

This may give you the information that you are looking forhttp://www.un.int/bahamas/tourist%20visa%20info.htm

[steamboat]

Just got off the phone with US Air International reservations (currently holding 3 US Air tickets for travel to MHH in June 2005) and the story I got was that this board knew more than the reservationist (very nice lady and very helpful). What she found out from her supervisor after I explained what had been discussed here was that they are trying to locate a carrier that will honor their existing tickets after they cease service to MHH (she didn't tell me when the current service would cease) but they do not currently have a contract with anyone that will do that. I asked about getting put on the BahamasAir flight from PBI to MHH as that seemed logical but to garrauntee a seat, they would have to refund the ticket price and then re-issue the tickets for the entire flight (BahamasAir has not decided to accept the existing US Air reservations for after the cancellation of service but is apparently doing so now on a short term basis). I'm not sure I will wait to see what US Air does about this issue but the reservationist said it should be worked out one way or another in a couple of weeks to a month. Hope this makes sense and helps the other board participants holding US Air tickets.

[diannedri]

Thanks to this board, I no longer have to worry about Christmas week! Just called USAir and a supervisor agreed, they no longer fly into MHH. They searched said they could not find any other available flights for 12/25- 1/2 but could search for other flights NEAR those dates.... or I could get a refund! I put my back-up plan into motion and thanks to Spirit Air and Yellow Taxi ( and of course, this board!) we will have a Merry Christmas in the Abacos. Only a few hours late and a few (ok, many) dollars later!! I just feel sorry for those who haven't kept track of other options since many flights are down to 0-1 seats left!!

[AbacoPeach]

I know exactly what you mean. I feel like I pulled a rabbit out of the hat when I was able to obtain other flight arrangements just a week before we were to leave!! Just so glad we are still able to go. I would have stayed home before I would taken that garbage U.S. Air offered us!

[CATNAPSzzz]

Just got off the phone with USA and cancelled my tickets at no charge. Full refund of $ 788. The agent said that USA will no longer be flying to MHH after Jan 9.

Seems like thay are stopping service earlier than that with what is posted here.

Suggest you all check if you have USA tickets.

Re booked with Continental at $ 300 per person for a 3 month stay. That is $188 less than USA.

Continental also advised that a visa was required for stays of over 30 days. Anyone know about this or where a visa can be obtained?

Toby
Hi Toby! Hoping to go but haven't booked with Continental yet. Please let us know what you find out about this Visa thing.Regards to Gretch.
Best,

Harry

[CATNAPSzzz]

Person I talked to says they believe that whoever gave you the info was confused in how they explained things. Nothing has changed. Believe they were trying to restate to you what you already know...that for stays over 30 days Bahamian Gov. has right to approve your stay rather than it being a given.
Anyhow, no visa needed.See you there I hope!

[Rub-a-Dub-Dub]

Here's a report of what US Scare's CEO, Bruce Lakefield, said yeterday during a bankruptcy court break:

"The nation's seventh-largest airline is experiencing a drop-off in bookings as it approaches the busy holiday travel season, and Lakefield attributed the downturn to the recent strike threats from unions. At the same time, he said: 'Our employees keep working hard. They are professional.' Workers 'want this airline to survive as much as management wants this airline to survive.'"

I wonder if he is aware of things like flight cancellations when the airline simply chooses not to fly because of low passenger loads, or saying that the airline flies somewhere when it really doesn't (like to MHH), or the inability of any employee to tell the truth about anything relating to the airline, or the delivery of a higher-quality service by the airline's competitors, and on and on and on and on. I would say that the drop-off in bookings reflects the low level of confidence the public has in the airline's survival. Lakefield's comments reflect too much positive thinking and not enough intelligent thinking.