Please Email Jet Blue to Re-Start AZS Flights from NYC

[Buster Rhyno]

Right Riva

I posted the nucleus of a JetBlue internal memo....it was just as you say.

They use a $ per seat per mile calculation...or some variation.
They were selling seats too cheaply in order to reach the load factor .
Punta Cana absorbed the volume at higher $$....not brain surgery....

Understood, but I would be willing to pay more. As stated, the flights were mostly full when I took them. Oh well....

 

[Buster Rhyno]

? It's a pleasant two-hour drive from SDQ, which has plenty of flights going everywhere....

Besides, I'm not sure how excited I'd be about Las Terrenas becoming a major thing for east coasters. Punta Cana gets the AI crowds, Puerto Plata/Sosua get the "weekend millionaires" convinced they can turn La Gatita and her amigas into honest women.

LT is still very pleasant and, comparatively speaking, less commercialized and Americanized.

The way it is now, is just fine.

I agree with you - I love LT for the fact that I'm one of the few fat gringos on da playa

I'm not a AI fan, as well as not being a fan of driving more than 30 mins to my hotel after landing somewhere. That's why I loved AZS, going to SDQ & then up to LT & back eats a day and I have limited vaca time.

Looks like I'll be seeing Frank in Cabarete this Winter....

And driving from POP is 1.5 hrs longer than from SDQ = No Bueno

 

[william webster]

Understood, but I would be willing to pay more. As stated, the flights were mostly full when I took them. Oh well....

The reason the flights were full was because they dropped prices to fill it.

My earlier point...
My daughters Christmas ticket was $1600 when I booked it.
As the flight Day approached, it went to $800.

I successfully applied for a refund.....

That's how they fill a plane...with cheap seats.
The Punta Cana flights sell higher.
Which route would you serve , as JetBlue?

 

[Buster Rhyno]

The reason the flights were full was because they dropped prices to fill it.

My earlier point...
My daughters Christmas ticket was $1600 when I booked it.
As the flight Day approached, it went to $800.

I successfully applied for a refund.....

That's how they fill a plane...with cheap seats.
The Punta Cana flights sell higher.
Which route would you serve , as JetBlue?

No I get it - then raise the fare to AZS.

I think we paid between $325 & $425 R/T from JFK to AZS, between 2013 & 2015.

I'd pay under $500 to go. To me if they raised the fare a reasonable rate, the people who used those flights would still use them.

 

[william webster]

They tried that...raising the fares ... didn't work.

Planes were under filled...
Witness the half price I eventually paid for my daughter 

I remember how cheap those JFK to AZS were....and loved it.

But that's history....dead, gone buried 

 

[Africaida]

During high season which I am stuck into because of the kids as many people, the price were ridiculous (1500 USD !!). I still flew into SDQ and came out cheaper that way including Taxis IDA and Vuelta (or friends picking us up).

As much as I love DR, I am not paying 1600*3 (nearly 4000 dollars !) for a 3.5 hours flights, I rather watch the fireworks on Copabana or chill in Koh Lanta for that price. Heck, I am sure I could get a good 10 days in all inclusive in Punta Cana for that price at the same period....And then they wonder why it never took off.

Not regrets

 

[Expat13]

I did that a year ago and got a response that it was not a profitable route which I think is a bs answer. If think the problem is the cost of fees charged by the company that runs the El Catey Airport. They have few flights coming in so they charge un-competitive rates to try to cover their costs. It would behoove the DR gov to work out a deal with an airline out of the NYC area to fly into El Catey. I can't understand why this is not a priority for their tourism minister in growing the business on the Samana Peninsula. The DR gov invests in the cost of building the airport but don't have an understanding on what airlines need to be able to fly into there. It is not that complicated to sit down with airline executives and find out what the problems are and fix them to make it as easy as possible for tourists to come. It is the same old story. These politicans don't want to be involved unless there is something in it for them. Very sad.

I think language barrier is the problem.

 

[jeb321]

During high season which I am stuck into because of the kids as many people, the price were ridiculous (1500 USD !!). I still flew into SDQ and came out cheaper that way including Taxis IDA and Vuelta (or friends picking us up).

As much as I love DR, I am not paying 1600*3 (nearly 4000 dollars !) for a 3.5 hours flights, I rather watch the fireworks on Copabana or chill in Koh Lanta for that price. Heck, I am sure I could get a good 10 days in all inclusive in Punta Cana for that price at the same period....And then they wonder why it never took off.

Not regrets

Hi Africaida.  No you do not want 10 days here in PC at all inclusive.  Too many really awful low low quality tourists with equally terrible hotels now here. Not to mention traffic. Ugh! LT sounds so much nicer.  PC is now so disappointing with what they have and continue to turn it into.
I can hardly begin to describe it. ?????? Brazil sounds purty good.

 

[william webster]

'Frica....
I hope checked on the price changes for those $$$ flights.

In addition to my daughter's refund, her boyfriend flew in a couple of days later.
We mentioned it to him - he checked and got $200+ off his fare.

As for Steve's comments about excessive airport fees,
I would need supporting info on that.
PC is a privately run operated airport... I wonder what their charges are?

I do know this... they hate to fill up here (airlines)... $$$fuel

 

[Africaida]

'Frica....
I hope checked on the price changes for those $$$ flights.

In addition to my daughter's refund, her boyfriend flew in a couple of days later.
We mentioned it to him - he checked and got $200+ off his fare.

Did you get a refund as your cc was refunded or money as credits for future travel ?

I need my money in my hands, I am old school

 

[william webster]

I like your profile pic..............

Travel credit.........used quickly on the next ticket... Easter

 

[william webster]

Doubled up/down

 

[Africaida]

I like your profile pic..............

Travel credit.........used quickly on the next ticket... Easter

I know :bandit:

I wouldn't want that, don't want to be stuck to JB, Like Delta better lately (better schedule and easier for me to accrue Skymiles and no charge on luggages).

 

[Buster Rhyno]

Finally received email back from Dominican Tourism NYC office

Hello,
Right now we do not have direct flights to Samana. My recommendation is to travel by the airport of Santo Domingo and then to Samana, either rent a car or a taxi.

Best,

Rossanna Morillo


My response will go something like this - No bueno, I'm a Gringo Yankee and by Dios, I want my direct flight!

 

[william webster]

FYI Buster

Toronto (YYZ) to AZS is about $400 USD R/T in September
If you can Beat your feet to Canada

 

[Buster Rhyno]

FYI Buster

Toronto (YYZ) to AZS is about $400 USD R/T in September
If you can Beat your feet to Canada

Been looking at that - but would need to fly to YYZ from NYC.

And would be looking for a flights between Jan & April

I'll take another look at that route

 

[william webster]

Montreal too.....

The Toronto flight leaves at 10am in winter... time for the flight from NYC...
Wetsjet all the way

I flew POP - YYZ - London UK.... cheap !!! In February

worth a call.... 1-888-westjet --- or something like that

 

[reilleyp]

Montreal too.....

The Toronto flight leaves at 10am in winter... time for the flight from NYC...
Wetsjet all the way

I flew POP - YYZ - London UK.... cheap !!! In February

worth a call.... 1-888-westjet --- or something like that

There appears to be no WestJet flights from Toronto to AZS for the first three weeks on November. Is this common? Any idea why?

 

[william webster]

You're right --I have it on my screen...

I have flown in that period... I'm sure.

Again, call and ask.

A westJet plus is dog flying--- cheap and good
I have a friend from Vermont who ships 2 dogs ... drives to Montreal to fly.

 

[reilleyp]

There appears to be no WestJet flights from Toronto to AZS for the first three weeks on November. Is this common? Any idea why?

Appears to be normal. From their website;
Samaná - Toronto
1x weekly
Jul 24, 2017 - Oct 29, 2017
Samaná - Toronto
1x weekly
Nov 20, 2017 - Apr 28, 2018