Dutch Antilles Express Passenger Reviews and Customer Trip Reports

We flew on the 5th of April from Curaçao to Miami. Flight was delayed 2 hours without any notification in advance. Back from Miami to Curaçao the flight was again delayed 9 hrs! The worst part was that the flight should have left at 7 am in the morning. Therefore we woke up at 3.40 am and drove to the MIA Airport just to be told that the flight was cancelled in the morning.

We just returned from the ABC's last week. The only problems we encountered were with Dutch Antilles Express Airlines DAE. We had flights with DAE going between the islands and back again to Aruba on the last day. Our first flight with DAE was at 8am from Aruba to Curacao. The gates were changed twice and we would had sat there all day if a fellow passenger had not told us they had changed it. We finally got off the ground at 4pm. The 15 minute flight to Bonaire from Curacao was the same with a 10 hour delay. No one had any info on when or if the flight would go until the last minute. Onboard the plane, seats had been double and triple booked. DAE was late taking off on the trip back but only by an hour. They rushed us off the plane in Curacao to go through customs and right back on to the same plane. Arrived in Aruba 30 minutes later but our luggage was not to be found. DAE was no help at all in recovering the luggage. A worker at luggage claims for the airport tracked it down for us.

Our group of 4 experienced a 7 hr delay on Curacao to Bonaire flight Jan 24, 2013. Believe it was due to mechanical failure. We never received an email to inform us of any delays. Return flight Jan 31 - same thing. Another 6 hrs and 15 minutes. This time we expected trouble with DAE and kept our hotel until flight time. In total DAE took a day of our vacation away from us. We had one more flight booked (and paid) for with DAE but flew INSEL instead. Never again will I fly DAE and I will make sure the world knows how unreliable they are.

A month before our trip to Curacao, we booked an island hopping trip for Jan 8 from Curacao to Bonaire and back the same day, and for Jan 10 to Aruba and back the same day. Flight to Bonaire was 3 hours late with a different flight number which means they canceled our scheduled flight but they don't admit to that. Our trip home that afternoon was canceled. Nobody behind the counter, we had to search them out. Eventually they bought us a ticket on Insel to get us back. On Thursday, our non-stop to Aruba eventually became a one stop by way of Bonaire 4 hours later. Again our original flight was canceled, but they don't admit it. By the time we got to Aruba, we had to deal with out flight back to Curacao which was posted 3 hours late. How can a 20 minute flight be 4 hours late? This is not just a one time thing if you read the other reviews.

My husband and I both flew from Aruba to Caracas changing planes in Curacao in December 2012 but one week apart. My husband warned me before my flight that Aruba was a mess, referring to Dutch Antilles Express specifically. Later that same day from Curacao he informed me that his plane was delayed, without any information as to when he would leave. He left 3 hours late which resulted in him not being able to get his rental car in Maiquetia (CCS). A week later I embarked. Flight leaving Aruba was 4 hours late and there were no DAE representatives in sight until just before the plane became available. I thought I had surely missed my connecting flight in Curacao but DAE had also delayed that one - 5 hours. Once we were on the plane there was a row of 3 seats disconnected from the floor at one end. Obviously no one would sit there and we had to wait for it to be fixed. Pay more for quality and service.

MIA 9 Dec 2012 to Flamingo Airport Bonaire to return 18 Dec 2012. Flight to CUR departed and arrived on schedule, but, my flight to Bonaire was non-existent. Apparently their plane had been out of service since late November. I was told that I would be placed on a later flight. What I was not aware was the flight was 11 hours later and I had to leave transit (paying tax) in order to talk to DAE rep. Thankfully I was placed on the last flight to Bonaire - Tiara Air. Prior to my return I ensured DAE had a plane for my BON-CUR, but, due to fuel/money issues my 20.30 flight did not depart until 1.00 am landing at MIA 4am. I was given meal vouchers but I will never use again.

We were supposed to fly from St Martin at 10 am to Curaçao. The day before we received an email stating we now have to go to Santa Domingo then Curacao adding 4 hours to a 1 hr flight. The crew were very nice but utterly clueless. We go to leave Curaçao scheduled time 10 am, get to the airport to find out the flight had been changed to 11am. I am writing this at 11.30 and the plane hasn't even landed yet and would have to be cleaned and refuelled. Counter staff say its going to be a little late, maybe 12.30 like its ok? Never Again. The best thing was we paid extra for business class! Guess what? There is no business class, the whole plane is economy.

My husband and I travelled on 18 November to Miami. Flight was on time and the staff friendly and accommodating. Service was top touch. Unlimited drinks served along with dinner. Already planning my next trip on Dutch Antilles Express.

An unexpected airport tax had to be paid at departure and transit. There is no indication of this when you book the ticket. The tax for departure is $30/person, which, for a flight of 25 minutes (Aruba to Curacao) is so steep that the economics of the trip changes and that another airline would have been much cheaper. We consider this practice unfair. In addition, the check-in process is extremely inefficient. It took the check-in person over 1 hour to check in 3 groups with a total of 12 people. There is no online or kiosk check-in.

Trip Rating :  9/10

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Economy

Trip Rating :  0/10

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Economy

Trip Rating :  8/10

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Economy

Trip Rating :  0/10

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Economy

Trip Rating :  1/10

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Economy

Trip Rating :  0/10

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Economy

Trip Rating :  0/10

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Economy

Trip Rating :  0/10

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Economy

Trip Rating :  7/10

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Economy

Trip Rating :  6/10

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Economy

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