My frustrating BWIA experience

[Kristine White]

Just wanted to share my experience with potential people traveling to Tobago. We originally were supose to leave Boston and fly to Miami and then Miami to Tobago....Well plans changed to Boston-Atlanta-Miami- Tobago. When we arrived in Miami the lady then tells us we have to stop first now in Trinidad and then go get our luggage and board ANOTHER plane to go to Tobago.....arriving later than originally planned. We left my apartment in Boston at 4am and arrived at our guesthouse at 11:15pm...so that turned out to be about 19 hours of travel. Exhausting and very frustrating. We then proceeded to have a fabulous week in Tobago and hoped out return would be easier. We were suppose to fly directly from Tobago to New York and then New York to Boston....well they then threw in the stop over in Antigua. I asked the women why no one ever told us about all these extra stops and she said they don't tell you...but they should. The feeling that I got from the locals who frequently fly to the States or Europe is that they avoid BWIA. Has anyone else experienced this. Oh yeah one other thing...when i called to confirm the flight schedule the day before we left the lady told me to arrive at the airport 3hrs early for my 7:30am flight. I said 4:30am?...will anyone be there...oh yes it takes that long to check everyone in. After getting to the airport we saw a huge sign that says for international flights check in 1 and a half hours before....when i asked what time the people arrive to work they said 5:30- 5:45am.....thanks again bwia!!

[Allan K.]

Hi Kristine

I came across what someone else thinks of BWIA.......

It hurts my heart to say this, but you should probably avoid the Trinidad national airline, British West Indian Airways. I once loved to fly "BWEE", with it's Trini food, atmosphere and airline hostesses, but recently there have been too many canceled flights, confiscated airliners, stranded passengers, government bailouts and too much lost luggage to ignore. Trinis call BWIA "Been Waitin' In de Airport","Better Wish It Arrive" and "Baggage Wandering Internationally Again".

[Dianne O.]

Hi, Kristine. I also live in the US and had a very frustrating experience with BWIA when I attempted to book my flight with them for my December trip to Tobago. Needless to say, it was so concerning that I cancelled my reservations with BWIA and am flying American from Dallas to Houston, and Continental from Houston to Miami and then to Trinidad. From everything I have read on this site, you are much better off flying to Trinidad on an American airline and spending the night and then taking Tobago Express into Tobago the next morning. Glad you had a wonderful trip in spite of the hassle--I can't wait to go!!