Steve Wooler wrote:Reliability is not a feature that springs to mind when one thinks of Tobago Express.
No comment!
Michele, I flew, from London to Tobago in both October 2006 and January 2007, to go on to Trinidad and then back again to Tobago to catch my return flight. Whilst "reliable" or even "on time" are two phrases one would not normally associate with Tobago Express, my experiences have been otherwise... good ie. the staff were very friendly and helpful in getting me sorted out.
From my experiences, which were by no means smooth, you do have to be 'politely pushy'. By this I mean, to tell the staff you have an international flight to catch and as a lot of the international flights close their flights between 1-1.5hrs before takeover, you have to be ULTRA clear and definite about what time you need to be at the airport and that you have an international flight to catch. Also, to keep in mind that the Tobago Express planes carry 30-40 people, if so much?
In November, my flight to Tobago was cancelled (was due to leave Piarco around 3pm?). There was apparently engine failure and only one plane was flying. The guy in Piarco tried telling me that he could put me on a flight that was due to arrive in Tobago around 6.30pm. My Virgin Atlantic flight was due to leave just after 7.30pm. I insisted that I had to be on an earlier flight and whilst there was one, he said it was full and he 'insisted' that I could only catch the one arriving into Tobago at 6.30pm. I 'insisted even more' that that flight would not work for me. In the end, I bade my family goodbye, went through to the waiting room and made myself known to a member of the checkin staff, explaining that I had to be in Tobago for the Virgin Atlantic flight. About 4.30pm, a flight was called and I and a few other passengers for international flights from Scarbourgh were put on it. Whilst I made it, my luggage didn't! I then went to the Tobago Express office in Scarborough Airport and made myself known.
I think there was another flight which arrived but my luggage still was not on it. I went to Virgin Atlantic, explained what had happened regarding my luggage and from recollection, they checked me in, pending my luggage arriving. My luggage finally made in on the flight that arrived at 6.30pm and I rushed, like a wild woman
, back to the Virgin Atlantic desk. They completed their paperwork and I caught the flight. If I had ARRIVED into Tobago at 6.30pm, collected my luggage and then went to Virgin Atlantic, I most likely would not have been able to get the flight as the flight would have closed. I do not know if the staff are able to be 'lenient/flexible' as it is a small airport. I certainly didn't want to have to find out!
In January, I was on a Virgin flight arriving into Scarbourgh about 1pm I believe it was. There was a Tobago Express flight at 1.45 which I wanted to be on, and was on standby for. The luggage area for Tobago is very small - am still waiting on the government to spend some of the petrodollars to expand it! I was waiting for what seemed like a lifetime for the luggage to appear. Once again, I 'made myself known'. I spoke to the Customs/Immigration guy and explained that I was trying to make the Tobago Express flight to Trinidad. He kindly let me through so that I could go the Tobago Express Desk and eventually, their office on site - I had to leave my passport with him. (My sister had changed my flights altogether, but that is another story!) I did have to end up dealing with one of the managers, but in the end, she booked me onto the 1.45pm flight, with the hope (and prayers!) that my luggage would come through in time. After much running back and forth between the luggage room (it is really just a room) and Tobago Express, and amusing those standing around, my luggage appeared. I sped through Customs & Immigration (the guys and fellow passengers allowed me to queue jump - I think because once again, I had made myself known and what my circumstances were). I ran, once again like a wild woman
, made it to the Tobago Express desk with about one minute to spare and then ran through Passport Control to get the flight on to Trinidad. Oh, and my luggage made it!
Looking at Tobago Express' website:
http://www.tobagoexpress.com it shows the following times (copied below) which may also apply for Saturdays/weekends, but I am unclear about this. Seeing as you will need to wait for your luggage to appear in Port of Spain and there is a risk (potentially big one) of flight cancellations or delays, I would suggest you leave Tobago earlier. Perhaps on the 9.45am flight? At least, then you have some small leeway for any problems.
Tobago - Port of Spain
06:40 07:05
08:05 08:30
08:40 09:05
09:45 10:10
10:30 10:55
11:45 12:10
The time in Piarco airport will fly fast, between waiting to check in for your Miami flight and browsing the Duty Free shops, even if you don't buy anything! Otherwise, a good book/magazine...
Bottomline - make yourself known and that you have an international flight to catch. Being pleasant and polite yourself, plus maintaining your sense of humour, goes without saying!!!
Some of what I was able to accomplish with the assistance of the Customs/Immigration guys and the Tobago Express staff (and Virgin Atlantic also), would most likely not have been possible in a larger airport, such as the ones in London. So, whilst I am grateful to them, as someone keeps telling me, if you don't ask, you don't get! Or in other words, "ask and you are more likely to receive".
Hope the above helps...