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-   -   Domestic flights in Belize (https://www.fodors.com/community/mexico-and-central-america/domestic-flights-in-belize-1668282/)

Jeff_Costa_Rica Jun 14th, 2019 04:09 PM

Domestic flights in Belize
 
Any preference between Maya Island Air or Tropic Air? I have a work trip to Belize coming up and am looking to avoid a bus trip of several hours from Punta Gorda to Belize City. Thanks.

hopefulist Jun 14th, 2019 08:57 PM

I’ve had good experiences with both, but after some really stellar customer service from Tropic Air I’ve chosen them every time in recent years.

MisterB2 Jun 15th, 2019 06:19 AM

Some people have their favourite, but both airlines offer good service.

Jeff_Costa_Rica Jun 15th, 2019 07:22 AM

Thank you, hopefulist and MisterB2. It's good to get input from both of you.

volcanogirl Jun 15th, 2019 08:41 AM

We've used Tropic Air and were very happy with them, no experience with the other provider.

Jeff_Costa_Rica Jun 15th, 2019 08:56 AM

Thanks, volcanogirl. That's two votes for Tropic Air. ;)

Costa Rica and Panama are now down to one scheduled domestic airline each after many years of having two. Tinier Belize still manages to support two.

volcanogirl Jun 16th, 2019 06:51 AM

Yes, sorry to see Nature Air go. Hope you have a a great trip.

Jeff_Costa_Rica Jun 17th, 2019 07:27 AM

Thanks, volcanogirl. The trip will be to update the Fodor's guide to Belize.

It's always troubled me that Nature Air could crumble so quickly. AIrlines do survive plane crashes. Not to minimize the crash that occurred over Christmas 2017, but that was the end of the airline and it all happened very fast. There must have been something more wrong with operations than we realized.

volcanogirl Jun 17th, 2019 08:57 AM

That's exciting; hope all goes well. I agree, it all happened so quickly, kind of shocking.

MisterB2 Jun 18th, 2019 06:52 AM

Here's a TA post from a customer who has used both, and is satisfied with both...
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopi...ize_Cayes.html

volcanogirl Jun 18th, 2019 07:22 AM

We had an interesting experience on one of our Tropic Air flights. There was a kid on our flight who wanted to be a pilot, and the pilot invited the kid to fly up front with him and sit in the cockpit. Thought that was pretty cool. The security is so different than in the States. We were given laminated passes that said Tropic Air when we checked in, and then when we boarded they just took the passes. No seat numbers, rows, or anything.

Jeff_Costa_Rica Jun 18th, 2019 08:38 AM

Thanks for the link to the TA discussion, MisterB2.

As long as the kid wasn't allowed to touch any of the controls, volcanogirl, I'm fine with that arrangement. :)

hopefulist Jun 18th, 2019 11:11 PM

I've gotten to sit in the copilot seat a few times - pretty cool.

Jeff_Costa_Rica Jun 19th, 2019 09:56 AM

As long as they didn't let you touch the controls, hopefulist. ;)

hopefulist Jun 19th, 2019 03:59 PM

They did not. :-D

volcanogirl Jun 23rd, 2019 07:39 AM

hopefulist, that's so cool. Lucky you! We loved flying so low over the water; the water was gorgeous and so clear.

Jeff_Costa_Rica Aug 4th, 2019 05:48 AM

All went well with Tropic Air, although I'm sure Maya Island Air would have been fine too. It started to pour as we landed at Belize City. When we came to a stop after taxiing to the terminal, this small army of their staff ran out to the plane with umbrellas for everybody. :tu:

Thanks for the recommendation.

volcanogirl Aug 5th, 2019 09:05 AM

Glad your trip was a success - wow, talk about good customer service. What a nice touch.

Jeff_Costa_Rica Aug 5th, 2019 08:25 PM

It really was. :)

Lots of new stuff is going on in the south. People in Placencia are fond of saying that they're going to be "the new San Pedro." That might be a bit of a stretch at the moment, but they are on their way to something. I had to laugh at the American couple I met over breakfast there one morning. They kept calling the place "Placenta." :lol:

And you know what? Even Belize City has a cool new hotel and a cool new restaurant to add to the Fodor's book.

volcanogirl Aug 6th, 2019 09:39 AM

Haha, that's pretty good!


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