I'm looking to book the jump for my crew and me for next April (8th & 15th). Cape Air wants something absolutely insane and unreasonable (>$700pp, rt). Any suggestions on other airlines (or methods) to pursue would be greatly welcome. We are not adverse to private (charter) flights as well. Thanks and in advance, and happy sailing! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

Have you looked at the Cape Air commuter book? It's $1999 for 10 one way tickets. So that would get you down to $400pp/rt.

Matt

I'm a big believer in buying tickets all the way through, in case there's a delayed or cancelled flight.

A couple days ago I checked, and in March Delta had flights, round-trip, JFK-EIS for $559 R/T. Have you looked at the fares all the way through?

Lately we, and some of our neighbors, have been overnighting in San Juan and taking the early morning Seaborne flight. The savings more than outweigh the cost of the hotel.

We always go with Air Sunshine at 325 return but if your crew is coming in at the same time you may want to do Flybvi or Island Birds charter - works out if there are more than 6 of you. cheers brian

Your mileage may vary, but I've never had a problem with Cape Air - usually we end up on an earlier flight, but I don't think we'd have any issue if our incoming was delayed and we needed to take a later flight. They are great to deal with.

It cracks me up that we can go from BWI to SJU non-stop for $300 but it costs at least $400 to do the short SJU to EIS part. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> But I'll still do it....

Yeah, we can get to SJU from BOS for about the same price it takes us to get from SJU to EIS. But like you, we still do it. It's well worth it for us since we can get in much earlier in most cases and it isn't always more expensive then going through STT, especially when you factor in all the other costs.

It's all about capacity. I was paying 180 round trip when American flew that market. The 384 seats they offered daily have not been replaced. If the BVI government wants to be in the airline business that's the route they should be offering subsidies on not flights from MIA that probably won't happen.
G

I'm not sure what the deal is with SJU, why so many carriers have left there. AA used to fly an airbus from there to St. Maarten years ago, a couple of times a day, I think. Jet Blue WAS flying from there to SXM for a couple of years, and they stopped those flights a few months ago and there is no big plane service at all from SJU to SXM any more. They've got kind of a nice airport there at SJU now, and I'm guessing that HUGE Margaritaville there is open by now, but can't imagine it's very busy..

Liat and InterCaribbean both have one way flights around $100.00 right now for when I am looking in January. I'm not sure how reliable either airline is but there was some talk on here of Liat being a better experience for some recently. Our group is looking at spending the night in San Juan and then taking either of those airlines out first thing in the morning. We are choosing early morning flights in anticipation if there are any problems there will be more options to get us to Tortola.

Depending on the size of your crew a private charter would be competitive and probably cheaper than what Cape Air is quoting you. If it is even close, private air is the way to go.

Leave on your schedule, no lines, no 2-3 hour check-in before your flight. We took Island Birds a couple weeks ago and since there were only three of us it was somewhat more than the commercial flights, but the convenience and experience was worth every penny. If the price is close it's a no brainier IMO.

What rate did they give you for round trip? How big of a plane?

VI Airlink: $7k, round trip, Beech 1900C (can seat 19 pax).
We need a minimum of 12 seats for my boat (Voyage 600), but we have another boat (Voyage 520) sailing with us that could join in to reduce/share costs.
Cape Air: Current listed schedule has it at $700pp/rt, which is asinine. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cloud.gif" alt="" />

Thank you all for your input thus far. It's given us some good ideas. It looks like we may go with a flight hack, using a scheduled flight on the way over to EIS, and a private charter on the way back.<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

Did you force a quote where all of you must fly together? Or did you give the agent some options to get the group their using more than one plane? Maybe look at the EIS leg in cab loads? Our groups have never made the trip all in one plane and we have never tried to force the issue. It really helps if the group is not all coming in on the same plane.

Storm jib:

Why would it help to NOT be on the same plane?

The cost to operate a large plane can be more. The cost to reposition a large payload plane can be more. You could end up paying a premium for the lost opportunity of using the aircraft for such a short hop limiting the asset use in a more lucrative booking. If cost is a key driver. I would present that to the agent with your offer to be flexible if it will save the group money. Otherwise you may get the most convenient and comfortable option at a premium cost. We have paid much less moving our guests around in groups of 4/5/6 passengers a hop.

Cape air ticket book. Much cheaper.

Yes, maybe you can circumvent the system and maybe appear to or even save some money. There is real risk to any group trip or group leader taking any route where some or all of the crew are not on a single ticket checked all the way through. Air travel is already complex enough without trying to co-ordinate a group of ten or more landing in SJU maybe from different flights and then rechecking that group through onto a new flight. Unless the person in coming in 24 hours in advance we expect all our guests to be on a mainline airline ticket checked all the way through. There is nothing more unsettling than a guest trapped in SJU or stuck on STT overnight. If that must happen we want to make that the airline's burden. That book is for regular commuters not group travel. Sure you can make it work until it does not for a group who did not fully understand what they were signed up for.

Ask Air Sunshine to do two planes at the same time for you.

They don't have any problem with it being used for a group. We do it all the time. Everyone could be given their coupons ahead of time.

Also look into flying into St. Thomas. With that many people, you could schedule a water taxi very reasonably, and not have to worry about the standard ferry issues.

That's an interesting take. Any information (links?) on a reputable water taxi that could take up to 20 people?

Captain Christopher of Ocean Dreams. Drop you off right at your boat.

ohhh this brings back memories
Cap'n Christopher - some yrs back
AAirlines landed late in STT - with a planeload of local Tolans
It was "find a solution" or get a hotel
I tagged along, and was soon on Christopher's boat along with far too many passengers
The waterline seemed... just a bit too close to the "edge"
Of course, all ended well.. and $75 later we were at WestEnd around 8pm - an absolute bargain
Except, any visitors, found that, at that hour. taxis were nowhere to be seen. ahhh yeah, fun moments

Thanks again! Is the water taxi $75pp flat rate (and is that each way?), or is it group size related?

He has a website
http://www.oceandreamswatertaxi.com/
I have used him for group of 16
Price is closer to 100-125 but not sure
Email him for quote

I have used Dolphin Water Taxi--very reliable. Will get you at STT airport, fare to Red Hook included in total price.

Greg at Dolphin Water Taxi
info@dolphinshuttle.com
340 774 2628

Good luck

Can the private water taxis now drop you off at your final destination again? When I travelled in Febuary of 2015, through Dolphin I believe, they were not allowed to go any further than West End and we we forced to taxi to our base. I'm planning my next trip for 2017 and this would be very helpful to know.

I have checked the numbers over the years and perhaps it is because I fly oput of the Boston area ,I have always found it best to fly to st.Thomas and then take the 40 minute ferry ride . they will drop you in sopers hole or road town and maybe even to beef island airport. Those numbers have always worked for me and I have been doing this route now for 45 years

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Woof.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Woof.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Woof.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Woof.gif" alt="" />

The BVI government has decided to allow only BVI based companies to do beyond customs drop offs. If you use a BVI based company they can take you to the charter base.
G

What airline do you use? I find it far more effective actually to go direct on JetBlue to San Juan and then hop over to EIS. We get there in less time then if we went through STT. And before we had our son, we took the red eye which allowed a friday night departure and saturday noon arrival.

Some of the US Charter companies are licensed to operate in the BVIs to take you all the way to your destination. I believe Dolphin and Ocean Dreams are both licensed. I have used Dolphin for past trips and Ocean Dreams was good to work with but Dolphin lined up better for us. Dolphin picked up our group of 6 in a vessel that could hold close to 50 people so I am sure 20 is not an issue.

We've managed to get all the way from Guernsey to Puerto Rico for less than we're currently looking at for SJU to EIS! The only option i havent looked at yet is air sunshine.

Uncle Fred--have you looked at flying into St. Maarten and Liat from there into EIS?

After the last time we came through Antigua we have vowed never to use LIAT again. Even with the expensive SJU-EIS leg, the low cost of the Norwegian flight still makes it cheaper to use SJU.

OK, fair enough..

Air Sunshine booked!

Glad you got you flights booked! I forgot, Winair also flys from St. Maarten to Tortola.