Booking on Air Sunshine

Hi all, we're heading back to VG in late April for a land based stay and we're finally going to try flying in from SJU as opposed to arriving by ferry. Fares from RDU to STT/EIS are such that it's almost a wash in price and it's certainly more convenient.

One question though, does anyone have advice on how soon/late to book with Air Sunshine?

Thanks in advance,
Melanie

If there is any possibility to book all the way through to EIS on one ticket I would highly encourage that. We have been going from DEN/SJU/EIS for the last few trips and AA codeshares with Seaborne.

I would advise you to book now.
After many years of flying into STT, we now always fly Jet Blue to SJU and Air Sunshine to either EIS to go sailing or VIG for a land based stay.

Thanks for the reply! I'm sending the reservation request form now. Thank goodness for myfax.com.

Have used Air Sunshine on 4 r/t from SJU.
Old school to fax, but it works. They do answer their phones, so call after sending the fax to double confirm. Then check frequently for schedule changes.

Thanks for the tip. We got an email confirmation today that was a little cryptic so I'll give them a call to make sure I've understood everything.

63 days 'til wheels up!

Last trip, we had boxes of live chickens...Behind the back seats!

Now that would be a hoot. Or maybe a cluck.

We had roosters on ours <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

We used to fly Cape Air but had to use Air Sunshine last time, and loved it. It took a bit longer to EIS, as we stopped on St. Thomas for the Roosters and then VG to drop someone off, but it was great. And I agree, their reservation "system" is a bit archaic, but their customer service works well.

We're using them in May. Question - how likely are we to get standby with them? We arrive in San Juan at 1:05 pm (if we're on time), and booked Air Sunshine's 5pm flight. They also have a 2:30pm Virgin Gorda flight that we might be able to check into, if all goes well, by the required time of 1:30pm. Does anyone know if they are usually booked up on all their SJU - VG flights?

Quite often if you are very early for your flight they will put you on an earlier flight - best bet is to call the san juan desk as soon as you land and let them know you have landed - they will often hold the 2:30 if they know you have just landed - if you do get told to rush right over, send one of your party to the kiosk (next to Jet blue) while another retrieves the luggage then gets a porter to take you to Air Sunshine. cheers

Thanks! We rarely check bags, so if we land on time we might be able to make it. I would love to get to Virgin Gorda that much earlier! Any idea how far Air Sunshine is from where Southwest flights come in?

I'll find out for you on Saturday as I'm going down via San Juan - the airport has been going through so much renovation I can't even guarantee that AS will still be next to Jet Blue - cheers Brian

Yeah...AA notified us of a change in the itinerary for our May trip -- we were originally booked on an earlier Seabourne flight from SJU to EIS...now they have us on the 4:40 p.m. flight for some reason - which means we're at SJU from 9:30 a.m. until that flight departs - unless we decide to go hang out by a pool for a few hours. I'm thinking I'd rather try to find an earlier flight to EIS....

Thanks! I am really hopeful we can get that earlier flight on standby. Otherwise, we have a lot of time to hang out in the airport.

Hi PlumeriaTattoo - we arrived yesterday but didn't see any southwest planes so can't help you with the location of their gates - we came in on westjet and the airport has expanded its eating and duty free area - there is a margaritaville resto about to open - we got off the plane and hung a left at the restaurant to go towards gates A1-A7 which are jet blue gates - if you go toward those gates there will be a sign for Tradewinds airlines - (note this means not following the crowd to the baggage claim) take that exit and you will find yourself on the upper level of jet blue's concourse/ticketing area - go down the steps and Air Sunshine is tucked into the east corner (and I do mean tucked in) - hope this helps

Hi!
Do you know how much luggage you are allowed to have on Air Sunshine? I can't find any info on that on their website.

Enjoy VG!

Karin

It's mostly a weight thing - they are small planes so max one big suitcase per passenger and maybe a carry on - expect to pay for extra weight - we came down on Saturday with a backpack and two carry on pieces of luggage - first time not paying extra for weight

Ok, thank you! I did mean how much weight, but was not expressing myself clearly enough. Sorry. Do you know if 23kg/50lbs is ok or is that too much?

Since we are coming from Sweden, travelling via the US including overnight stops, and will be away for 2,5 weeks, I'm afraid that we will have too much luggage. We will have one suitcase 50 lbs plus one carry on type a small backpack per person.

Trying to find a good route for our April trip but am struggeling a bit at the moment. Cape air was much more expensive. Will figure somehing out eventually.

Karin

Their reservation request form says "luggage allowance is 40 lbs per passenger".

We had a group of 9 the last time we used them (which is all the plane will hold) and they were very strict about the total weight. I had forewarned everyone in our group to keep it to 40 lbs per suitcase and a small carry on.

Hope this helps.

Scott

With about 100 gallons of fuel onboard which is less then half full the aircraft has about a 1800 lb payload. Basically with all 10 seats filled it's 180 lbs total for each passenger. Air sunshine should be getting actual passenger and bag weights. Flying overweight has bit them in the past.
George

Ok, thank you. Never got as far as the reservation request.

That (only 40lbs) might be hard for us to do, unless you leave things like snorkel/dive equipment at home. I guess I need to keep on looking for other options.

Thanks again and sorry for hijacking the thread.

Karin

George- They did ask each of us for our weight and they did actually weigh all of the bags, including the carry on bags. I had no complaint, since my preference is to get their safely.

Scott

Yes, Scott is correct..weigh all the bags including carryon. Charged our friend for overweight bags. I told her, but she still brought too much,asked her weight too! She only 100# soaking wet!

Thanks for the info!