American Airlines completed a successful Test Run of its Direct Flight from Miami (MIA) to the BVI (EIS) on Thur 25 May '23. AA has also announced it has Doubled the number of scheduled flights in June '23 due to high demand.
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I hope AA increases MIA-EIS flights. RT for this route in June is now up to $2800!! In July it drops to $1424. I'm sticking to ferries or fly thru SJU to Beef.
Unlike some of the jankie little planes that fly into our "international" airports in the BVI, the Embraer 175 is a real airplane, i.e., outfitted with jet engines. Seventy six seats if configured with a first class cabin (as is AA's - 12 seats) and because it's a jet, the flight time from Miami is only two hours. AA should make a healthy profit on this run if it can routinely get a decent passenger complement that will increase as the service becomes more utilized - and if that happens, ticket prices will decrease.
So how do you get into MIA in time to catch this flight?
I let AA try and set this up from DCA-MIA-EIS
7 hrs total travel time down and 8hrs coming back. $1530 and your there.
DCA 8:25 AM - EIS 3:23 PM 6h 58m 1 stopOpens 1 stop details for DCA to EIS, departing at 8:25 AM DCA - MIA AA 458 7M8-Boeing 737MAX 8 Passenger
EIS 2:16 PM - DCA 10:19 PM 8h 3m 1 stopOpens 1 stop details for EIS to DCA, departing at 2:16 PM EIS - MIA AA 3989 E75-Embraer 175 MIA - DCA AA 2648 738-Boeing 737
Think I'll be going back to STT and the ferry next time.
We leave Sunday (6/4), but are flying JetBlue on the way there. We are on the AA EIS-MIA route on the return (6/14). I'll report back here, unless someone beats me to it.
Cwoody On Dec. 12 it's $417, O/W, leaving at 6:45 am. I use Google Flights and play with the dates. For us, getting in at 2:30 is a game changer: no hotels, no taxis, and we're at our house by 4:00 pm, in time to check everything out in daylight.
One of the problems at EIS is their high fuel prices along with very high handling fees. It is costing my family between $1000-$2000 to land a small turboprop from Vero Beach Florida.. Usually we just land, passengers get off and the plane goes to STT to stay there for a week or 2. Fuel prices at STT are much lower and it it is very convenient for the pilot to get a plane flight to go home and them again come down to STT to pick up the plane and go to EIS to pick up passengers.
Fuel prices today Jet A St Thomas $4.55/gal Tortola $9.55/gal
Airports charge vastly different prices even in the US. You can mitigate that by tankering fuel at many airports. Because of the short runway at EIS you can’t tanker fuel inbound. That gives them a captive market and they appear to be making the most of it!
The direct flight from DCA to SJU is a great option. Unfortunately we have only had three-flight options until now, which meant staying overnight somewhere or arriving after 5:30, then crossing after dark in a small boat.
Just watched AA3990 pass over Fat Hog Bay on final approach to landing here in the BVI (EIS).
A Very Good Day for Everyone!
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Saw the FB posts today. I wonder how long it took to clear all those passengers through C&I. Last time I flew in on Cape with 7 passengers it took 30 minutes……
Saw the FB posts today. I wonder how long it took to clear all those passengers through C&I. Last time I flew in on Cape with 7 passengers it took 30 minutes……
Hey MIDiver - It must have been a bad day. Came thru on a full (30+ passengers) Silver Air flight in April and C&I was a breeze.
Saw the FB posts today. I wonder how long it took to clear all those passengers through C&I. Last time I flew in on Cape with 7 passengers it took 30 minutes……
Hey MIDiver - It must have been a bad day. Came thru on a full (30+ passengers) Silver Air flight in April and C&I was a breeze.
It’s all about timing however it will always be less than last in line at the ferry dock with 100 people ahead of you!
Saw the FB posts today. I wonder how long it took to clear all those passengers through C&I. Last time I flew in on Cape with 7 passengers it took 30 minutes……
Hey MIDiver - It must have been a bad day. Came thru on a full (30+ passengers) Silver Air flight in April and C&I was a breeze.
It’s all about timing however it will always be less than last in line at the ferry dock with 100 people ahead of you!
Very true George - a reason we opt for either air or a water taxi from St Thomas. 😎
airports in the BVI, the Embraer 175 is a real airplane, 
