Caribbean Blog Consider Chartering a Flight

Posted on March 5, 2016 by Rodrigo Díaz

 

Why Charter a Private Plane?

Have you ever wondered why people charter a private plane? Isn’t that option just for movie stars and millionaires?  Not in today’s world with both parents working full time and vacation days at a premium. Read on to learn how charter flying greatly differs from just buying a ticket from a commercial public aviation carrier, or scheduled carrier.

 

Cost vs. Convenience

The benefits that come with chartering a plane it can make a great difference in the enjoyment and expense of your vacation. Let’s quickly take a look at some basic reasons you should consider chartering a flight for your next vacation.

Flying b? charter differs from scheduled ?vi?ti?n and the commercial ??rri?r? in basic ?r???, and some of these might apply to you:

 

1- Flexibility when making travel ?rr?ng?m?nt?

Instead ?f flying ?n th? rigid ??h?dul? ?f the ??mm?r?i?l airlines, with a charter flight, ??u fl? wh?n ??u w?nt ?nd wh?r? ??u want.

Ch?rt?r ?ir tr?v?l giv?? you the fr??d?m t? organize the tri? around your n??d?.

Vs.

When ??u fly scheduled ?irlin??, ??u tr?v?l ?n the ?irlin?’? rigid schedule.

When traveling to Caribbean islands, such as Virgin Gorda, a charter flight can save you the need to spend the night in San Juan if you cannot fulfill the check-in requirements of scheduled airlines (i.e. 2 hrs. before departure). A charter flight is flexible and can depart as soon as you are ready to leave from your connecting flight.

Example:  If your connecting flight arrives in San Juan at 4 p.m., Air America can depart for Virgin Gorda as soon as you deplane. You would be unable to make a scheduled carrier’s last flight at 5 p.m. because you cannot satisfy the 2-hour check-in requirement.

 

2- Flight delays will not be your problem

When flying with a charter airline, they work for you.  If you experience a flight delay en route to San Juan, they will accommodate your delay and meet your new arrival time.

Vs.

If your connecting flight is delayed into San Juan or St. Thomas, a scheduled airline will cancel your seats.  You are not protected.

 

3- Flexibility for early departures

Chartering an aircraft can help in the situation when you need to depart from your island destination earlier than a scheduled airline offers service so you can make your connecting flight from San Juan or St. Thomas.  Or you might want to fly to St. Thomas rather than to take the ferry to St. Thomas on the day of departure.

Vs.

Trying to fit your flights home to scheduled airlines’ schedules, which can cost you more in the long run.

Having to take a ferry can present a problem, especially when some in your group do not do well on the seas.  For example, flying time with Air America from Virgin Gorda to St. Thomas is 15 minutes. The ferry is 90 minutes, and then waiting in line to do Customs and Immigration, and then a taxi ride to the airport before doing Customs and Immigration again.

 

4- Time saved at departure

Now it’s time to compare the time saved when you charter with Air America. If you are not connecting from another flight, you show up for your flight 15 minutes before departure at Air America’s airport desk in San Juan. If connecting, an Air America representative will meet your flight at the gate and escort you either to meet the pilot or to baggage claim.  Air America flights depart as soon as possible.

Vs.

With scheduled airlines, you can wait two hours for your flight, and often more. Sometimes some of the carrier’s flights during the day may be canceled, and all passengers are rolled together into the last flight of the day, so you may waste most of the day waiting for your flight.

5- Time saved upon return to San Juan or St. Thomas

When you charter a flight with Air America to San Juan, you only need to show up at the airport 15 minutes before departure to pay your island’s departure tax.  Then you’re up and away in one of Air America’s colorful, individually painted aircraft.

Air America’s customer service is top notch! Upon landing in San Juan, your luggage will be handled for you.  It will show up next on a carousel in Customs & Immigration. Your pilot will personally escort you into the airport building and through Customs, and then to the area where you claim your luggage. He will wait with you until you have cleared Customs.  Next, he will show you in which direction your connecting airline is located, and also remind you to go through the U.S.Department of Agriculture scanner first to get stickers on all of your bags before checking in with your U. S. airline for your flight home.

Vs.

When flying to San Juan on a scheduled carrier, you are on your own if the carrier is delayed leaving your island. Delays are common; cancellations less so, but frequent enough that folks in the know have learned to fly charter to be sure they make their connections.  Another delay that takes folks by surprise is the “hidden stop” when you’re booked on a non-stop flight to San Juan.  The scheduled carrier will stop in Vieques to pick up a passenger because there is an empty seat, and “OPPS!” Because that is the first U.S. destination, everyone has to disembark and do Customs and Immigration there. Unfortunately, you usually have to do it all over again in San Juan. This can wreck havoc with your connection. Always allow a minimum of 3 hours for a San Juan connection, since you need to put your bags through the U.S.D.A scanner.

6- Time saved – from start to finish

To me, time is a luxury. Traveling to or from my vacation, it is precious.  A charter flight is a service that can take you exactly where you want to go, when you want to go. It saves you time traveling to and from your destination. It helps you relax en route and arrive rested.  Wouldn’t we all travel this way, if we could afford it?

The charter experience greatly supersedes the price. All the positives make it a bargain and something you need for your next vacation.

Figure out the cost per person to charter with Air America, and then think what you are saving in time, stress and aggravation. Some people buy travel insurance they never need. I prefer to put my money toward charter flights with Air America so I can be sure my vacation is in the best of hands. I love the flexibility, excellent customer service, and sense of well being that comes along with booking charter fights for my vacation.

 

Safety ?nd S??urit?

Im?gin? b?ing ?bl? t? u?? airports without th? ?r?bl?m? of tr?ffi? congestion. There’s also no w?rr? ?f lost lugg?g? or packages and the wait tim? t? r?tri?v? ??ur luggage i? n?xt t? z?r?.

With today’s h??ti?, ru?hing lifestyle, it’? g??d to know th?t th?r? are w??? t? stretch ??ur tim?. In?r???ingl? m?r? ?nd more bu?in??? ?nd pleasure tr?v?l?r? are turning t? th? clear ?dv?nt?g?? of ?h?rt?r ?ir?r?ft travel f?r both ?h?rt ?nd l?ng tri??. If tim? is m?n?? – ?nd ??u don’t lik? wasting ?ith?r – th?n this is the moment t? take a look and consider ?n ?ir?r?ft charter f?r ??ur n?xt im??rt?nt trip.

Ch?rt?ring a private ?ir?r?ft for ??ur travel needs is ?n? of the b??t w??? to fl?. Y?u d?n’t h?v? t? be ?m?ng th? w??lth? to u?? and b?n?fit fr?m a ?h?rt?r?d ?ir?r?ft.

 

When Private Air Ch?rt?r Makes S?n??

Tr?v?l?r? wh? u?? private ?ir ?h?rt?r services ??? that ??nv?ni?n?? i? th? numb?r one r????n f?r ?h???ing to fl? ?riv?t?l?.  Commercial airlines m?int?in all ??ntr?l of th?ir flight?.  In contrast, with private flight? you h?v? full ??w?r over th? ??h?dul?, passengers, ?nd b?v?r?g??.  Th?r? ?r? n? long security lines ?r unju?tifi?d d?l???. Your trip i? ??m?l?t?l? ?nj???bl? ?nd ??mf?rt?bl?.  You can relax.

 

Ri?ing Ticket Pri??? ?n Commercial Flight?

With the ?limbing ???t? of fir?t ?nd bu?in??? ?l??? ??mm?r?i?l ?irlin? ti?k?t?, private ?ir ?h?rt?r ??rvi??? aren’t ?ut of the qu??ti?n ?n?m?r?.  M??t ?riv?t? ?ir?r?ft ?r? ?ri??d on a ??r plane b??i?, n?t ??r ?????ng?r, so for gr?u? tri?? using private ?ir?r?ft ??n b? especially ???t effective.  M?n? bu?in????? ?nd groups ?f fri?nd? ?h???? this ??ti?n, not only f?r the ??nv?ni?n??, but ?l?? f?r th? ?ff?rd?bilit?.  Depending ?n several criteria, including the size ?f planes, many ?r? ?ur?ri??d to find th?t ?riv?t? ?ir?r?ft ?r? f?r more reasonably ?ri??d th?n th?? ?n?? th?ught.

 

 You Are in Control

In ?dditi?n, passengers ?n ?riv?t? flight? ??n ?h???? whi?h ?m?niti?? t? h?v? ?n b??rd during th?ir flight. F?r families ????ifi? f??d ?r beverage r?qu??t? ??n be ????mm?d?t?d. The b?tt?m lin? i?, ??u are in charge ?nd ?bl? to d?t?rmin? ?ll the aspects of your flight.

 

Air America is the number one choice for Charter Flights to the most beautiful destinations in the Caribbean. Over thirty stunning destinations are included on Air America’s route. Among those are Vieques, Culebra, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, St. Thomas, Anegada & St. Barths. Visit us at, www.airamericacaribbean.com to book your trip today.