Anyone want to share a charter flight?

If you could find someone who might want to fill the seats on the return flight to Continental US you might also get some cost relief.

Absolutely! Any interest at all will be appreciated. There are a few charter companies that may have an empty leg already available around that time, so we would then hope to share the one-way charges, but we will welcome any interest at all!
Thanks!

We have a very nice 150 pound Mastiff and would like to do the same! We need to go to St. Thomas however. I wonder how we could make this work?

EandE,
Just curious, what is the rate for the one way charter? We're moving to STX NEXT summer with two cats and a 100 pound Rottweiler with Addison's disease ( stresses easily & gets sick ).
Thanks, Matt.

I'm curious about rates also. And, how many people can you carry? Is this the type of thing where it might be possible to set up a pseudo private airline company, like:
- establish a first of every month round trip flight (some folks going to the island, some leaving)
- the members have 20 days to get a plane's worth of people, else the plane doesn't go
- negotiate with the charter company for a special deal for the once/month full plane

Anybody ever try anything like this... it's almost like a time share concept

I have been calling charter companies for a bit now, and have found the average for a "one-way" or "empty leg" flight is around $7000-$8000 for the whole plane. I am awaiting a quote from one more company also. These planes will hold 6-9 passengers, so that price can be split up between them, lowering it considerably. It is definitely not cheap, but we are faced with the challenge of getting our pets on a plane (one has to be checked), with some strict temperature constraints by the airlines. We are viewing this as a one time expense, and have saved up for it.
As far as a time-share sort of idea, I am not sure. If you want to call or email the companies that I have talked to, I would recommend asking Air Propel or Bohlke Air first, they seem like they would be the best ones to start with. I don't have the numbers right here, but you can Google them, or PM me, and I will find those numbers for you later!
🙂
E

Ouch... yup, that's a little steep... probably not a realistic approach for just people moving...

I'm not sure if you're read my posts, but I traveled with my 65 pound dog in the middle of June, and chartered a plane. But, we were able to get an early morning flight from Florida (Fort Lauderdale) to San Juan at an inexpensive rate. Then, twe ook a chartered plane from San Juan to STX. Check out http://www.airamericacaribbean.com/ for rates from San Juan to STX - they were great and certainly not as expensive as you're talking about.

What airline did you use to go from Ft. Lauderdale to Puerto Rico?

my fiance' and i are moving down in a few weeks for school. we have to be there by aug 11 and would be willing to look into chartering. we will be flying out of orlando, fl. please let me know. it's just the 2 of us with a few bags. no pets or anything else. thanks!

We did read your posts Meowruff, they were so great! Full of info. We are just concerned that flying down in late August, early Septermber - that seems to have the highest temps of the year at that time. Even early morning temps (7am is the earliest flight we can find) can be over 85 degrees. We can't afford to keep getting bumped and live in a hotel indefinitely, plus my husband has to get there by a certain date for work. So we aren't set on this, but wanted to see if anyone wanted to share - we are just exploring our options here!
Thanks!

EandE, it isn't more than 85 F in Ft Lauderdale at 7am.

But it is more than 85 degrees when your plane from Ft. Lauderdale lands going south!

Sorry, point taken! I went the other way around, going north, so I got away with it (SJU-MIA)

We took a 6am flight from Fort Lauderdale to San Juan. I'm not sure if that early flight is still available, but it might be worth looking into.

hi from south west florida, i plan on moving to STX in october with a 65# mutt. i picked october cause thats when it cools down enough to ship pets with out so many problems. americian airlines flight # 788 out of MIA leaves at 11:55 a.m. and arrives at STX 2:30 p.m. with no stops, 2 hr 35 min flight. large plane and can take the 500 seiries pet carriers. this flight is not every day though.

I believe 788 is every day.

The direct flight from Miami will only be five days a week after September 1st. Part of their cut back to the Caribbean.

Jim

How many dogs can the aircraft accomodate? Are they luggage or cabin?

Hello everyone,

Just an update, I have heard from one charter company about a family that is moving away from STX in September. They are going to be chartering a flight up to Miami, and the other leg of the flight is open right now. I am talking with someone on the board here about sharing the charter, and we are hoping that there might be one or two more people that might be interested in joining us. That would put the price around $1200-$1300 per person. I am continuing to look at other options, just wanted to keep this thread up to date!
😎
E

I am just joining this discussion for the first time and I would like to know some answers to a few questions if you don't mind.

Are the dogs to be in the cabin with us/ Will they be have to be in their cages or allowed freedom in the cabin? What is the airline that we would be using? Is it a regular charter service or someone that has a private jet and we are chartering it for the dog run?

How much luggage can we each bring on board apiece? Can I bring some of my liquor collection? (not to drink just to bring with me)?

How flexible are you on our departure date? Can it be extended a week or so?

How much is the ball park price so far? I know it is based on the amount of passengers we end up with but what is the best estimate per person?

By the way we too are driving two cars across country from San Diego to Florida then shipping them. Whom are you shipping them through? Are you shipping boxes of belongings as well as we are? If so what company are you using?

This is good for now I most probably have a few more.

Kaj

I'm still in the discussion of the return from florida to stx.It would be my husband and two girls-would they all count towards the $1000-like a packag deal?

I've been PMing 'E' but thought I'd throw my hat in here.
My better half and kids are already on StX, and I've got a 100lb Golden named Bubba still up here with me.
Mid September is quite possible for he and I to join the charter.
My problem is getting to Florida from Oh... I won't have a car.
Keeping my eye on this thread....

Seems like you guys are on to something new. There are always people in the same predicament. Maybe Bohlke or one of the others can get someone to post a general 'share' pet ride every few months or so, especially in the summer!