Chartering plane to ST. Croix for pets

We have four cats (no people) that need to go from St. Croix to Miami sometime early November. I would pick them up in MIA. Don't know if that helps you but if so please PM me. 🙂

Hi John and Amanda-

My wife and I are looking at options for transporting the 2 of us with our 2 dogs (mini pins) for right around that same timeframe from Miami to STT. Do you have some idea of what the cost might be if we took your charter?

A charter flight is not going to be cheap even if the cost is shared by several people.

It's about a 3 hour flight and you have to pay for the deadhead portion of the itinerary so the crew and plane can get back to their home base. That means you'll be paying for about 6 hours of flight time. A small jet capable of making the hop between MIA and STX will cost about $2,500 to $3,500 per hour so you are looking at a cost of around $15,000 to $21,000. You might be able to charter a prop plane that has the necessary range to make the flight but I'm guessing that will cost something like $1,500 to $2,000 per flight hour and your flying time will be longer so I'm not sure how much you'd save using a prop plane.

FYI - you can do a google search for "Charter Flight Prices" and find a couple websites that will give you cost estimates.

This charter is $14,000. Right now there are six parties interested so $2350 each.

For my husband and I, forone of us to fly American and ship four cats (which would take two trips) would be around $1300. Add in the cost of cat carriers - another $250. So for $800 more we can fly one of us private and have the four cats in the cabin too.

And if another group joins in it will be even less. So it is becoming affordable. If anyone else is interested or knows someone please PM! 🙂

If there is anyone on Island looking to get a pet to the mainland You could join in and cut down the price even more. We are using Airpropel based in St. Croix.
John

Tell the vets and animal shelter and Craigslist that you're looking for passengers. It sounds like you'll have a successful charter. Good luck!

This charter is $14,000. Right now there are six parties interested so $2350 each.

For my husband and I, forone of us to fly American and ship four cats (which would take two trips) would be around $1300. Add in the cost of cat carriers - another $250. So for $800 more we can fly one of us private and have the four cats in the cabin too.

And if another group joins in it will be even less. So it is becoming affordable. If anyone else is interested or knows someone please PM! 🙂

The charter service usually has a month to 6 week window to allow for the most passengers it can get to help spread the cost around. It's difficult to find people who want to travel on your schedule. So be aware of cancellations, once a person cancels then the price goes up significantly for the rest of you.

Have you checked with the VI Agg center to verify the stipulations on bringing in pets to the island. I know they have forms that will be required to be filled out on each animal to insure they have been checked for illness. I know for pet birds, you have to jump threw a few more hoops than with dogs and cats and are required to get a permit before they are allowed on island.

Whoops!

You don't have to check with Ag. Dept. for cats and dogs as long as you have a vets cert. and adhere to airline policy for whichever airline you aare using for transport.

The Ag. dept. comes in when you are bringing in birds and other exotic pets, I believe.

I actually had a quote from air propel for 2 large dogs, 3 cats wife and I with no share for 9-10k.
I was just trying to figure it it would be possible as our full time move isn't until around this time next year.

Good morning -

I am struggling to get my two 60 lb boxers and my 150 lb Newfoundland from the States to StX between now and January myself. I have also been speaking with another family that is moving to StX looking to get their 2 dogs down, as well. Any advice or opprotunity for charter-sharing would be greatly appreciated by us all!

Island Airlines did a similar charter a few months ago. Whole plane load of dogs and cats to Florida.

They run non-stop to Florida in a twin engine King Air B200

check with Trond 340-344-3900

I think it's cheaper if you can arrange the charter yourself. Air Propel does not have planes, it is just a service that puts the charter together and uses the same Airlines that you would if you arranged it on your own.

Try Island Airlines as listed above and Bohlke International.

Good morning. We are trying to find transport for thirteen cats from St. Croix to mid-Atlantic region (we're headed for Richmond/Williamsburg, VA area) around mid-November. A flight landing somewhere between DC and North Carolina would be our goal but would consider driving from FL to VA (with thirteen cats - ugh), if necessary. If anyone is making a similar trip in either direction, we would be interested in cost sharing for private charter. Thanks. Lotsacats

The main charter service to and from STX right now would be Bohlke International Airways at 778-9177. They are a pet-friendly charter service and have both MU-2 and jet service available. I used to work for them, and they offer great service. They are also the FBO at the STX airport and can handle the arrangements for other charter companies. In terms of bringing animals into the island, because we are a US Territory, all you need is your vet's certificate and proof of rabies shots. Our local shelter also runs a Pets from Paradise program for anyone looking for a new pet from the island. They ship it to a participating shelter or organization in the states, where you can then pick up the animal, or if you are traveling from STX and willing to travel with an animal, you can be the "carrier" for them. Contact St. Croix Animal Welfare Center for any pet related questions.

Our local shelter also runs a Pets from Paradise program for anyone looking for a new pet from the island. They ship it to a participating shelter or organization in the states, where you can then pick up the animal, or if you are traveling from STX and willing to travel with an animal, you can be the "carrier" for them. Contact St. Croix Animal Welfare Center for any pet related questions.

Unfortunately Pets from Paradise has been pretty much shut down due to American Airlines cost.

Let me edit to say - American used to ship the pets for free, now they are not and the AWC asks for pet "sponsors" to pay the $125-$175 ticket cost for the pets. This is hindering a lot of transports.

So much for Pets From Paradise finacier Jeffrey 'the pedophile". When something seems to be too good to be true: it usually is. I caught alot of flack for not wanting to be a part of Pets from Paradise once Jeffrey 'what's his name' got involved...he voiced up for publicity, but apparently he has no real interest. Touche!

Message Removed: Please revisit Board Rules.

I know people can get heated and very passionate about their points of view and let it filter into their posts. I don't know the person who is getting personally attacked, So I can't say whether it be deserving or not. But comments like the above have no place on an open forum.