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Ok folks, I have a question about flying my dogs in on a private carrier. I have searched the archives and found one article in particular that fit the bill so I sent a few PM and the one response I received suggested I just ask the question on the forum. So this time next year my wife and I hope to start spending our winters in St. Croix. We bought a house in July and between renovations and my wife's contractual obligation to work through March kills this winter. My wife is against airline cargo transport...ARUGGGG so I am investing the cost to fly them private. My hope here is that someone can offer some past experience and cost, or if someone might be interested in splitting the cost of the travel. Our time frame is roughly going to be November 1st to April 1st. We would be willing to modify that time frame either way to find a partner or two for this adventure.
Thanks in advance for any insight anyone can offer.
Posted : November 7, 2019 1:04 pm
Well, you don’t say where you’ll be flying from but you can expect a private jet to cost somewhere between $2,000 and $5,000 per flight hour depending on the size of the aircraft. When figuring your total cost you’ll have to add in the flight time for the aircraft and crew to get from their home airport to your pickup point and for the aircraft and crew to deadhead back from your intended destination and their home base.
It will not be cheap. Google “private jet charters” And you’ll find lots of helpful links.
Posted : November 7, 2019 3:57 pm
Topic starter
Thanks the the information Afriend, I know it won't be cheap which is why I would like to find one or two partners. Would leave from Florida just to cut the cost.
Posted : November 7, 2019 4:47 pm
I'm going to be traveling with my pack of 4 small pets (2 dogs/2 cats) in and around January 2020 - anyone who wants to share a private air charter then please PM me. The more peeps and pets, the lower the cost. Anyone wanting to fly from the VI on the same charter plane to FL might consider this opportunity, too - since the plane will deadhead otherwise. I'll be going to STX but STT is just a puddle hop away if that's where you want to go.
A chartered aircraft will cost $10-20K from FL.
Chartering a prop plane is less costly than a small jet. But a small jet is far more comfortable for two and four legged travelers - and much faster!
Most private charter aircraft will seat 6-8 travelers and will accommodate a payload of 1500 pounds or so. Seats can be configured to best suit people, pets and luggage.
Any airport in FL is fine - maybe not MIA if avoidable though. Flying from South Florida may alleviate the need to refuel on the way.
I am flexible - my only goal is to get my little old half-blind shih Tzu there alive and breathing.
So close but yet so far ...
Posted : November 7, 2019 5:09 pm
I travel commercially, frequently by most standards, and I see so called "Service" pets that travel in the cabin all the time. My understanding is the process to get a pet classified as a "Service" animal isn't too difficult. Just an idea. If you have more than one pet, ask a friend to tag along with the second pet. That must be much cheaper than a private charter.
Posted : November 7, 2019 8:20 pm
@jaldeborg
please do not encourage this type of exploration. It could potentially deprive someone with disability of their legitimate service animal.
airlines cut down a lot of this because of rampant abuse as well as several cases of “service” animals attacking passengers.
Posted : November 8, 2019 11:22 am
Small dogs and cats can travel in the cabins on most planes but they must remain in their kennels under the seat in front throughout the flight. Four pets are allowed per flight, first come first served.
The issue is that Shih Tzus are brachycephlic (flat faced) dogs. He has enough problems breathing anyway because of this. In a kennel under an airline seat could be a life-threatening challenge for him. Flying private charter would be so much less physically stressful for the dog - but financially stressful for me absolutely.
If we must, I will work with my vet to get him as ready for high altitude air travel as possible, drive to FLL, then take him in his kennel from FLL to STX on Spirit and hope for the best.
Spirit has super wide seats available that may help.
I keep hoping others might want to share a charter though.
Posted : November 8, 2019 12:04 pm
@jaldeborg
please do not encourage this type of exploration. It could potentially deprive someone with disability of their legitimate service animal.
airlines cut down a lot of this because of rampant abuse as well as several cases of “service” animals attacking passengers.
I don't feel I'm encouraging anything and I agree there has been abuse. I heard of one case where a passenger tried to bring a peacock on the plane.
At the same time the airlines do have a system for allowing some types of animals in the cabin and I accept that policy. I've see labradors that are good sized as service dogs so as long as the rules are respected I have no issue. Sitting next to a passenger with a service dog in my experience has never been a problem, just the opposite, the owners have considerate and the dogs have always been unobtrusive. Cats in the little carrying cases are only an annoyance as I'm allergic to cats.
Posted : November 8, 2019 1:28 pm
Topic starter
@Gator's Mom I've sent you a couple of PM over the past week trying to see we can work something out. Maybe the PM function isn't working. Please check your messages
Posted : November 8, 2019 2:07 pm
Can't find your messages on this site or in my email. Could be user error on my part though
please email me at: coolworkingstx@gmail.com
Thanks so much.
Posted : November 8, 2019 2:57 pm
