The most comfortable and convenient way to travel to St Barths is daily scheduled flights on Tradewind Aviation.
Flights to St Barths are available from San Juan, St. Thomas and Antigua. You'll be flown by two pilots in a spacious, turbine-powered Pilatus PC-12 plane that feels like a private charter, but costs much less.
Expect courteous service and convenient schedules that make your arrival in St Barths a pleasure.
You may never want to fly to the St Barths airport, formally known as Gustaf III Airport, any other way. With hubs in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Antigua and the U.S. Virgin Island of St. Thomas, passengers flying with Tradewind Aviation can easily connect with virtually all major airlines from the U.S., Canada, Europe and South America.
Better yet, the customs and immigration process for Americans traveling through San Juan airport is streamlined given that Puerto Rico is a U.S. Territory. Tradewind operates a private lounge at San Juan airport where passengers may relax and enjoy refreshments and WIFI before flight time.
Also available at San Juan is their "VIP meet and greet" service for smooth and stress-free transfers between flights ($150 per group arriving on the same airline flight).
With Tradewind Itinerary, changes are free and shuttle tickets are interchangeable with family and friends. Luggage is free (max 50 lbs / 23 kg total per person) and pets are welcome at no charge (limit one party with pets per flight).
Call us today at 1-401-849-8012 to set-up your flights to the Caribbean, or submit an inquiry.
Tradewind Aviation Charter Configurations
Planes servicing St Barts airport
Cessna Caravan and the Pilatus 12 both offer Turbine (jet-prop) engine safety and reliability
Two fully qualified, highly experienced pilots on every flight
Captains regularly attend simulator-based recurrent training
Superior short-field performance ~ ideal for the St. Bart's runway
FAA regulated US Air Carrier ~ Impeccable record of safety and reliability
Uncompromised commitment to safety
New planes with daily maintenance checks on all flight days
Convenience & Confidence for 6 - 8 passengers
Fly into San Juan on dozens of choice direct flights every day from every major US city
24/7 service to accommodate varying schedules
Less than 1 hour flying time between San Juan and St. Barts!
Pre-clear customs with time saving private handling directly from your flight to Tradewind's waiting aircraft
Accommodate additional luggage ~ surfboards, golf clubs ~ as well as the full complement of luggage
Comfort
Air conditioned, ample legroom to stretch out and relax
Lavishly appointed private jet-style interiors
On-board DVD player with wireless or personal headphones
Leather Club Seats and a full bench in the back for 6 - 8 passengers
Wide (5'5") aisle for ease of cabin movement
Leather club seating with writing tables
Uniquely designed enclosed lavatory
Work tables, laptop power outlets, in-flight phone/data links
Cost
Cessna Caravan is $2,995* per plane each way, 8 passengers plus luggage
1 hour flying time
The Pilatus is $3,990* per plane each way, 6 passengers plus luggage
45 minutes flying time
* Rates are for travel Fri - Sun non black-out days. Please ask about pricing for weekdays and blackout days
Full equipped to exceed FAA standards with the latest navigational and safety technology.
The Big Question: If I spring for a private charter, will I save money? Is it Cheaper?
The short answer is: NO!
Sorry about that. The fact is that it is more expensive. Basically even with 8 people in a Cessna Caravan at $2995 each way or about roughly $6000 both ways winds up being about $750 per person.
So after adding savings of about $100 to $200 by avoiding going to SXM as well as another 300 for local puddle jumper - it still costs about another 250-350 more person.
Can you get close if you are 8 persons and get a fabulous Jet Blue fare? Of like $300 RT - Yes! Here are the numbers = (8 X 300 + 6000) = 8400/8 = $1050 per person. How likely are you to get that Jet Blue fare - Well that's the rub.
During the week of August 14-17 2006, it was possible FOR $129 each way in January. (JFK-SJU); More likely tho' it's another 100-150 RT.
So why should I bother? - Well for one thing it's your vacation! You are probably splurging for a lot of other things, and splurging for one of the most comfortable charter planes anywhere in the Caribbean may just be worth it.
And if you have properly tagged your bags - The ground folks in SJU will collect your bags at the same time as you are being escorted over to your waiting plane, which means your luggage will get to SBH at the same time you do! (Now there's a plus! - We all, regulars as it were, have had the experience of arriving into SBH hours or sometimes days before our bags.)
The seats on these planes are truly first class, more first-class than your American or Continental First Class. So pop open the complimentary split of Champers, or a cold water and relax.
And; Oh and by the way, these planes are Air-conditioned. Yep. That makes a difference... An hour of quiet peaceful air-conditioned splendor in a plane designed to allow you to arrive in St. Bart's rested and un-hassled - As opposed to that little St. Martin experience which somehow after a long early morning tends to take some of the joy out of the trip, means your are going to be in a great mood!
Plus, as rumor has it, the old Transit gate in SXM will no longer be operational in the New SXM airport - Not that it made that much difference since you still had to go through SXM Security anyway.
And talking about avoiding the St. Maarten airport experience - As you think about your return flight you can think about the idea of leaving when you want!! "Leave when I want? - un-hunh -
Think I'll take that evening Jet Blue flight back to NYC from SJU and have my last lunch at Eden Rock and wander over to the Airport and hop my Charter flight .." Oh yeah and here's another 'by the way' - Skip SXM and skip security, which means just once in SJU.
So let's see what were the benefits of a Charter flight? Go when I want to go.. at my speed.. . cool, escorted, and most importantly - I get to feel important!! Oops. No. I get to avoid the St Maarten Airport Transit & luggage experience.
On the other hand... "Oh tough - so you have to sweat it a little...that's part of the fun, Dude" - Well the "fun" can get "old." Your choice...
Ok - So here is the so-called fine print - Don't have 8 people in your group and still wanna save and still fly in comfort? - Book your Jet Blue tix NOW on the lowest off-peak rate you can get - Like 129 each way for January - And book the Tradewind scheduled service 990 RT PP. That's basically 260 plus 990 = 1250 per person RT. - CAVEAT - You have to pick up your bags at the baggage claim when flying on the Tradewind scheduled service - Sorry.
Call us at WIMCO's Air Department - 1-401-849-8012 - to arrange your scheduled or private charter flight via Tradewind Aviation from San Juan to St. Barts.
