Charter flights to caribbean-who?
 

Are there really any charter flights to the caribbean that save over the major airlines? Who? I looked at Apple's site and see no indication of being able to purchase "air only". I looked at Air Jamaica vacations and can book airfare but it is basically the same price as all the other major airlines. <BR><BR>Has anyone actually booked airfare to the caribbean on a charter airline or know how to do this?<BR><BR>Theresa

Hi Theresa: Apple does offer air only once in a while. We purchased round trip tickets to St. Lucia last year for around $200 each. I would contact a travel agent and inquire because I don't always trust websites to be up-to-date or 100% accurate.

Flew Southeast Airline from NY to Aruba for $200pp. Got this thru skyauction.

I will check with an agent on Apple. <BR><BR>On the Skyauction, does it work like priceline that you have to put in your credit card info first and definitely buy the ticket if it comes back at the price you requested?<BR><BR>

Apple only books through Agents. They do book air only on most charter flights.<BR>Depending on your area Vacation Express, Funjet, Adventure Tours, ATA Vacations, Transglobal and others offer charters.<BR>Apple does not have a full listing on their website.

Just remember you're taking a risk when you book on a charter. If something goes wrong there is no "next" flight to take. I've heard of people being stuck for a couple of days. It can save some bucks tho, we booked one once, it was an ATA plane. The next one was Ryan Air???

Tho many have no problems with charters, we advise guests to avoid them. The savings are not matched by convenience or timeliness -- and more than a few travellers from the US and Europe within the last 2 years have been seriously delayed 8,10 hours,even a day or more. The POTENTIAL hassle is there, so weigh the risk-avoidance factor carefully. American and Air Jamaica can generally be relied on with much more confidence. The Caribbean Villa Owners Association, cvoa.com, offers often good discounts and has the ability to secure last-minute tix or tix when flights are marked 'sold out'. Have them quote -- it's free.

Theresa, I got the flight by bidding on skyauction. They offer flights to the Caribbean, either on a major airline or it could be on a charter plane. They always specify this. When you log-in, you put your credit card info. If you don't win the bid, you don't get charged. If you win the bid but they couldn't give you the dates you want, you don't get charged either. Have used skyauction a couple of times and haven't been disappointed yet.

caribbean specialist - how do I book or check on some of these charters?<BR><BR>I will check out Skyauction to see if I can find some good dates - ours is in peak season.<BR><BR>I did try the Villa Owners Assoc. travel. She quoted me exactly what I found on my own - not even 10 savings!<BR><BR>Theresa

Call a Travel Agent. The charters only operate from certain cities.<BR>Which island are you going to? What city are you coming from?<BR>Usually charters are only from larger metropolitan areas like Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Nashville, Memphis<BR>They typically fly to Jamaica, Aruba, Mexico.

Apple flies out of Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, LA, San Diego, Phoenix, Denver, Milwaukee, Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Columbus, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Hartford, NY LGA and JFK, Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore, D.C., and Charlotte. Whew!

I also wanted to add the Apple flies to all the tourist cities in Mexico and most of the Carribean islands. However, I'm not sure if flights to certain destinations only fly out of certain cities. You'd have to check with a travel agent for specifics. Good luck.

We're booking a villa home for two weeks on St. Croix. I'd rather fly directly there from Atlanta (some will fly from Columbus OH), but if I can't fly to St. Croix, I could fly to St Thomas and take the ferry for $75 a person to St. Croix (depends on the difference in air rate).<BR><BR>Guess I do need to call a travel agent. The ones I've tried on the web that say they offer lower airfares to those who rent villas did not get any cheaper airfare than I can find myself.<BR><BR>T.

There are no charters from Atlanta to St. Croix. Also typically 7 night is the longest charter offers of 7nights<BR>Delta, American fly it, US Air might also.

We finally purchased a decent fare to St. Croix for Xmas and New Years. $684 from Atlanta to St.Croix (via San Juan but only 1 hr layover). <BR><BR>My children are staying only half the time and their ticket was $100 more. No luck with the smaller charter airlines at all.<BR><BR>Theresa

no ferry between St. Thomas and St. Croix at this time.

Mr. Anon, just wondering where you got this info. I was able to find that there is one. Please let me know before one of my guests books a flight to St. Thomas

Theresa-<BR><BR>If you are a travel agent, aren't you supposed to specialize in those areas that you send people too? Doesn't that seem a MAJOR part of what you are getting paid for?<BR><BR>I mean, getting people to the destination, not just taking their $$'s

Tom, not sure I understood your post. I'm not a travel agent. I did contact an agent about the charter flights that can only be booked via agents but they had nothing better to offer than what I found on line. Do you have any stories to share on purchasing tickets at a great fare during the holiday season to the caribbean.

Try American Trans Air (ATA)? E.g., it has nonstops from Chicago-Midway to Grand Cayman and also to Aruba, with hotel/condo options.