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One more question. I can't get Virgin Gorda(VIJ) to show up on AA.Thanks for the help with this.
Ellen

Not sure, but thinking American usually partners with Seaborne, which doesn't fly to Virgin Gorda. Try United, Jet Blue, or maybe Delta.

Even if a airline codeshares with another airline they often do not codeshare on all routes. I believe only United goes to Virgin Gorda at this time.
G

Not sure about United, but it looks like jetBlue and Cape Air code share to Virgin Gorda. There were 2 or 3 options to fly from NYC to VG when I looked at the jetBlue website. https://www.capeair.com/about_us/united-jet-blue-american.html and http://www.jetblue.com/#/

A travel agent can book you thru on one ticket. We used Amex travel (we have a card) and got an American/cape air on a single ticket to and from VG.

Currently only Air Sunshine provides service into Virgin Gorda (VIJ)
All the rest go to Beef Island and then you need to take a ferry.

When we were at the Virgin Gorda airport on December 14th to catch our Air Sunshine flight, Cape Air had a flight leaving around 1:30 PM (we had friends on it) and there were at least 3 Cape Air employees present also. Their website shows 3 flights to VG on (for example) January 11th.

So Cape Air has a plane that can be used for Virgin Gorda. Did not know that. Seabourne also had a plane but that is gone. They are also several charter operations that can go to VG <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

We have flown Cape Air in and out of VG. In our experience, the type of plane they used wasn't capable of a full passenger load and luggage, which is one of the reasons we started chartering.

Depending on your group size/Cape Air pricing/desire for ease of travel, chartering can be a viable option. We have used Island Birds a number of times and they make it very easy to transfer at SJU.

Cape Air only uses Cessna 402's which is pretty much what everyone uses in the islands at the moment. They do operate strictly buy the rules. Some other airlines have been caught fudging weights. Cape Air does have a new aircraft coming that should be very capable for the Islands.

George,
Thanks for all your reliable input.
Air Sunshine has more and cheaper flights than Cape Air.
To be clear, we are not considering Air Sunshine purely on
the understanding that you aren't comfortable with them.
Am I correct in my read on your opinion?
Thanks to all for your help.

Mike

As a nervous flier, I absolutely appreciate Cape Air's rule-following!

I look forward to giving them a try again when the new planes go into service. It may seem petty but delayed luggage is such an inconvenience for us when on VG.

The new plane if it ever gets here? So far one is built. Cape Air has 82 of the old planes to replace. The 100 planned P2012 Travellers are supposed to be more comfortable but will be 9 passenger aircraft limited to a useful load of 1350 kg – 2976 lb on a perfect day. That works out to 333 pounds for each passenger, all their stuff, and any paid cargo for others plus pilot(s) weight. Big people, with big bags will still be leaving stuff behind.

The P2012 is actually a 11 seat aircraft so flown with one pilot could take 10. Its structural max weight will give it about a 200lb advantage over the 402 it is designed to replace and they hope to bump it up another 200lbs. Structural Weight however is usually not the limiting factor in actual allowed max takeoff weight on a hot day. The P2012 will have a 500 to 600lb advantage over the Cessna on a 90 degree day. Your numbers are also off on the high side because you did not include fuel. That would drop the number to about 300lbs per person. That is a workable number since most flights include woman and children
The aircraft should do a nice job in the islands.

How long do you think the commercial operators/FAA will keep letting one of us civilians fly in the co-pilot seat? Or with just one pilot over water?

So you are correct there are 11 total seats with belts on the proposed new Cape Air aircraft expected to start flying the first commercial legs in 2018.

They have been flying the Cessna 402s single pilot for decades. Why would they change?