To those that think everyone that takes a private plane into the Bahamas is traveling on Gulfstream or some other sort of "rich man's toy," they're not. For the most part they're average people like my wife and I that have been coming to the Bahamas on a regular basis once or twice a year, spending two-three weeks here, and now are semi-retired, which means we have to travel back to the US on a regular basis to meet the Bahamas' Immigration requirements. The planes mentioned in the article are all small passenger twin prop aircraft, designed to carry 4-6 or 6-8 people and are popular as small "charter" aircraft that fly regular routes between the US and the Bahamas. Although you may think that $28 per person is not a big deal, but for a family of 4, that's now an added $112 . And you folks that think this is not a big deal, it is coupled with the new covid testing requirements. Although fully vaccinated, as we were returning just after the new requirements, we had to get a rapid antigen test (RAT) In the US, if you want to get same day results, the test will cost you anywhere from $150-$250. And that's per person. Our flight back from Houston to Nassau on August 4 had only 21 passengers. And the main discussion was the ridiculous cost of testing. Keep adding on fees, and you want have a tourism industry. People will take their money elsewhere.
LongIslandVisitor says...
To those that think everyone that takes a private plane into the Bahamas is traveling on Gulfstream or some other sort of "rich man's toy," they're not. For the most part they're average people like my wife and I that have been coming to the Bahamas on a regular basis once or twice a year, spending two-three weeks here, and now are semi-retired, which means we have to travel back to the US on a regular basis to meet the Bahamas' Immigration requirements. The planes mentioned in the article are all small passenger twin prop aircraft, designed to carry 4-6 or 6-8 people and are popular as small "charter" aircraft that fly regular routes between the US and the Bahamas. Although you may think that $28 per person is not a big deal, but for a family of 4, that's now an added $112 . And you folks that think this is not a big deal, it is coupled with the new covid testing requirements. Although fully vaccinated, as we were returning just after the new requirements, we had to get a rapid antigen test (RAT) In the US, if you want to get same day results, the test will cost you anywhere from $150-$250. And that's per person. Our flight back from Houston to Nassau on August 4 had only 21 passengers. And the main discussion was the ridiculous cost of testing. Keep adding on fees, and you want have a tourism industry. People will take their money elsewhere.
On Aviation ‘golden goose on menu’
Posted 12 September 2021, 4:46 p.m. Suggest removal