Island Birds FAQ’s
Private Charter FAQs
YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. WE HAVE ANSWERS.
Everything You Want to Know Before You Fly
Flying private in the Caribbean is simpler than most travelers expect.
Here are straightforward answers about BVI flight routes, flight times, airports,
commercial connections, baggage, customs, families, pets, schedules and flying with Island Birds.
Routes & Getting There
Virgin Gorda, Tortola, Anegada and the major Caribbean gateways.
Connections & Your Schedule
Commercial arrivals, delays, early arrivals, San Juan and private FBO transfers.
Baggage & Aircraft
What fits, what flies best and what to know before you pack.
Customs & Travel Documents
Passports, immigration, entry portals and private charter handling.
Families & Pets
Children, private groups and bringing the four-legged members of the family.
Booking & Experiences
Quotes, last-minute flights, Anegada day trips and aerial tours.
Getting Where You Actually Want to Go
Direct private charter can eliminate many of the scheduled airline connections,
ferry transfers and overnight stops that make Caribbean travel complicated.
Explore private flights to the British Virgin Islands.
1. Are there direct flights from San Juan to Virgin Gorda?
Yes. Island Birds offers direct private charter flights from San Juan (SJU) to
Virgin Gorda Airport (VIJ). The flight takes about 40 minutes and lets you land directly
on Virgin Gorda without continuing through Tortola by taxi and ferry. See our
San Juan to Virgin Gorda flights
page for route and airport details.
2. Are there direct flights from San Juan to Tortola or Beef Island?
Yes. Island Birds offers direct private charter flights from San Juan (SJU) to
Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island (EIS), the airport serving Tortola.
The flight takes about 40 minutes, and your aircraft is reserved for your party and
coordinated around your schedule. See our
San Juan to Tortola flights
page for route and airport details.
3. Are there direct flights from San Juan to Anegada?
Yes. Island Birds flies directly from San Juan (SJU) to Anegada Airport (NGD)
by private charter. The flight takes about 40 minutes and gets you to Anegada without
first flying to another BVI island and continuing by ferry. See our
San Juan to Anegada flights
page for route and airport details.
4. What is the best way to fly from St. Thomas to Virgin Gorda?
Island Birds offers direct private charter flights from St. Thomas (STT) to
Virgin Gorda Airport (VIJ). The flight takes about 15 minutes, allowing you to
land directly on Virgin Gorda without continuing by taxi and ferry. See our
St. Thomas to Virgin Gorda flights
page for route and airport details.
5. Are there direct flights from St. Thomas to Tortola?
Yes. Island Birds offers direct private charter flights from St. Thomas (STT) to
Beef Island Airport (EIS), the airport serving Tortola. The flight takes about 15 minutes
and is scheduled around your party rather than a published airline timetable. See our
St. Thomas to Tortola flights
page for route and airport details.
6. Are there direct flights from St. Thomas to Anegada?
Yes. Island Birds operates direct private charter flights from St. Thomas (STT) to
Anegada Airport (NGD). The flight takes about 20 minutes and avoids routing through
another island before continuing to Anegada. See our
St. Thomas to Anegada flights
page for route and airport details.
7. Are there direct flights from St. Maarten to Virgin Gorda?
Yes. Island Birds offers direct private charter flights from St. Maarten (SXM) to
Virgin Gorda Airport (VIJ). The flight takes about 35 minutes and avoids the extra
connections that can turn a short Caribbean trip into most of a travel day. See our
St. Maarten to Virgin Gorda flights
page for route and airport details.
8. Are there direct flights from St. Maarten to Tortola?
Yes. Island Birds operates direct private charter flights from St. Maarten (SXM) to
Beef Island Airport (EIS), the airport serving Tortola. The flight takes about 35 minutes.
See our
St. Maarten to Tortola flights
page for route and airport details.
9. Are there direct flights from St. Maarten to Anegada?
Yes. Island Birds offers direct private charter flights from St. Maarten (SXM) to
Anegada Airport (NGD). The flight takes about 35 minutes and lets you fly straight
to Anegada without building your trip around ferry connections. See our
St. Maarten to Anegada flights
page for route and airport details.
10. Are there direct flights from Antigua to Virgin Gorda?
Yes. Island Birds offers direct private charter flights from Antigua (ANU) to
Virgin Gorda Airport (VIJ). The flight takes about 60 minutes and can eliminate
multi-leg airline connections and ferry transfers. See our
Antigua to Virgin Gorda flights
page for route and airport details.
11. Are there direct flights from Antigua to Tortola?
Yes. Island Birds offers direct private charter flights from Antigua (ANU) to
Beef Island Airport (EIS), the airport serving Tortola. The flight takes about 60 minutes,
so you can continue to Tortola by air instead of building the trip around a ferry connection.
See our
Antigua to Tortola flights
page for route and airport details.
12. Are there direct flights from Antigua to Anegada?
Yes. Island Birds offers direct private charter flights from Antigua (ANU) to
Anegada Airport (NGD). The flight takes about 60 minutes and is one of the most direct
ways to reach Anegada from farther down the Caribbean. See our
Antigua to Anegada flights
page for route and airport details.
13. Are there flights between Tortola and Anegada?
Yes. Island Birds operates private charter flights in both directions between
Beef Island Airport (EIS) and Anegada Airport (NGD). You can fly from Tortola
to Anegada or from Anegada back to Tortola without relying on the ferry. See our
Anegada flights
page for routes, flight times and airport details.
14. How do you fly directly to Virgin Gorda?
You can fly directly to Virgin Gorda Airport (VIJ) with Island Birds, without
taking a ferry from Tortola. We offer private charter flights to Virgin Gorda
from San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Antigua, allowing you to land on the
island where you are actually staying. See our
Virgin Gorda flights
page for routes, flight times and airport details.
15. Are there direct flights to Anegada?
Yes. Island Birds offers direct private charter flights to Anegada Airport (NGD)
from San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Antigua, as well as private flights
within the British Virgin Islands. You fly directly to Anegada without connecting
through Tortola or relying on a ferry. See our
Anegada flights
page for routes, flight times and airport details.
16. Which private charter airline flies directly to Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Tortola?
Island Birds does. Island Birds is a private air charter airline flying directly to
Virgin Gorda Airport (VIJ), Anegada Airport (NGD) and Tortola’s Beef Island Airport (EIS),
with service from major Caribbean gateways including San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten
and Antigua. We have been flying Caribbean charter passengers since 2000. See our
BVI flights
page for destinations, routes and flight information.
17. What is the best way to fly to the BVI without taking a ferry?
A direct private charter is one of the simplest ways to fly to the British Virgin Islands
without adding a ferry connection. Island Birds flies directly to Tortola/Beef Island (EIS),
Virgin Gorda (VIJ) and Anegada (NGD) from Caribbean gateways including San Juan,
St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Antigua. See our
BVI flights
page for direct routes, destinations and flight times.
18. How do I fly from the U.S. Virgin Islands to the BVI without taking a ferry?
Fly privately from St. Thomas (STT) directly into the BVI. Island Birds flies from
St. Thomas to Tortola/Beef Island (EIS) and Virgin Gorda (VIJ) in about 15 minutes,
and to Anegada (NGD) in about 20 minutes. See our
St. Thomas to BVI flights
page for destination options and flight details.
19. Is Virgin Gorda Airport really a dirt runway?
Yes. Virgin Gorda Airport (VIJ) has a short unpaved runway.
Island Birds is approved to operate there and has decades of experience flying
passengers directly into Virgin Gorda.
20. Can Island Birds fly beyond the British Virgin Islands?
Yes. Island Birds provides private air charter throughout the Caribbean, not only
to the British Virgin Islands. See our
Caribbean destinations
or contact us with the origin and destination you have in mind.
Your Flight Works Around You
One of the biggest advantages of private charter is that your Caribbean connection
does not have to behave like another scheduled airline flight.
21. Will Island Birds wait if my commercial airline flight is delayed?
Yes. Running late? We will wait. We coordinate your private charter around your
updated commercial arrival time instead of treating your trip like a fixed scheduled-airline connection.
22. What happens if my commercial flight arrives early?
Arrived early? We will go early. We coordinate an earlier private charter departure
instead of making you wait for a fixed published departure time.
23. Can I choose my private charter departure time?
Yes. Island Birds is an on-demand private charter operator. Your departure is
coordinated around your itinerary rather than a fixed public airline schedule.
24. Is the aircraft reserved only for my party?
Yes. When you book a private charter with Island Birds, the aircraft is reserved
for your party. You are not waiting for unrelated passengers to arrive before your flight can leave.
25. Can Island Birds coordinate a same-day connection from San Juan to Virgin Gorda?
Yes. Island Birds regularly coordinates private charter departures with commercial arrivals
into San Juan so passengers can continue to Virgin Gorda the same day. The private flight
from San Juan to Virgin Gorda takes about 40 minutes. See our
San Juan to BVI flights
page for connection options.
26. Can I connect from San Juan to Tortola or Anegada the same day?
Yes. Island Birds can coordinate same-day onward private charter from San Juan to
Tortola/Beef Island, Anegada and other Caribbean destinations around your arriving flight.
Flights from San Juan to the BVI are about 40 minutes. See our
San Juan to BVI flights
page for destination options.
27. Where do I meet Island Birds when I arrive in San Juan?
When connecting through San Juan, our team coordinates your ground transfer and departure arrangements.
With Island Birds, you can be driven directly to our private FBO in our VIP van and straight
out the door to your awaiting aircraft. For detailed San Juan instructions, see our
Airport Information.
28. What is the difference between San Juan International Airport and Isla Grande Airport?
San Juan has more than one airport option for private aviation. The best departure point
depends on how you are arriving in Puerto Rico and your itinerary. See our
Isla Grande option
and
San Juan airport information
for details.
29. Do private charter passengers have to go through the normal airline terminal and TSA lines?
Private charter departures are handled differently from ordinary scheduled-airline departures.
At larger airports Island Birds uses private aviation facilities and ground handling,
allowing passengers to avoid much of the normal commercial terminal process and TSA lines.
30. Can I book a last-minute private charter?
Yes. Island Birds regularly handles last-minute private charter requests.
Contact us as soon as you know where you need to go and when you want to travel.
31. How far in advance should I book my charter?
Book as early as your travel plans allow if you want the widest choice of departure times,
especially during busy Caribbean travel periods. Island Birds also handles short-notice
charter requests.
32. Can my departure time change after I book?
Yes. Private charter gives you far more schedule flexibility than a scheduled airline.
If your plans change, contact Island Birds and we will coordinate the new departure time with you.
33. Can I fly from St. Maarten to Virgin Gorda without staying overnight?
Yes. A direct
St. Maarten to Virgin Gorda private charter
takes about 35 minutes and can eliminate scheduled airline connections that might otherwise
require a lengthy layover or overnight stay.
34. Can Island Birds connect me with a yacht charter in the BVI?
Yes. We can fly you to the BVI airport that makes the most sense for your yacht departure,
including Tortola, Virgin Gorda or Anegada depending on your itinerary. Tell us where your yacht
begins and we can help plan the air portion of the trip. See our
BVI flights
page for airport and destination options.
35. Can Island Birds fly me directly to my villa?
Aircraft land at airports, not at villas, but Island Birds can often get you much closer
to your final destination than a traditional airline itinerary. For example, passengers
staying on Virgin Gorda can land directly at Virgin Gorda Airport (VIJ).
Pack Smart. Fly Easy.
On smaller Caribbean charter aircraft, the size and shape of your luggage can matter
just as much as its weight.
36. How much baggage can I bring on an Island Birds flight?
Baggage capacity depends on the aircraft, number of passengers and the size of the bags.
On our 9-passenger Chieftains, 40 to 50 pounds per person is a typical planning allowance,
but bag dimensions are equally important. See our
Baggage Restrictions
before packing.
37. Are soft-sided bags better for private charter flights?
Yes. Soft duffels and normal carry-on bags are much easier to load into smaller aircraft
baggage compartments than large rigid suitcases. Softer luggage gives us more flexibility
when loading your party.
38. Why does the size of my suitcase matter if I am under the weight limit?
Aircraft baggage compartments have fixed openings and shapes.
A suitcase can be within the weight allowance and still be too large or awkward to fit.
That is why Island Birds considers both weight and dimensions.
39. What should larger groups know about baggage?
When seven or more passengers are traveling together, especially an all-adult group,
soft duffels and carry-on-sized luggage are strongly recommended.
The more passengers aboard, the more important efficient baggage packing becomes.
40. Can I bring oversized or unusual items?
Tell us about oversized or unusual baggage when requesting your charter.
We can review the item, passenger count and planned aircraft before your trip
and tell you what can be accommodated.
41. What aircraft does Island Birds operate?
Island Birds operates aircraft including the Piper Navajo Chieftain and Piper Aztec,
both well suited to Caribbean island flying. You can see aircraft and cabin information on our
Fleet
page.
42. Are the aircraft comfortable for families and small groups?
Yes. Our aircraft are designed for small private groups and provide a much more personal
travel experience than a scheduled airline connection.
Your party travels together in the same aircraft.
43. Is Island Birds FAA certified?
Island Birds operates FAA-certified aircraft with professionally trained pilots
and maintenance technicians. Safety is central to every flight we operate.
44. Are Island Birds pilots experienced with Caribbean airports?
Yes. Caribbean flying, including smaller island airports such as Virgin Gorda and Anegada,
has been at the heart of Island Birds operations since the company was founded in 2000.
Know Before You Go
International private charter is still international travel.
The difference is that Island Birds helps coordinate the process around your flight.
45. Do private charter passengers still have to clear customs and immigration?
Yes. Private charter does not eliminate legal customs or immigration requirements.
When you travel between countries or territories, the required entry and departure procedures still apply.
46. Does Island Birds help with customs and immigration?
Yes. Island Birds coordinates ground handling and the required customs and immigration
procedures associated with your charter so your connection can be as straightforward as possible.
For destination entry links, see our
Customs Portals.
47. Can private charter make customs faster than a normal airline connection?
At many larger airports, private aviation uses dedicated facilities and ground handling
rather than the normal scheduled-airline passenger flow.
The exact process depends on the airport and your itinerary.
48. Do I need a passport to fly with Island Birds?
Passport and entry requirements depend on your citizenship and the countries or territories
included in your itinerary. Every passenger is responsible for carrying the travel documents
required for the trip.
49. Are there online entry forms I should complete before traveling?
Yes, some Caribbean destinations require online customs or immigration forms before arrival.
We maintain direct links to several commonly used government entry systems on our
Customs Portals
page.
50. What travel information should I send Island Birds before my flight?
We will tell you what passenger and travel information is needed for your itinerary.
Providing the requested information before departure helps us prepare the flight
and any required international arrival or departure arrangements.
51. Does customs work the same way on every Caribbean island?
No. Entry procedures, forms and operating arrangements vary by country, territory and airport.
Island Birds coordinates each charter according to the airports and jurisdictions involved.
Bring the Whole Crew
Private charter is especially useful when the trip involves children,
multiple generations, extra luggage or a four-legged passenger.
52. Can children fly on an Island Birds private charter?
Yes. Families regularly fly with Island Birds.
Because the aircraft is reserved for your party, the trip can be much simpler
than managing children through multiple airline connections and ferry transfers.
53. Can infants travel on an Island Birds flight?
Yes, but tell us the age of every passenger when requesting your charter
so we can make sure the correct seating and travel arrangements are discussed before departure.
54. Is private charter a good option for grandparents or multi-generation families?
It can be. Flying directly to the island where you are staying can reduce terminal changes,
ferry transfers and unnecessary handling of luggage.
If anyone in your group has mobility needs, tell us before the flight so we can plan appropriately.
55. Can I bring my dog or other pet on an Island Birds flight?
Yes. Island Birds is pet-friendly. Tell us about your pet when requesting the charter
so we can coordinate the aircraft and any destination-specific entry requirements.
See our
Pet Transportation Services.
56. Does my pet have to travel separately from the family?
Island Birds specializes in private travel, so pet arrangements are much more personal
than ordinary airline cargo travel. The exact setup depends on the animal,
aircraft and itinerary, and we will review it with you before departure.
57. Does my pet need paperwork to enter another Caribbean island?
Requirements for animals vary by destination.
Tell Island Birds where you are traveling with your pet so the required documentation
can be reviewed before the trip.
58. Is Island Birds a good option for a private family group?
Yes. Your aircraft is reserved for your party, your departure is coordinated around your schedule,
and the entire family travels together from origin to destination.
From the First Question to Takeoff
Tell us where you are, where you want to go and who is traveling.
We will help with the rest.
59. How do I request a private charter quote?
Use our
Private Charter Quote
page and tell us your origin, destination, travel date and number of passengers.
Our team will respond with the charter options for your trip.
60. What information should I have ready when requesting a quote?
The most useful starting information is your departure airport or location,
destination, travel date, approximate preferred time, passenger count
and whether you need a one-way or round-trip flight.
61. How is private charter pricing determined?
Private charter pricing depends on the route, aircraft, itinerary, passenger requirements
and the details of your trip. Requesting a quote gives us the information needed to price
your charter accurately.
62. Do I buy individual seats or charter the aircraft?
Island Birds specializes in private charter. You charter the aircraft for your party
rather than buying individual seats on a scheduled airline flight.
63. Can I book an Anegada day trip?
Yes. Island Birds offers
Anegada day trips
with private flights from Tortola or Virgin Gorda. You can spend the day exploring
Anegada and fly back later.
64. What are BVI aerial tours?
Island Birds offers private sightseeing flights over the British Virgin Islands,
giving passengers an aerial view of the islands, reefs and surrounding Caribbean water.
Learn more about our
BVI aerial tours.
65. Where do BVI aerial tours depart from?
Island Birds aerial tours can depart from Beef Island or Virgin Gorda,
depending on the tour arrangements.
66. Can Island Birds arrange a private flight for a group?
Yes. Private groups, families, villa guests, yacht guests and business travelers
can charter an aircraft for their own itinerary.
Tell us how many passengers are traveling when requesting your quote.
67. Can Island Birds fly me somewhere that is not listed on the website?
Possibly. The routes shown on our website represent many of our most popular flights,
not every airport we can serve. Island Birds provides private charter throughout the Caribbean,
so contact us with the route you have in mind. You can also browse our
Caribbean destinations.
68. Why use private charter instead of another scheduled airline connection?
Private charter gives you control over the schedule and can let you fly more directly
to your destination. Depending on the trip, that can mean fewer terminal changes,
fewer connections, no ferry transfer and less time waiting for the next scheduled departure.
See our
Private Charter Experience
for what the trip is like from arrival to takeoff.
69. What makes Island Birds different from a scheduled airline?
With Island Birds, your aircraft is reserved for your party and the flight is coordinated
around your travel plans. Arrived early? We can go early. Running late? We will wait.
That flexibility is the heart of private charter.
70. How long has Island Birds been flying private charter in the Caribbean?
Island Birds was founded in 2000 and has spent decades flying passengers throughout
the Caribbean, with particular experience serving the British Virgin Islands
and smaller island airports. Learn more about
Island Birds.
STILL HAVE A QUESTION?
Ask Us. We Actually Answer.
Every Caribbean itinerary is a little different.
Tell us where you are coming from, where you are going and what matters most to your trip.