GETTING THERE
Arrivals must be after 2PM and Departures before 10AM.
Incoming parties are asked to arrive on the afternoon flight into Congo
Town. Please make arrangements to depart on the morning flight.
Departures back to the states
When booking your departing flight from
Nassau back the states be
sure to allow enough time to get from Western Air to your connecting
flight.
Western does not arrive in Nassau until 9:30
AM some mornings. You're pushing your luck with a 11AM departing flight, 12PM or
later is best. Some airlines, like Spirit, overbook and have stand-by
passengers. If you miss the two hour check-in window they will sell your
ticket out from under you. They seem to enjoy telling you "you're
screwed". Yeah...happened to me.
Also, don't book the cheapest flight you can find without checking the
baggage policy. Some international flights allow a carry-on and two
checked bags for free like Jet Blue. Others will charge you for every
bag including a carry-on like Spirit. Spirit is cheap but once they
ding you for bags you could have booked Jet Blue for the same money and
flown in style.
Western
Air - to/from Nassau/Congotown
Western Air can be contacted at
242-377-2222.
http://www.westernairbahamas.com/
Via Nassau - Once you arrive in
Nassau head for the domestic terminal. It’s a short 15 minute flight to
Congotown Airport (TZN), South Andros. Western Air flies there twice a
day. The first flight departs Nassau to Congotown at 8 AM and the second departs to Congo
Town at 3:00 PM.
A round trip ticket is $120. They will accept reservations without
payment over the phone. Reservations can also be made online at their
website.
Book your arrival flight from Nassau to Congotown on the
afternoon flight. Be sure to check in
by 2PM.
Book you departing flight from Congotown to Nassau on the
morning flight.
Western Air is very reliable but they don't own a clock. They are
usually late and sometimes early. Listen carefully to flights being
called over the intercom when waiting for your flight to Congotown. Some
fishermen have missed their flight because it was called a half hour
early.
You are responsible for making these
arrangements. Once you arrive at Congotown cab will be waiting at the
airport for you and your party. From there it’s a 22 mile drive to Mars
Bay Bonefish Lodge, the end of the road.
Direct flights to/from Congotown via Fort Lauderdale/Miami
There are
a number of charter services flying out of Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
Watermakers Air is your best option. You can buy one seat or as many as
nine. It might
cost a bit more but the convenience is worth it every penny. Air Flight,
contact info below, is very professional and reliable; first class. With
Airflight you must charter the entire plane. Again, there are many
charter services.
Air Flight Charters
Fort Lauderdale Jet Centerr
100 Lee Wagener Blvd., Suite #10333
ort Lauderdale, FL 3331555
ffice: 954-359-032000
ax: 954-359-032222
www.airflightcharters.comm
Lisa@AirFlightCharters.com
Watermakers Air via Fort Lauderdale,
Florida - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Watermakers will fly you directly to Congotown bypassing Nassau.
Watermakers will fly you directly to Congotown bypassing Nassau.
We are located at the Ft
Lauderdale Executive Airport (20 minutes North of the International
Airport). We are not a "scheduled" airline, but rather an "on demand"
charter operator, and when you buy a "seat" from us, you are actually
buying a share (one of nine) on a charter flight. That said, we usually
have availability on or very near the desired travel date to/from Andros
and Staniel Cay...in fact, we often operate two flights per day to these
islands.
Our flights to Andros Island (Either Fresh Creek or
Congotown) usually depart our hangar at the Fort Lauderdale Executive
Airport at 7:00 am and 1:00 pm with a mandatory check-in time of one
hour prior to your departure. You will be arriving into Andros Island 1
hour and 15 minutes later (weather and customs permitting).
On
the return flights we depart Andros Island around 10:00 am and 4:00 pm
with a mandatory check-in time of 1/2 hour prior to departure at
Congotown Airstrip. You will be arriving into Fort Lauderdale Executive
Airport (weather and customs permitting) approximately 1 hour and 15
minutes later at around 11:30 am or 5:30 pm. If you are making
connecting flights we recommend a 2 to 3 hour layover in case we
experience any unforeseen delays with weather, customs etc.
The
cost of air fare is $235.00 per person
per way plus taxes or $564.90 per
person, round trip, including taxes for all tickets purchased 48 hours
prior to flight time. All tickets purchased within 48 hours of flight
time the cost of airfare is $259.00 per
person per way plus taxes. If your flight is during our holiday period
then the cost would be $282.00 per
person per way plus taxes.
If
you are lodging at
Mars Bay Bonefish Lodge
then you would get a discounted airfare of $220.00 per person per way
plus taxes or $534.90 per person, round trip, including taxes. All hotel
tickets purchased within 48 hours of flight time the cost of airfare is
$259.00 per person per way plus taxes. If your flight is during our
holiday period then the cost would be $235.00 per person per way plus
taxes.
All passengers are allowed 35 lbs of luggage for free. Any items over
the 35 lbs will be billed at $1.50 per pound and will be shipped on a
space available basis.
If you need transportation between airports we recommend using Lane's
Limousine and Car Service. Their phone number is 866-405-4667 or
954-568-9300 and their email address is
JMP2425@aol.com.
If you need to book hotel reservations in Fort Lauderdale we recommend
the following 2 hotels located near our hangar. Each hotel will give you
a discount because you are flying with us. The Sheraton Suites Hotel has
a shuttle service that runs between the hours of 7 AM and 11 PM. If you
are on the morning flight please contact Lanes Limousines or have the
Hotel call for taxi service. The Hampton Inn does not have shuttle
service.
Sheraton Suites Cypress Creek
- 1 mile from airport - $98-$299 per room - Phone: (954) 772-5400
Hampton Inn - 2 1/2 miles from the airport - $89-$140 per
room - Phone: (954)776-7677
In order to confirm flight
reservations we will require the following information from each
passenger:
Name(s) as they appear on passport (Must be exact) Date of birth
Weight Country of Citizenship Country of Residency Country that
Issued the Passport Passport number and the expiration date (very
important!) Physical Living Address in the US (No PO Boxes. If you
are visiting the U.S. then the hotel name and city where you will be
staying. Where you are staying in the Bahamas (House name, Boat Name,
Cottage Name, Island etc..) Travel contact info: Where we can send
any alerts related to your flight in the days preceding the flight.
Credit card number, expiration date and the security code
Once all of the above information has been obtained, we can confirm your
booking.
Please do not hesitate to contact our office with any
questions.
Watermakers Air 2545 NW 55th Court
Hangar 26 Ft Lauderdale, FL 33309 (954) 771-0330
Another option is to fly by charter to/from Nassau/Congotown
Cell 242-471 1860
Office 242-368 2116
Home 242-361 4078 Evening after 7:pm.
The rates to Congo, $900.00 for
the 9 seater.
$550.00 for the 5 seater.
Both 9 seaters can carry about 2,000lbs pax and bags,
Max take off wt is 6,500lbs so each person can bring
their bags, with lots of storage in the wing lockers
for the rods.
The 5 seater can do 1,400lbs no
prob this is the most reliable aero plane in the
islands.
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