Who wants to share cost of private plane to HNL in 2012? (Honolulu: rental, buy)

[Ladybradley]

I plan to move to Oahu with my Shih Tzu sometime between summer and end of 2012. I am flexible as to exact dates, in order to find others that want to share in the cost of a private airplane rental. I will not put my baby in cargo. One private airplane rental service I called quoted me a price of about $40,000 from Southern California to HNL. I AM, HOWEVER, FLEXIBLE ON WHERE WE LEAVE FROM. I live in Tennessee right now, so I'd have to get me and my dog closer to the west coast area before we fly to Honolulu anyway. Please let me know if anyone is interested in sharing the flight--either with or without pets of your own. And we can work out splitting up the cost based on the number of people and pets you will have. I will have only one pet. My husband and son may also join us on the flight and pay a portion towards themselves, rather than flying commercial as well. Thank you.

[sayulita]

Why don't you just buy a seat for your dog? Crate him, sedate him, strap him into his own seat and you're good to go.

[skyegirl]

Well, in this economy, I'm sure you'll have many offers. Good luck with that

[Becca8377]

Originally Posted by sayulita

Why don't you just buy a seat for your dog? Crate him, sedate him, strap him into his own seat and you're good to go.

I'm pretty sure ALL commercial airline flights to HNL require that pets be in cargo.

[PDD]

Originally Posted by Ladybradley

I plan to move to Oahu with my Shih Tzu sometime between summer and end of 2012. I am flexible as to exact dates, in order to find others that want to share in the cost of a private airplane rental. I will not put my baby in cargo. One private airplane rental service I called quoted me a price of about $40,000 from Southern California to HNL. I AM, HOWEVER, FLEXIBLE ON WHERE WE LEAVE FROM. I live in Tennessee right now, so I'd have to get me and my dog closer to the west coast area before we fly to Honolulu anyway. Please let me know if anyone is interested in sharing the flight--either with or without pets of your own. And we can work out splitting up the cost based on the number of people and pets you will have. I will have only one pet. My husband and son may also join us on the flight and pay a portion towards themselves, rather than flying commercial as well. Thank you.

You can probably get there a lot cheaper by boat.
Just guessing.

[PacificFlights]

Originally Posted by sayulita

Why don't you just buy a seat for your dog? Crate him, sedate him, strap him into his own seat and you're good to go.

Only 1 airline is back to letting pets fly in the cabin and they limit it to only 1 pet per flight. This makes is hard tyo get a reservation.

Originally Posted by PDD

You can probably get there a lot cheaper by boat.
Just guessing.

What boat?

Originally Posted by Ladybradley

One private airplane rental service I called quoted me a price of about $40,000 from Southern California to HNL.

Is that a confirmed price or just a "quote"? I mean, is the 40 thousand all inclusive of all cost and no additional cost are going to be added on? The cost between a "quote" and actual is what has doomed many on the past from doing this. $40,000 for a jet holding 8 people means $5,000 per person which is possible doable. But if you end up having to add tax, landing fees, repostioning fee, overnight stay fee, fuel surcharge, dead-leg fee, ramp fee, governement fees, and such can add up. Even an extra $40 per person to have someone on the ramp take your pets off and transport them to HI Quarantine can all add up. So is it $40,000 firm or will it end up being more per person.

Also, make sure that you dictate the scheduling to coinside with HI-DOA operating hours. Since all the pets have to be removed by the ramp staff and taken there, and you have to get there, don;t schedule landing 1/2 hour before they close cause you may be watiing until the next day to pick up Fluffy. I have seen people use private transport and to meet the charter company schedule to give them a lower rate, they arrive late and find out HI quarantine isn't like a fruit inspection at the airport. So by the time they got to the office, its closed and they now have to wait until the next day.

As an FYI, since the cost can get high, and people realize they love their pet but not that much to start spending that type of money just on the pet, often they pick the overnight scheduled cargo only flight because those pets fly in the cabin space.

[PDD]

What do you mean what boat? The kind that travels from CA to HI every day bringing all the stuff. I am sure they can find room for Fido and his companion.

[PacificFlights]

Originally Posted by PDD

What do you mean what boat? The kind that travels from CA to HI every day bringing all the stuff. I am sure they can find room for Fido and his companion.

Are you familiar with the way goods and supplies are shipped to hawaii? There are no provisions for Fido and there are NO PASSENGERS on those ships. Two of them do transport livestock or agricultural animals but a special attendent is used when they are aboard, but otherwise, pets are shiped via air cargo. The best one can hope for with passenger and pet, is when the cruise ships are repositioning ships for the change in crusie scheduling and need a ship to go from the mainland to Hawaii, but since thats only once a year its not convinient. I also heard they don't allw pets in cabin ont hat cruise.

[hotzcatz]

Originally Posted by PDD

What do you mean what boat? The kind that travels from CA to HI every day bringing all the stuff. I am sure they can find room for Fido and his companion.

Sure, stick Fluffy in a shipping box and let him stay there for the week it takes the boat to cross the ocean. Boats don't do 2,500 miles very quickly.

Since in this case Fluffy is small enough to sit under the plane seat, I think the OP would best be served by grabbing one of those Alaska Airlines flights which allow pets in the cabin. Better get it quick, though, before they decide pets in the cabin are more trouble than they're worth like all the other airlines eventually did.

Living in Hawaii and being at the whims of the airlines is actually a kinda scary thing if you think about it. I used to own an ocean going sailboat so my consoling thought was if things got way out of control, I could always sail away. It wouldn't have been easy, but it could have been done. Now, there is no longer the boat option and it is an uneasy feeling knowing if the price of fuel gets too whacko, most of the folks here will be staying here and most of the stuff coming here (by boat or plane) probably won't be coming here any more. I'd feel a lot more comfortable being so far from mainland supplies if there was a passenger ship going back and forth like we used to have with the Matson cruise ships. Lurline, Mariposa and Malolo, I think they were. Big white passenger/cruise ships. I don't know, though, if they were actual passenger ships, where folks would be able to go one way or if they were cruise ships where you went and came back on the same ship. Nor do I know if they would allow pets. But they stopped cruising in the late 70's. Sure would be nice if they were still an option.

[uprightgirl]

any luck yet finding people to fly with you?