Sale on Cayman Airways

[Drew Sailbum]

This is the usual anniversary sale. Put it on your calendar for every August. Details will vary year to year, but always, always, always every August, usually early August.

 

[Ray and Pam]

OK, we booked it anyway. Been looking at Little Cayman for years and Maduro seems to be running an Autumn Cascade special at LCBR.

 

[Ray and Pam]

Kathy V, need you again.
At this time we arrive in Grand Cayman on Sat Nov 4(pirates week) at 3:08 pm and our Cayman Brac flight departs at 5:15 pm. What with all the airport renovations and saturday evening, pirates everywhere, should we pay $75 ea to move up from row 28 to row 7 to get to C&I sooner or just chill


Thanks Ray

 

[KathyV]

Kathy V, need you again.
At this time we arrive in Grand Cayman on Sat Nov 4(pirates week) at 3:08 pm and our Cayman Brac flight departs at 5:15 pm. What with all the airport renovations and saturday evening, pirates everywhere, should we pay $75 ea to move up from row 28 to row 7 to get to C&I sooner or just chill Thanks Ray

Normally you would think that 2 hours would be plenty of time, but 3 pm Saturday is right in the peak busy time - even without construction, although I don't think that the pirates will be a big problem because pirates week starts on GC on November 9 this year.

We were on Brac once during pirate week and it was no big deal. A small group (5 or 6) men and women in pirate costume showed up at the CBBR during the Friday night barbecue and spoke pirate and said "arrgh" frequently and joked with the guests - that was it. My understanding is that the pirate craziness is largely focused on Grand Cayman but they are planning a parade on CB on the afternoon of Nov 4, it sounds like fun!
Pirates Week Festival of the Cayman Islands

But I have personally spent 1 hour to 1.5 hours getting through immigration and customs when arriving on GC on a busy Saturday afternoon and that is just the first part of your journey. You will then have to re-check your luggage and go through Security to get to the departure lounge and board your plane to the sister islands. Sometimes the Security lines are very long - especially on Saturday afternoon - so you may or may not make it - and your flight from the US might arrive late (or early!) you never know.

But I don't think that spending $150 to move your seats forward is the best option. A lot depends on how many flights are arriving and leaving at the same time. If 3 other flights are coming in at the same time, getting off your plane a little quicker won't be that much help. You can use the Flight Stats site at the link below to get an idea of how busy it will be:
http://www.flightstats.com/go/Home/home.do

Here's another suggestion. I have never used an airport Meet and Greet Service, but that might be the best option in this situation. My understanding is that they will meet you at the plane and move you through the lines quickly and assist you in getting to your destination.

I am aware of 2 Meet and Greet services that are available at GCM. The airports offers one that costs $36 US per person, and Island Air offers a VIP service for $150 per family (but I don't know if that price is in $US or $CI). See the links below for both, you will probably need to add a tip into the calculations.

But if you engage one of these services, it is their job to get you through quickly and without hassles - so it might well be worthwhile. When you look at their websites, they are geared toward people staying on Grand Cayman, so you should contact them and ask them about the process and charges for helping you to your interisland transit connection.

You could also try calling Reef Fantaseas, the booking agent for the Clearly Cayman resorts, because they deal with booking Cayman Airways flights and guest delay issues all the time and they may be better able to advise you.

Have a great trip!

https://www.caymanairports.com/airport-advertising/meet-greet-service/

http://www.islandair.ky/html/vip_meet_and_greet_service.php

Reef Fanta Seas
800-327-3835 or
727-323-8727
bestdiving@reefseas.com

 

[Ray and Pam]

Great info! Thanks...

 

[flyboy08]

We flew from LC to Grand yesterday on the 8:45 and walked from plane to luggage and then out the door...in all of 3 minutes and not one official was at a desk . So, mornings are a breeze!

We were scheduled on the 4:00, but went standby on the 8:45 and got on free of charge so we could spend the day in the ocean on 7 mile beach instead of the pool at LCBR.

 

[Joneill]

Normally you would think that 2 hours would be plenty of time, but 3 pm Saturday is right in the peak busy time - even without construction, but I don't think that the pirates will be a big problem because pirates week starts on November 9 this year:
Pirates Week Festival of the Cayman Islands

But I have personally spent 1 hour to 1.5 hours getting through immigration and customs when arriving on GC on a busy Saturday afternoon and that is just the first part of your journey. You will then have to re-check your luggage and go through Security to get to the departure lounge and board your plane to the sister islands. Sometimes the Security lines are very long - especially on Saturday afternoon - so you might not make it.

But I don't think that spending $150 to move your seats forward is the best option. A lot depends on how many flights are arriving and leaving at the same time. If 3 other flights are coming in at the same time, getting off your plane a little quicker won't be that much help. You can use the Flight Stats site at the link below to get an idea of how busy it will be:
http://www.flightstats.com/go/Home/home.do

Here's another suggestion. I have never used an airport Meet and Greet Service, but that might be the best option in this situation. My understanding is that they will meet you at the plane and move you through the lines quickly and assist you in getting to your destination.

I am aware of 2 Meet and Greet services that are available at GCM. The airports offers one that costs $36 US per person, and Island Air offers a VIP service for $150 per family (but I don't know if that price is in $US or $CI). See the links below for both.

If you engage one of these services, it is their job to get you through quickly and without hassles - so it might well be worthwhile. When you look at their websites, they are geared toward people staying on Grand Cayman, so you should contact them and ask them about the process and charges for helping you to your interisland transit connection.

You could also try calling Reef Fantaseas, the booking agent for the Clearly Cayman resorts, because they deal with booking Cayman Airways flights and guest delay issues all the time and they may be better able to advise you.

Have a great trip!

https://www.caymanairports.com/airport-advertising/meet-greet-service/

http://www.islandair.ky/html/vip_meet_and_greet_service.php

Reef Fanta Seas
800-327-3835 or
727-323-8727
bestdiving@reefseas.com

Not that it helps here, but this is all exactly why we never travel to/from the Caribbean on Fri/Sat/Sun. Travelling during the week typically makes C&I a breeze AND air fares are usually cheaper too...

 

[KathyV]

We flew from LC to Grand yesterday on the 8:45 and walked from plane to luggage and then out the door...in all of 3 minutes and not one official was at a desk . So, mornings are a breeze! We were scheduled on the 4:00, but went standby on the 8:45 and got on free of charge so we could spend the day in the ocean on 7 mile beach instead of the pool at LCBR.

Sounds like you had a good trip! Coming back from the sister islands is usually easier than going there, because the entry C&I lines can be bad when you arrive in the country on GC; and traveling outside the busiest period (around noon to 3 or 4 pm) is also a good plan when you can manage it.

@flyboy08, please post a trip report because my husband and I are heading to GC and LCBR in less than 2 months and we will be interested to read current information.

 

[flyboy08]

Sounds like you had a good trip! Coming back from the sister islands is usually easier than going there, because the entry C&I lines can be bad when you arrive in the country on GC; and traveling outside the busiest period (around noon to 3 or 4 pm) is also a good plan when you can manage it.

@flyboy08, please post a trip report because my husband and I are heading to GC and LCBR in less than 2 months and we will be interested to read current information.

I will...with pix after I re acclimate back into NYC life