Gamble on a flight from New York to the Hamptons

By Michelle Baran
October 3, 2012
blog_btstandardplane_original.jpg
Courtesy StndAir

Andre Balazs' Standard hotel in Manhattan is launching a summer seaplane service to the Hamptons, and is offering passengers the option to play its "Flight Board" game for a shot at seats as low as $30.

The flights are on board a bright red, eight-passenger Cessna seaplane called StndAir. Passengers can sign up to play the Flight Board for a chance to book off-peak flights between 9 a.m. and 7p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Flight Board flights are also available Sunday mornings and Mondays after noon.

"Seat prices increase as the plane becomes full, so join early for the best rates," the StndAir website advises. "Your flight can be bumped off the board if someone takes your desired time slot and charters the entire plane in full, or gets seven friends onboard before you do."

Flights on the Flight Board that depart on Friday, July 1, for the Fourth of July weekend, for instance, currently range from $30 to $295 each way, depending on how full the flights are, and contingent on them filling up and later bookers being willing to throw down even more.

Flight Board destinations include East Hampton, Shelter Island, Montauk and Nantucket.

And while the Flight Board offers a chance for seats as low as $30, regularly scheduled flights between New York and East Hampton cost $495 each way with between one and four departures daily, depending on the date.

The service started this past Memorial Day weekend and runs through Oct., 2011.

The StndAir is available for charter service to any East Coast destination within a 300-mile radius of New York, which includes Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod in Massachusetts, as well as the Hudson Valley.

The plane is operated by Shoreline Aviation as part of their FAA Part135 Air Carrier Operations. Flights depart from and land at New York Skyports Marina, located at 2430 FDR Drive on the East River at 23rd Street (the dock is to the left of the Gulf Gas Station at 23rd Street).

More from Budget Travel:

Will you be flying this summer?

Summer fares: Book now or wait?

10 Beach Products You Never Knew You Needed

Plan Your Next Getaway
Keep reading
News

You're now owed a lot of cash if an airline bumps you

A reader has a question about the U.S. government requiring airlines to give fatter payouts to passengers who get involuntarily "bumped" from oversold flights. As Budget Travel recently reported in its story, "8 Common Air Travel Snafus (And How to Beat Them)," the DOT has increased by hundreds of dollars how much airlines have to pay passengers for bumping them off an oversold flight against their wishes. Starting this August, most bumped domestic fliers who get to their destination more than an hour late than planned must receive double their one-way fare back, up to about $650 in cash. Delayed much longer? You'll get four times your one-way fare, up to $1,300. But in most cases, you'll have to go to an airport customer desk and demand what you're owed. Here's the great question about this from Romeo Raabe in Green Bay, WI: In this and many other articles about being bumped off an airline, I've read to only take cash. Please define "cash". Does this mean I must demand cash, greenbacks, US currency? Or a check, in my hand, or promise of being mailed to me? What, exactly, is cash? I'm sure other readers wonder about this too.The answer: You want cash—as in, the green stuff you hold in your hand. (While a paper check or direct deposit would probably also be legal in theory, no airline we know of gives its airport service agents the power to write checks or issue direct deposits in its name. Cold, hard cash is what you want and what you can reasonably expect.) Last year, 59,250 passengers qualified to receive cash compensation by being bumped against their will. Airlines rarely paid out cash to these fliers, though. They instead wooed passengers with voucher credits for future flights. The problem with these flight vouchers—which work like gift certificates—is that they come with more restrictions than cash. There may be an expiration date on the flight voucher. You'll have to use the voucher on that specific airline—even if the lowest fares for your upcoming trips may be on other airlines. You'll probably have to make the reservation over the phone if you're redeeming a voucher. In short, how sure can you be that you'll be flying this particular airline again soon enough to be able to use the voucher? Rather than worry, just ask for cash. Cash is specifically what the DOT says in its rules that airlines must be able to pay out. (For international trips, an airline must get you to your destination within one hour of your scheduled arrival time. After that, it must pay you compensation of double your one way fare up to $650. For delayed arrivals longer than four hours, you are entitled to four times the value of your one-way ticket up to $1,300.) MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL 8 Common Air Travel Snafus (And How to Beat Them) New Budget Airline Vision Delivers Cheap Fares Quiz: Can You Spot the Travel Rip-off?

News

Money is biggest stress on vacation, survey shows

Yes, vacations are supposed to be about de-stressing. But there can still be plenty of tension no matter how hard we try to make getaways relaxing. The top three things that cause friction on vacation are money, sightseeting and food, according to a recent survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers conducted by independent research company TNS, and commissioned by SpringHill Suites by Marriott. Some 26 percent of Americans said they squabble about how much money to spend when they are on vacation, 22 percent disagree about what to do while traveling, and 9 percent disagree about where to eat while on vacation. if (WIDGETBOX) WIDGETBOX.renderWidget('7b4ef9a7-365a-450f-b94f-19e10d934b85');Get the Poll Creator Pro widget and many other great free widgets at Widgetbox! Not seeing a widget? (More info)Three-quarters of survey respondents said that taking a vacation this year will be vital to their mental health. Among the reasons why, 44 percent cited de-stressing, 37 percent are hoping that getting away will lift their spirits, and 8 percent are hoping that a vacation will help get their relationship back on track. But despite a resolve to relax, financial stresses find vacationers even when they're trying to disconnect from it all. According to the survey, 64 percent of women and 41 percent of men report feeling guilty about spending money while on vacation. Certainly, traveling with kids can also add to the stress. To deal with kids who act out on the road, parents said they either snapped at youngsters, ignored them or took some deep breaths. So, how do vacationers bounce back from a stressful scenario? There's nothing like a good nap, or a long night's sleep to relieve tensions. Americans cited sleep as the number one activity that is most likely to relieve stress after a conflict while on vacation. What about you? What stresses you out most while on vacation, or do you successfully detach and relax? Let us know by voting in our poll or sharing your best, and worst, stories of tension and relief below. More from Budget Travel: Got Stress? Get to Puerto Vallarta 9 Great Memorial Day Getaways Dining Destinations to Watch in 2011

News

Will you be flying this summer?

if (WIDGETBOX) WIDGETBOX.renderWidget('bf533ab3-800b-4996-a4c8-ec2ddbd5e6e2');Get the Poll Creator Pro widget and many other great free widgets at Widgetbox! Not seeing a widget? (More info)According to the country's largest airline trade group, Air Transport Association of America (ATA), things are looking up for the travel industry. Despite a tough economic climate, Americans are still flying—and they're going abroad in record numbers. Major U.S. airlines are expected to carry 206.2 million passengers during the peak summer season, a 1.5 percent increase over the summer of 2010. Sure, these numbers aren't quite up to the pre-recession highs of 2007, when an all-time high of 217.6 million people flew during the summer. But in a time when rising fuel costs are making headlines almost every day, even modest annual gains seem to be a healthy indicator that nothing will stop Americans from going on a well-deserved vacation. Here's a quick look at their findings: if (WIDGETBOX) WIDGETBOX.renderWidget('c33f6ceb-5af1-4bb4-92d7-103e3245d4a5');Get the Poll Creator Pro widget and many other great free widgets at Widgetbox! Not seeing a widget? (More info)How many of those travelers will fly domestically? The ATA estimates that about 180 million Americans will fly domestically, an increase of 2.7 million over last summer. How many are heading overseas? Perhaps the most surprising finding from this year's study was that international air travel is expected to hit an all-time record high of 26.3 million passengers. The previous record was the summer of 2010, which saw 25.8 million passengers flying abroad. How much will an average ticket cost? Surprisingly, airfares have remained relatively steady over the past decade. The average price of a round-trip domestic ticket in 2000 was $314. This summer, the average ticket is $316. (I dare you to find another product or service that has only rose $2 over the past ten years!) Now it's your turn: Sound off below about your summer travel plans. Will you be flying this summer? If so, where? SEE MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL: The Threat of Rising Airfares Finally! Affordable Hotels Have Arrived in New York City Vote Now for the World's Best Cruiser

News

Finally! Affordable hotels in New York City have arrived

For all of the great attractions New York City has to offer tourists, a choice of appealing, reasonably priced accommodations has never really been one of them. But that may be changing, thanks to a slate of new hotels opening up in Harlem and the outer boroughs—Brooklyn and Queens, in particular. In fact, about 40 percent of the new properties scheduled to open in New York this year are located outside of Manhattan, according to new data from NYC & Company—the official marketing and tourism organization for New York City. The opening of Aloft Harlem last spring seemed to kickstart the trend. The 124-room hotel is located on Frederick Douglass Boulevard, alongside a stretch of new bars and restaurants in the up-and-coming Harlem neighborhood. Central Park and the classic Apollo Theater are just a short walk away, as is bustling 125th St., where you can catch many subway and bus lines to the rest of Manhattan's attractions. Rates for doubles go as low as $170. The Aloft brand—which is run by the chic company behind the W—will expand its footprint in New York this summer with Aloft New York Brooklyn, its 50th boutique-style hotel around the world. The 176-room Aloft is located in Downtown Brooklyn, just a short walk away from the iconic Brooklyn Bridge and the locals' favorite, Junior's Most Fabulous Cheesecake and Desserts restaurant. Numerous subway and rail line connections are nearby, as well. Bonus: The hotel's rooftop terrace bar will offer panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline. Rates start at $169 per night for a double room. The Downtown Brooklyn neighborhood will also be welcoming a new B&B; this summer, called 3B. The hotel is run by eight young artists and writers, who live nearby, and has high ceilings, wood floors, and large windows, with lots of natural light. 3B has four rooms—two private rooms with a queen bed, one private room with two single beds, and another room with two bunk beds for up to four travelers. A complimentary breakfast is served each morning. Rates start at $120, including breakfast. A number of chains are also getting in on the outer-borough action. Best Western Plus opened a hotel in Brooklyn's Prospect Park neighborhood in December, 2010, and Fairfield Inn & Suites and Sheraton will follow suit with Brooklyn properties of their own later this year. MORE FROM Budget Travel: Sneak peek: Aloft's first NYC hotel will open in Harlem Would you sightsee in New York City, but sleep in Jersey City? Hip-yet-affordable hotels: What makes Aloft special