PASSENGER INFORMATION

Know before you go!

This section has been developed to assist our passengers in their quest for trouble-free air travel.  We hope you find this information useful.

• TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

• PASSENGER CHECK-IN

• LUGGAGE

• Payload

• CARRY-ON BAGGAGE

• HOW WE DETERMINE THE WEIGHT OF A PASSENGER

• HOW WE DETERMINE THE WEIGHT OF BAGGAGE

• Laptop Computers, Cameras and Other Fragile Items

• PERSONAL MEDICAL OXYGEN OWNED BY THE PASSENGER

• Transporting Hazardous Materials and Dangerous Goods

• RESTRICTED ITEMS

• What are Material Safety Data Sheets and why are they important to me?

• CLOROX AND OTHER BLEACHES

• CHARCOAL

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

Domestic Travel

For travel within the United States, passengers are only required to have some form of official, government or State issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, military ID card, etc, for identification purposes at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints.

International Travel

For international travel to and from the United States:

U.S. Citizens

As of September 30, 2007, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) now requires that ALL U.S. CITIZENS REGARDLESS OF AGE have and present a valid US Passport when re-entering the U.S. 

This means that CBP will no longer accept a receipt indicating that you have applied for a U.S. passport but have not yet received it, nor will they accept an expired passport. 

Since U.S. Citizens arriving without proper documentation and the airline transporting them are both subject to substantial fines and penalties Island Air Charters will refuse to board any passenger who does not personally possess the valid, proper documentation specified for re-entry. 

If you have any questions, please see the CBP website at www.cbp.gov or the U.S. Department of State website at www.travel.state.gov/.

We recommend that, if you do not have a valid passport, you take the necessary steps to obtain one sufficiently in advance of  your travel date, as - in response to this requirement - the time from applying for a passport and actually receiving it has substantially increased over the usual 10 day to 2 week period.  In this regard, our Passenger Service Agents will assist you as best they can.

Non-U.S. Citizens

All Non-U.S. Citizens will be required to have and present either a current Alien Registration Card or current foreign passport.

Entry into the Bahamas

Since both the Bahamas and the United States are in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, they both require the same form of travel documentation, meaning a current and valid passport or other acceptable government issued identification. 

All Non-U.S. Citizens traveling on Island Air Charters should visit the official website of the Bahamas at www.bahamas.com to obtain the specific documentation required for citizens from their home Country, or contact the Bahama Ministry of Tourism at 954 236 9292.

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PASSENGER CHECK-IN

Domestic Scheduled Flights

On all domestic scheduled flights, passengers should check-in a minimum of 30 minutes before departure.

Domestic Charter Flights

On all domestic charter flights, passengers should check-in at least 30 minutes before the agreed upon departure time.

International Scheduled and Charter Flights

Since all international scheduled and charter flight departures and arrivals must conform to the mandates of Customs and Border Protection, to comply with those ever-changing mandates, Island Air Charters requires all international passengers check-in 60 minutes prior to departure. 

Any passenger checking-in less than 30 minutes before an international scheduled flight may be denied boarding.

Any passenger checking-in less than 30 minutes before an international charter flight that causes the agreed upon departure time to be delayed, or moved back to a later time may be charged $10.00 per minute over the agreed upon departure time if the delay affects other flights scheduled that day for that aircraft.

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LUGGAGE

FREE BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE

Ticketed Passengers

The free baggage allowance for each passenger who has purchased a ticket to travel on an Island Air Charters scheduled flight is:

• Two pieces with a size limitation of 62 inches (157 cm) each.  The size limitation of your luggage is calculated by adding the total outside dimensions of each piece, that is, its length + width + height.

• The total and combined weight of free baggage on scheduled flights is limited to 50 pounds.

Additional, or excess baggage is allowed however, space available, at a rate of $0.60 per pound. 

Since baggage compartment size and allowable weights are restricted for passenger baggage on scheduled flights, the Company cannot, and will not guarantee, that additional baggage in excess of allowable limits will travel at the same time as you do.  Passengers with baggage in excess of allowable limits should plan on seeing their additional pieces arrive the following day.

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Charter Flights

There is no set limit on the number of pieces, or the size and weight of each piece of baggage that may be carried on a charter flight.  When you charter the aircraft, you charter the whole "package" and, for the  most part, size and weight restrictions do not apply. 

The only baggage and cargo requirements on charter flights are the items to be carried must be able to pass through the aircraft door openings, the combined weight of all items transported must not exceed the maximum payload weight of the aircraft (discussed below), and the weight distribution of the items carried must not exceed the floor loading limitation of 120 pounds per square foot.

Payload. Payload is the combined weight of each occupant onboard any given flight, plus the combined weight of all passenger baggage, carry-on bags, personal items, cargo and consumables (such as food and water) loaded onto the aircraft. 

Since all aircraft have a maximum takeoff weight and a maximum landing weight, with the weight of the aircraft known, and the weight of the fuel carried on board known, the difference between these two combined weights and the maximum takeoff weight is the aircraft's payload.

Since maximum takeoff weights and maximum landing weights are limitations established by the aircraft manufacturer, and there are FAA imposed minimum fuel requirements, depending on the duration of the flight, somewhere between 1,100 pounds and 1,600 pounds may be carried on any given flight as "payload" in any combination of passengers and baggage as long as the total weight of that combination does not exceed the maximum allowable payload on any given flight.

When a large payload is to be carried a long distance, fuel stops are typically planned and made to allow the carriage of the total payload on a single flight.

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CARRY-ON BAGGAGE

Island Air Charters does not have a carry-on baggage program and requires all baggage be checked regardless of whether or not the passenger is traveling on a ticket or has chartered the whole aircraft.

Laptop Computers, Cameras and Other Fragile Items

Island Air Charters staff make a conscious effort to handle all passenger baggage with the utmost care.  However, all passenger baggage and all cargo must be transported from our check-in counters to the aircraft on baggage carts pushed, in many instances, by the very pilot on the flight.  Unfortunately, experience has shown us that items can, and sometimes do inadvertently fall off our baggage carts no matter how careful we are.

For this reason, the Company has adopted the policy that - once presented for carriage and properly weighed - laptop computers, cameras, and other fragile and/or valuable items must be carried by the passenger to the aircraft for loading.  Once at the aircraft, either the crew, or our loading staff will take all items carried by passengers and load them accordingly into the cargo holds.

We sincerely apologize for this inconvenience.

Island Air Charters does not, cannot, and will not accept responsibility for any damage to any laptop computer, camera, or other fragile and/or valuable item transported on any of its aircraft. 

Should any passenger not heed this policy and instead, place their laptop computer, camera, or other fragile and/or valuable item onto an Island Air Charters baggage cart for transport to the aircraft, they do so at their own risk, as Island Air Charters will not accept responsibility for damage sustained when a laptop computer, camera, or other fragile and/or valuable item accidentally falls off our baggage carts. 

Once again, we apologize for this inconvenience.

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HOW WE DETERMINE THE WEIGHT OF A PASSENGER

By Federal Aviation Regulations, the Company is required to use the actual weight of each passenger planning to travel.  This is derived by either having the passenger stand on one of the Company's calibrated and certified scales and noting the weight, or by asking the passenger their weight and adding 10 pounds to the weight provided.

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HOW WE DETERMINE THE WEIGHT OF BAGGAGE

By Federal Aviation Regulations, each piece of baggage or cargo transported must be physically weighed and the weight noted on the load manifest.  All scales used by Island Air Charters are both calibrated and certified for these purposes.

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PERSONAL MEDICAL OXYGEN OWNED BY THE PASSENGER

Island Air Charters will only accept AirSep Lifestyle and Inogen One Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) Units as a source of medical oxygen onboard Company aircraft while in flight under the following conditions:

1. The passenger must notify the Company a minimum of 24 hours in advance of their departure informing the Company of their intention to travel with medical oxygen;

2. The passenger must produce a prescription or letter from a licensed physician that indicates:

1. the passenger has the physical and cognitive ability to see, hear and understand the device's aural and visual cautions and warnings and is able, without assistance, to take the appropriate action in response to those cautions and warnings;

2. whether or not medical oxygen is necessary for that passenger for all or a portion of the duration of the trip:

3. specifies the maximum oxygen flow rate corresponding to the pressure in the cabin of the aircraft under normal operating conditions

3. The passenger must sign a release from liability for the Company prior to boarding the aircraft with the POC;

4. The passenger must allow Company employees, representatives, agents, flight crew and specifically the Pilot in Command the opportunity to examine the prescription or letter written by the prescribing physician whenever queried and requested;

5. Only the AirSep LifeStyle Portable Oxygen Concentrator and the Inogen One Portable Oxygen Concentrator units will be permitted on Company aircraft;

6. The passenger must carry with them a sufficient quantity of batteries to power the device for the duration of the oxygen use specified in the user's physician statement, letter or prescription, including a conservative estimate of any unanticipated delays;

7. The extra POC batteries carried onboard the aircraft must be packaged in such a manner that they are easily accessible, and sufficiently protected from short circuits and physical damage during transport;

8. Prior to, or during passenger check-in, the Passenger Service Agent is to make a photocopy of the required and signed prescription for Company purposes.

All other passenger supplied supplemental medical oxygen systems are not allowed and will not be boarded. 

Passengers who use supplemental oxygen supply units that employ compressed gas cylinders are reminded that compressed gas cylinders are bona fide hazardous material and dangerous goods subject to the transportation requirements specified in the U.S. Department of Transportation's Hazardous Materials Regulations and/or the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. 

Island Air Charters is not authorized to transport compressed non-flammable gas in its aircraft.

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Transporting Hazardous Materials and Dangerous Goods

Currently, Island Air Charters does not accept, and therefore does not transport consumer products or items that are, or contain hazardous materials or dangerous goods as defined by Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Parts 100 to 185; the ICAO Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air; or the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations.

Since offering for transport or attempting to transport undeclared hazardous materials on U.S. civil aircraft is itself a felony punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and a $250,000.00 fine, or both, in these days of heightened security it is imperative that all passengers scrutinize the items they plan on bringing with them before packing.  See www.faa.gov

If you have any question concerning a consumer product, or item you plan on transporting on Island Air Charters aircraft, we suggest you make every effort to determine the status of your consumer product or item in advance of your travel day.  See What are Material Safety Data Sheets and why are they important to me?

Island Air Charters is currently in the process of changing its policy towards transporting hazardous materials and dangerous goods, anticipating FAA approval in the not to distant future which will permit the company to accept and transport properly packaged and properly documented hazardous materials and dangerous goods. 

When that approval is granted, instructions will be posted on this website providing explicit instructions to those individuals wishing to transport known hazardous materials on Island Air Charters aircraft.

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RESTRICTED ITEMS

Many common items used everyday in the home or workplace may seem harmless. However, when transported by air, they can be very dangerous. In flight, variations in temperature and pressure can cause items to leak, generate toxic fumes or start a fire.

Please refer to the chart below to determine if items you plan on bringing with you may be legally transported on aircraft. Items listed below as restricted for transport by air will not be allowed on board.

See Clorox and Charcoal for information concerning these particular items.

For a complete list of items prohibited by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) please refer to www.tsa.gov

For a complete list of items prohibited by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) please refer to  www.faa.gov

NOTE: At this time, passengers traveling on Island Air Charters do not have to go through TSA security checkpoints.  However, many travelers depend on Island Air Charters to get them to their connecting flight operated by airlines that require their passengers to go through TSA security checkpoints.  Information contained in the following table that pertains to Carry-On baggage or Security Checkpoint restrictions is for information purposes only, and is there to allow you to plan ahead should your journey continue on another commercial airline.

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What are Material Safety Data Sheets and why are they important to me?

A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a document published by the actual manufacturer of a consumer product or item that contains pertinent information regarding any Health Hazards, Fire and Explosion Data, and Transportation and Regulatory Data associated with the consumer product or item in question.  Most manufacturers post MSDS information either on their website where they are downloadable, or by a toll-free phone number available on the actual product itself or on the manufacturer's website, and available via fax.

The MSDS for a specific consumer product or item is the definitive source for determining whether or not the consumer product or item to be transported on an aircraft is a bona fide hazardous material or not. 

Island Air Charters maintains a catalog containing Material Safety Data Sheets for most commonly carried consumer products.  However this does not assure Island Air Charters will have the MSDS for your product or item. 

Since Island Air Charters staff are prohibited from boarding any consumer product or item they suspect to be a hazardous material or dangerous good without sufficient documented proof to the contrary, it is strongly recommended that passengers seek and obtain the Material Safety Data Sheet for their consumer product or item well enough in advance of their planned travel day, and have it in hand to present to Passenger Service Agents at check-in.

Passengers (shippers) should know that it is their responsibility to obtain and produce information concerning whether or not a consumer product or item they wish to transport on an aircraft is a bona fide hazadous material or dangerous good.  Passengers (shippers) should also know that it is the obligation of the airline to refuse to transport any consumer product, or item it believes might be a hazardous material or dangerous good, without documented proof to the contrary.

If you have any questions concerning a particular consumer product or item you wish to transport, or believe your consumer product or item might be restricted, please call us at 1 800 444 9904 or 954 359 9942, and we will do everything we can to assist you in this matter.

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CLOROX

According to the Hazardous Materials and Dangerous Goods Regulations, consumer grade Clorox liquid bleach products are not bona fide hazmat or dangerous goods and are therefore not subject to the packaging, labeling and documentation requirements of those regulations.  This information has been confirmed on Material Safety Data Sheets produced by the manufacturer for these products.

That said, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has listed "bleach" as an item not suitable for transport in passenger baggage and is therefore prohibited in either carry-on or checked baggage.

Island Air Charters' position with regard to the transportation of Clorox and other consumer grade bleaches is that, if the product is not a bona fide dangerous good and therefore not subject to dangerous goods regulations, and the product's Material Safety Data Sheets are presented "proving" so, the package will be accepted as a cargo shipment if the product is packaged accordingly for transport by air.  This means that a plastic bottle of Clorox presented by itself is unacceptable.  A plastic bottle of Clorox carried in a passenger's luggage is also unacceptable.  However, plastic bottles of Clorox in a good quality sealable box or plastic container, properly oriented with sufficient absorbent material is acceptable and will be transported as cargo.

Remember, transportation of Clorox bleach or other similar products in passenger baggage is strictly prohibited.

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CHARCOAL

Surprisingly, most Kingsford brand "Charcoals" are not charcoal at all, but sawdust and limestone with only a trace of "Char dust."  Accordingly, the Material Safety Data Sheets for these "charcoals" state they are not restricted per the U.S. Department of Transportation's Hazardous Materials Regulations.

Island Air Charters will accept most consumer "charcoals" if the passenger presents the appropriate Material Safety Data Sheet for the product to be transported and that MSDS indicates the "charcoal" in question is not a bona fide hazardous material or dangerous good subject to the packaging, labeling and documentation requirements of the Hazardous Materials Regulations. 

Passengers who wish to transport these "charcoals" shall insure the integrity of the package is sufficient to prevent leakage or spillage, and it is recommended that these products be placed in a heavy gauge clear plastic trash bag.

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