Skip massive TSA lines and other airport drama.

At Palm Beach ’s individual aviation terminal , I am distinctly the rookie . This became immediately apparent when the woman ferment at the checkout - in counter gave me a look like I ’d asked for a flight to Mars when I showed up an astounding 45 minutes early .

“ Ah . Yeah , they ’re not even here yet , ” she say to me , in the same mode you might tell a dinner guest who depict up at 3 pm . “ Go ahead and wait in the lounge , they ’ll check you in when they get here . ”

The first lesson in flyingTropic Ocean Airways : you could middling much show up right before the plane is leaving . Which is one of the Brobdingnagian draws for taking Tropic Ocean ’s newfangled day-and-night flight from Palm Beach to Marsh Harbor , Bahamas , a gateway to the Abacos . It ’s not quite aviate private , but it ’s a helluva flock easier than flying like a normal somebody , especially in this epoch of constantdelays and outright cancelations . If you ’re keen on traveling to the Bahamas from South Florida and not keen on dealing with airports , this might be your young favourite airline business .

Tropic Ocean Airways plane

Photo by Matt Meltzer

Tropic Ocean is a charter airline that has ventured into the world of commercial flights , manoeuver out of the Atlantic Aviation depot across the macadam from PBI . flight of steps are price slightly high-pitched than American ’s nonstop route to the Bahamas from MIA — about $ 350 each way compared to American ’s $ 275 . With that you get a 50 - pound base allowance , and your pet can fly without you having to call it “ emotional livelihood . ” You also park for costless , right in front .

My journey started a little in the first place , as I take the hour - ishBrightline trainup from Miami and skip in a 10 - moment rideshare to the terminal . Slightly longer than my usual trip to MIA , but I was able to work on the way up rather than shamble through Miami ’s notorious security queues .

When I arrived at the end , my ride was the only car there . I walked in the front threshold and up to the desk , where the confused desk agent greeted me . Had the plane been there , I ’d have blend in from front door to plane in less than three minutes .

Tropic Ocean Airways

Photo courtesy of Tropic Ocean Airways

Of of course , because I clear was not the variety of person used to flying out of private jet terminal , I was embarrassingly early . So I had to toss off some clock time . There ’s no grant resist in this little depot , nor is there an airport bar . What I did find is a small lounge with a fistful of vending machines and a television , fundamentally an office geological fault way minus the burn off popcorn and casual remnant cake . I was joined by several of the end ’s employee on their coffee breaks as I enjoyed my tiffin of Baked Lays and a vending machine turkey wrap .

Out the windowpane , I looked across the tarmacadam at the big carpenter’s plane pull up to PBI . I could n’t help but have a little sense of superiority to all the poor suckers expect at heart , who ’d had to go through the whole TSA rigmarole , then sit in a cramp embarkation lounge becausesomeoneinsisted on getting to the airporttwo hours early .

Over this way , even thehighest - strung dadwouldn’t have his family arriving more than 30 second before takeoff . I learned this was literally true when I walked from the “ cafeteria ” back to the waiting area and found a category of five nonchalantly strolling in at 1:40 pm , 20 minutes ahead of put-on . They joined me in the lounge , and 15 minutes later — five minutes before departure — two men wear out Tropic Ocean polos walked in .

“ I ’m Javier , and I ’m your pilot today , ” a magniloquent homo with a beard say . “ This is Mark , he ’ll be your first officer . We ’re go to check you in . ”

Very efficient , this Tropic Ocean Airways , own the pilot pull twofold obligation as the gate agents too . Mark and Javier jovially made their troll , ascertain recommendation and their manifest to ensure everyone was accounted for .

Once our multicolor gang of eight passengers was squared away , we walked out onto the PBI tarmac where our Cessna Grand Caravan awaited . For those who are n’t inexpert pilots , these are modest , prop sheet that are slimly larger than the ones your supporter take you up in to get their flight hours , but not even close to the sizing of a regional jet . If you ’ve ever taken a “ puddle sweater ” in the Caribbean or other island region , they ’re about half the sizing of those .

Our carpenter’s plane to Marsh Harbor seated eight somewhat comfortably . Seats are n’t portion , but you wo n’t have thatSouthwest Airlinesawkwardness of someone asking to seat next to you . Almost every seat is a bucket seat , and they ’ve all got view of the ocean .

The original , who also serve as the flight attendants , offer us a lovely array of in - flight bite that included pretzels , chips , and Famous Amos cookies , as well as sparkler - cold bottled water . The AC on the plane ai n’t exactly motion picture - theatre cold , so the water was a addition .

If you ’re look to prove out theraw - dogging trend , Tropic Ocean ’s Marsh Harbour trajectory is an fantabulous opportunity . You wo n’t find any WiFi , electric outlets , or in - trajectory moving-picture show on the planing machine . Interestingly , youwillfind an in - flight cartridge clip , where cocktail formula intersperse with ads for real estate in the Bahamas . Basically , it ’s the air hose ’s version ofOcean Drive . You do n’t really need in - flight amusement , though , because the opinion out the window is mesmerizing . Almost as soon as the beach of Palm Beach disappear from horizon , you ’re buzz over the turquoise waters of the Bahamas , stare down and trying to figure out which island you ’re flying over .

About 90 moment afterwards we touched down in Marsh Harbour , which is effectively the jumping off point for the serene and developing Abaco Islands . It ’s the largest town on Great Abaco , and while the business district has some courteous shops , your best move is to rent a gondola or hire a taxi and explore along its primary main road . The far Dixieland of the island is home to Abaco National Park , one of the best birdwatching spot in the Caribbean . On the way , lay off in Crossing Rocks and take in the sights from its kilometer - tenacious golden sand beach . Or if you need to explore the turquoise waters of the Abacos , Albury ’s Ferriesoffers frequent trip to the out cays that ’ll take you there and back in a day .

Customs and Immigration was a single elbow room with one desk , where a well-disposed Bahamian woman stamps your passport and send packing you out into the pole . There , a cell of three cab drivers eagerly awaited to take me somewhere into the marshes .

The trajectory back was as meditative , and immigration was similarly liquid once we landed back at PBI . The experience was the gentle , most hassle - free commercial flight I ’ve ever experienced , and while there was n’t much to do onboard , the ease of skipping security and airport processing was worth the 90 minute of solitude . If you ’re planning a stumble to the Abacos , this flight gives you a sensation of the strip - down , no - worries attitude of the destination . It might be a little more expensive than a unconstipated flight from MIA , but give you more of a private jet experience without the price tag .