I flew on a tiny island prop plane from Anguilla to St. Barths as the only passenger, and I’m still alive to tell the tale. Okay, I’m being dramatic – it was actually a pleasant flight and a great way to get to St. Barths! However, as someone who works in travel and is afraid of flying, I have to share the small island flying experience so you know what to expect. I’ll be detailing everything from check-in, to my paper ticket, boarding the plane as the only passenger, and then landing on one of the shortest landing strips in the world. Keep reading to find out!

Getting to Anguilla

I mentioned in my review of the luxurious Cheval Blanc St. Barths that one of the best ways to reach St. Barths is via charter plane. You can hop on one of these planes from St. Maarten (most popular), San Juan, and Anguilla. The island of Anguilla is close to St. Barths, so much so that many travelers can take a boat between the two on day trips.

The Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport is a tiny airport in the center of Anguilla (The Valley). American Airlines is the only US airline that flies direct to the island from Miami only. You can also fly into Anguilla via small regional airlines from nearby islands. On this particular day I flew on Anguilla Air Services, a regional carrier.

I entered Anguilla via ferry from St. Maarten, and I left Anguilla via charter plane. The airport is small – really small – and open air. There wasn’t even a store in the airport to buy souvenirs or water when I was there. Set your expectations that the airport is bare bones!

Check-In

Check-in was a breeze – literally! There were no other passengers at the airport and no lines at the Anguilla Air Services desk. The woman who staffed the check-in desk was the wife of the pilot, and mother of the co-pilot. She excitedly let me know I’m the only passenger on today’s flight, and when I expressed my nervousness about flying she assured me that her husband and son are professionals and they need to get back to her – or else!

With my boarding pass in hand (quite literally a piece of paper with my name handwritten on it), I went through security and into the waiting area.

Waiting to Board

As mentioned, there were no other passengers at the airport during my time. I visited Anguilla during low season (July) so I wasn’t surprised to see a lack of tourists. The waiting area was a small corridor connected to a slightly larger room with plenty of seating options. There was a television, the only source of entertainment in the airport, though it was switched off. It wasn’t long before the check-in woman, wife, and mother of the Anguilla Air Services team came to personally escort me onto the tarmac.

Boarding the Plane

The plane waiting for me on the tarmac was a Britten Norman Islander 2, a common and reliable island hopper. The small plane fits 9 passengers, although I was the only one on this journey. I shook hands with the pilot and his son after the matriarch introduced me and then promptly boarded the plane.

I was given a short safety briefing which I was glad for even though the flight was only 15 minutes. The captain cracked a joke about me being a nervous flier, but I completely forgot what he said. I was covertly doing breathing techniques to calm myself down in any case. Before I knew it, the propellers started turning and we began to move on the tarmac.

The 15 Minute Flight Over

As we took off from Anguilla, the nervousness started to dissipate a little. The ocean below me was a shimmering turquoise blue – a real sight to behold. Just as soon as Anguilla grew smaller did another island, St. Barths, appear and grew larger. The two islands couldn’t be any more different topographically with Anguilla being flat and St. Barths being hilly. 10 minutes went by in a flash before I was notified that we were preparing to land.

Bumpy Landing in St. Barths

St. Barths is known for having one of the shortest runways in the world. Not only that, but there is a significant decline just before the start of the runway. The many hills surrounding the airport make it so the air is quite choppy just before landing. A great formula for a nervous flier!

The captain informed me that landing in St. Barths is always choppy and that we would be descending faster than I’m used to. I saw the runway in sight around the same time we started to descend. We were moving side to side while dropping down in small increments giving me a heart-in-throat sensation. It was exciting and anxiety-inducing all at the same time! Finally, there was one big drop and before I knew it the tires touched the runway and we skidded to a stop. I was officially on the island of St. Barths.

The airport in St. Barths is also small, but better equipped and more populated than the airport in Anguilla. There was only one baggage carousel and a short walk past the customs booth until I was met by my driver. This is a plane ride I wouldn’t soon forget!

Final Thoughts

If I had to choose between taking a 40-minute choppy boat ride or a 15-minute choppy plane ride, I would definitely choose the plane. Especially for anyone traveling with families or with a lot of luggage, it’s always better to fly than carry all your bags on boats. Both the airport in Anguilla and St. Barths are centrally located making for quick drives to your hotel and more time to enjoy drinks by the beach.

Overall, I had a great experience on Anguilla Air Services and would recommend them. They don’t just fly between Anguilla and St. Barths. Many times during peak seasons they’ll offer St. Maarten and St. Barths as a private charter. For $250 per person, a quick plane ride is worth it for luxury travelers eager to get to their destination.

Have you ever landed in St. Barths? What was your experience? Comment down below!