For those visiting from the UK, flights from Barbados to Bequia are the fastest way to the island. Simply land in Barbados, jump onto a small plan and only an hour later you’re on Bequia. As the island is only small, it is only a short drive from your villa, hotel or guest house. In this guide we will cover how the connecting flights work, who flies it, what it costs and what to do with your luggage.
Why Barbados is the door to Bequia
It is important to note that there is no direct flight to Bequia from London due to the runway being too short so Barbados acts as the natural hub. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic both fly there from London and all major US and Canadian airlines provide regular services. From Grantley Adams International you can take a small twin-engine plane to J.F. Mitchell Airport on the south coast of Bequia.
This flight takes about an hour with several flights happening each day when in season but fewer in the Summer. Worth noting that Bequia’s airport only operates in daylight only so there are no night landings. If your flight to Barbados gets in late afternoon the window to get on that flight will be very tight. In those instances, it would be best to plan accommodation for the evening and catch it the following day.
Who Flies There & What It Costs
The airlines that fly to Bequia from Barbados are SVG Air and Mustique Airways. Both of which run a shared schedule. Booking a scheduled seat is the cheaper option for couples and smaller parties. However, you can charter the whole plane which will cost more but leaves when you are ready and if you split across the family or group it can be cheaper than you expect.
The most expensive points in the year are Christmas & New York, Easter and the Bequia Music Festival week in January. This is when seats will sell out way in advance so book early doors when you book your accommodation.
For all of our villa guests we can book the hop for you. This way you can be rest assured that if your flight is delayed and you miss the last daylight departure, we’re already rebooking you and arranging a bed for the night in Barbados. Rather than leaving you to sort out any last minute accommodation.
Luggage Limits
Quite a few people get caught out with this, small planes have strict weight limits for each bag and for the plan as a whole. this means any excess baggage is charged by the kilo and in some cases if the flight is full, you may find that the luggage has to travel on a later plane.
Our advice:
- Soft bags, not hard cases. They pack into the hold far more easily.
- Leave in Barbados anything you don’t need on Bequia, many hotels and the airport offer storage.
- Don’t fly in groceries. Through our provisioning service, we can have the villa stocked before you arrive, with drinks, breakfast and the basics in the fridge.
The Alternatives
Flying from Barbados to Bequia is the shortest route but not the only route. You can catch the ferry from St Vincent which takes roughly an hour or so on the water. It is cheaper and doesn’t have strict luggage limits, just means a longer day of travelling and in some cases a bumpy crossing. Our ferry guide covers the details
If Barbados flights to Bequia are running high or sold out, there is the option to fly into St Lucia and jump on a small-plane from there.
Another bit of great advice is never book the last flight off Bequia if you have a flight home that day as you don’t want to leave this to chance. Best bet would be to take a morning hop and spend some time in Barbados before your flight.
From Runway to Villa
J.F. Mitchell is a small airport, so you’ll be through in minutes. When you’re staying with us, someone will meet you on arrival with your name and take you straight to the villa. Typical transfer times:
- Friendship Bay: about 5 to 10 minutes
- Lower Bay: about 10 to 15 minutes
- Mount Pleasant: about 15 minutes
- Spring: about 20 minutes
You can browse our Bequia villas to see where each one sits.
Barbados to Bequia flights are the easy part once you know the rules: daylight only, pack light and leave a margin. If you’d like us to handle the hop as part of your villa booking, get in touch.
