An all-business-class airline to Bermuda is launching with dark ‘n’ stormy cocktails, pink lighting on board
UPDATE (Oct. 16, 2023): BermudAir abandons business-class-only model, opting to include economy cabins in its fleet
Original post is below.
Have a penchant for pink sand beaches and Goslings Rum? A new airline can deliver you to the island of Bermuda in style.
BermudAir will soon offer service from New York’s Westchester County Airport (HPN), Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) to Bermuda’s L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA).
Ticket sales commenced this morning at 2 a.m. EDT for upcoming flights from HPN and BOS to BDA that launch on Aug. 31. Flights from FLL follow on Sept. 22.
Starting Sept. 15, the airline will ramp up service with twice-daily flights between HPN and BDA. The full schedule of year-round flights kicks in on Nov. 9, with up to six flights a week on the startup's initial routes.
The experience is meant to evoke a Bermudian vibe from the moment guests step on board. Flight attendants will mix the airline’s first featured cocktail, a dark ‘n’ stormy — a trademarked concoction of Goslings Black Seal Rum, ginger beer and a lime wedge served over ice.
The team also works with local suppliers, including French bakery l’Artisan Boulangerie and family-run Ahmani’s Cookie Company, to source menu items. Depending on the time of day, passengers might be treated to pain au chocolat, quiche Lorraine or canele pastries flavored with rum and vanilla. Travelers can wash them down with a selection of spirits, wine, beer, soft drinks, tea and coffee.
All onboard food, beverages and amenities are included, and the menu will switch up every three months to keep passengers’ palates piqued.
Even the cabin lighting will be evocative, shining pink when the aircraft is en route to Bermuda and blue when you must depart the pink sand paradise.
The two-hour flights will take place on Embraer E175 jets that will — eventually — feature a cabin that the carrier says will be groundbreaking for a short-haul airline.
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For now, however, the airline is launching with 88-seat E175 flights on which only half the cabin will be sold. By selling just 44 seats on the flights, BermudAir says all passengers will get both aisle and window access, part of an effort to "maintain a premium, spacious experience."
But this fall, BermudAir plans to begin flying custom-designed suites in a layout featuring just 30 seats, all of which will be business class. Supply chain issues delayed the new cabin, so the airline ultimately decided to get off the ground this month instead of waiting until the new seats were ready this fall.
The new seats are expected to come on Nov. 1, when aircraft will be reconfigured with BermudAir Aisle Class. The updated design will feature two spacious seats across from one another in each row, overhead bins eschewed for ample under-seat stowage, in-seat power and free Wi-Fi, including entertainment and messaging.
The seating configuration promises a quick and effortless boarding and deplaning process. Further, returning passengers will be able to undergo U.S. immigration and customs before departure, an experience enhanced since U.S. Customs and Border Protection opened a new Preclearance Terminal in Bermuda in December 2020.
The startup is the brainchild of Canadian founder and CEO Adam Scott, a former executive at Goldman Sachs. After frequently traveling back and forth from the United Kingdom to Canada as a student, he grew tired of what he calls “big painful airports.” This led to the development of the first Airbus A318 transatlantic concept from London City Airport (LCY). He noticed a lot of similarities in demographics between London and Bermuda, including high-end leisure travel and business traffic and a robust returning resident market, which partly inspired this venture.
“Bermuda has the best parts of Canada, the U.S., and the U.K.,” Scott said. “It’s just a happy place for me.”
Related: The world’s longest nonstop flights, updated
Scott has bigger ambitions to scale this project, but for now, he’s firmly entrenched in the East Coast market.
“We want to provide our guests with a hassle-free, stress-free, incident-free, positive travel journey. As well as an elevated, completely differentiated experience," he said.
BermudAir’s seating configuration and inflight experience appear comfortable and immersive, even if you don't don a pair of Bermuda shorts. Introductory fares on BermudAir start at $199, including taxes, though the team shared that the regular fare price will eventually climb to $1,000 one-way.
A quick search of the BermudAir's website on Thursday morning showed fares from as low as $199 each way through October. Prices jump to $999 each way in November, when the airline's new cabin is expected to be in use.
For more information, visit flybermudair.com or instagram.com/flybermudax.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.