Inside Tailwind's seaplane that will fly between New York and Boston
Editor’s note: Tailwind Air provided a complimentary and very brief media flight to TPG to check out the new service. The opinions expressed below are entirely from the author and weren’t subject to review by Tailwind or any external entity.
In less than a week, regularly scheduled seaplane service between New York and Boston will officially become a reality.
The hotly anticipated flights will be operated by Tailwind Air, a small scheduled shuttle and charter operation based in New York. Ahead of the launch, Tailwind invited TPG and other members of the media to get a look inside the aircraft that will be used for the new route.
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Tailwind will fly the same planes it uses for its other shuttle routes: the Cessna 208 Caravan turboprop. The average age of Tailwind's seaplane fleet is young, less than 5 years old. The one we toured was just 2 years old.
You board the aircraft via a ladder affixed to the floats. While it may seem challenging, Tailwind's pilots told me that they are able to accommodate mobility-impaired passengers.
There is a total of eight seats onboard, spread across four rows in a 1-1 configuration. Seating is typically a free-for-all, unless the pilots determine that the plane's weight needs to be distributed differently.
The seats are made of comfy leather and offer 35 inches of legroom. While that's more akin to a standard extra-legroom economy seat than a first-class one, they seemed perfectly comfortable for a 75-minute hop between Boston and New York.
That said, the seats in the front row seemed a bit tighter than the rest.
However, regardless of where you sit, you're guaranteed stellar window views.
That's important because the windows are the only form of entertainment available onboard. There's a reading light and air nozzle above every seat but there are no power outlets or USB ports. There's also no in-flight Wi-Fi and cellular service is spotty at the altitudes these planes fly.
AvGeeks will appreciate that the cockpit is open. Every Tailwind flight is operated by two pilots.
At the rear of the aircraft is a storage area for baggage. Every passenger is allowed to bring a standard-sized airline carry-on, weighing up to 20 pounds. Note that there's no bathroom onboard.
Tailwind's service between New York and Boston is set to launch on Aug. 3. Flights start at $395 each way and go up to as much as $795, though discounted commuter packs are available. TPG will be on one of the first flights so stay tuned for a full review of the experience!
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Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees