Seaplane, helicopter or jet: the three ways east

There are three ways to fly from the city to the East End, and each one makes sense for someone. They differ in where you board, how much you can bring, how many can travel together and what the weather allows. Here is how they compare, so you can match the aircraft to the weekend rather than the other way round.

Seaplane

Seaplanes leave from the Manhattan waterfront and land on the water of the bays near the villages, which can put you close to the house without a long drive. The flight is short and spectacular. The trade-offs are real, though: cabins are small, baggage limits are strict, schedules are seasonal, and a seaplane depends on both the weather and the state of the water at each end. Seats are often sold individually on set departures.

A seaplane suits one or two light travelers who value the experience and can be flexible if conditions are poor.

Helicopter

Helicopters fly from the Manhattan heliports to East Hampton, Gabreski and approved landing sites. For someone already in Manhattan, the door-to-door time can be the shortest of the three, because there is no drive to an airport in New Jersey or Westchester. Weight is the limiting factor: luggage is restricted and every passenger counts. Low cloud and poor visibility can ground or delay flights, and the East End’s sensitivities about helicopter noise mean the rules on routes and timings deserve attention.

A helicopter suits a small group, light bags and a premium on speed from midtown or downtown.

Private jet or turboprop

Jets and turboprops depart from Teterboro, Westchester and airports further afield, and land at HTO, FOK or, for turboprops and small aircraft, MTP. The flight itself takes about 35 to 45 minutes from Teterboro. You gain the most luggage capacity of the three, room for larger groups, space for dogs on many aircraft, and the ability to fly in weather that would keep a seaplane on the water. You give up some time to the drive to the departure airport, which matters most if you start in Manhattan.

A jet or turboprop suits families, groups, generous luggage, pets, and anyone who wants the most reliable way out east, especially from beyond New York.

Where your day begins

The comparison shifts with your starting point. From the Upper East Side, a heliport or the seaplane base is close at hand; from Westchester or northern New Jersey, the airport is nearer than Manhattan, and a jet from Westchester or Teterboro can be the quickest way out. For anyone starting in Washington, Boston or Palm Beach, only a jet or turboprop makes sense, flying straight to the East End without a stop in the city.

Mixing them on one weekend

Plenty of weekends mix and match. One guest heads out by seaplane on Friday for the view, and the family flies home on Sunday by jet with the luggage. That works well as long as each leg is booked with its own operator and its own terms. The one thing to avoid is relying on the most weather-sensitive option for the leg that cannot slip, such as the flight back before a Monday morning meeting in the city.

Side by side

Questions that decide it

• Where does the trip start? Midtown favors a helicopter; Westchester, New Jersey, Washington or Boston favor a jet.
• What are you bringing? Golf bags, strollers and a week of luggage point to a jet.
• Who is coming? More than a handful of people, or a dog, points to a jet or turboprop.
• How firm is the plan? If you must arrive on a certain evening, the aircraft least affected by weather is the safer bet.

Cost, in broad terms

Seaplane and helicopter seats are often sold per person, while a jet or turboprop is priced for the whole aircraft. For one or two travelers, a seat on a scheduled seaplane or helicopter service can cost less than chartering an aircraft. For a family or a group, the whole aircraft often evens out, and it brings the luggage, the dog and the timing along with it. Your advisor can price the jet side of that comparison for your exact weekend.

Who flies each one

Whichever you choose, the flight is a commercial operation and should be run by a certificated operator. On-demand charter flights in the US are flown under FAA Part 135, with rules for crews, maintenance and operations. Ask who the operator is before you pay, whatever the aircraft.

Where we fit

We arrange private jets and turboprops. If your weekend sounds like a better fit for a helicopter or a seaplane, we will say so, and if a jet makes sense, we will match it to the right East End airport and send an all-in price. The FAA’s passenger information on charter flights is available at faa.gov.