How to Book a Flight on Chalk's International Airlines

Chalk's International has long considered itself the "world's oldest airline," though it's gone through a number of owners, hiatuses and names since its founding by Arthur "Pappy" Chalk in 1917. A small airline that flies between Fort Lauderdale and Key West in Florida, with service to Bimini and Nassau, it has plans to expand its destinations to include Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg and Freeport, Bahamas.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Credit card
• Computer with Internet access
• Telephone

1. Plan your trip carefully. Chalk's only operates four days a week: Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday.
2. Go online. You can make your reservation at Chalk's Web site (see Resources below) by clicking on one of the prominent "Book Now" links. You can also book your ticket by calling the company's toll-free reservation line at (877) 9CHALKS.

Tips & Warnings

• Look into discounted ticket prices for children aged 2 to 11. Kids under 2 fly for free. Overall, the ticket prices are very affordable.
• Chalk's Web site is a bare-bones affair that provides little information, so if you have questions you might be better served making reservations over the phone.
• You'll be flying in a small plane, so if you're prone to motion sickness, pack some Dramamine.
• Chalk's experienced a fatal plane crash in December 2005, after which it temporarily suspended air service. Flight 101, a sea plane en route from Watson Island to Bimini, crashed near Miami, killing all 20 people aboard. The right wing detached during flight, and investigators discovered cracks in the support beam that connected the wing to the fuselage. Chalk's has since grounded its fleet of sea planes and currently leases standard aircraft produced by another manufacturer.

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