[R_Kangel]

..... Friend of mine decided to spend his honeymoon on the Turks and Caicos Islands .... When the approach of Irma was announced they decided to leave the islands and return to SoCal. Unfortunately the flights had already been sold out by they time they arrived at the airport ..... The price? .... Most seats were selling for around $6000 US which of course they were prepared to pay if they could just get to the US mainland.

...... Over night they got together with 30 other people and pooled their money to charter a private plane to Lauderdale. It's going to be tight because there are now rumors that the Airport may already be shuttered.

[longfellowsmuse]

That is a really horrible position to be in. I hope they make it safely and if not find a safe place to shelter. As an aside, there’s a reason why you can get a good deal on a trip to the Caribbean during hurricane season.

[redgolum]

When my bride and I got married in October 2004, her cousin gave us tickets to any condo she had access to. We looked at one in the Caribbean, till the ticket agent asked if we wanted hurricane insurance.

It was a package to guarantee an early flight out if a storm was on the way, and was VERY expensive. The agent (remember those?) said few took the insurance. Looking at the odds (we booked in January of that year) we went to Maine instead.

I am very paranoid about being on an island in a hurricane. I can’t imagine what your friends are going through.