WORLD'S RAREST FLIGHT? Azores Airlines Oakland to Terceira Island Super Seasonal Flight
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- čas přidán 22. 05. 2024
- This flight has always been on my bucket list for being such a strange flight. I couldn't figure out why there had to be a nonstop flight from a tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic to one of California's smallest international airports in Oakland. While I got some more clarity as to why it operates, I still am puzzled as to why it only operates 8-12 times per year. That has made it hard for me to figure out the schedule and actually get on board one of them.
Stay tuned for the return leg, originating in Lisbon and flying back to Oakland through Terceira Island coming soon.
Thanks all. Tailwinds!
0:00 Route Explained
1:19 Arriving to OAK
3:58 OAK Terminal 1
6:34 The "Lounge"
8:30 Boarding
11:29 Why the Flight Exists
13:21 OAK Takeoff
20:41 Drink/Meal Service
22:27 Seat Modes
23:35 Bed Time
25:35 Arrival to TER
33:08 Deplaning
36:00 TER Terminal
Euro Atlantic Air is based out of Lisbon, Portugal 🇵🇹 and has been around since the 90's. It operates charter flights everywhere in the world, and also wet leases. In a crunch, regularly scheduled airlines use them, if operating a flight but have no aircraft or crew; they are also part owners of STP Airlines (tiny two island country in the golf of Senegal, Africa) and have operated flights for LOT Polish, Cape Verde Airlines, TAAG Angolan, Biman and have even done Haj flights to Mecca. They are quite a decent co. for a charter, or they would not hv been around this long. We see their planes often here at Lisbon Airport. The Portuguese Azoreans hv been in northern Cali since the 19th century, just like the ones that went to Hawaii. These flights operate only during the Summer months when the weather in the Azores is the nicest and when people here and there take vacation ; during the rest of the year there is not enough demand for these flights as the weather there can be wet and challenging in Winter months, till Spring. BTW Transatlantic flights to Portugal always hv bkfst, are u sute u didn't sleep through it? Great video! 🙏❤️🇵🇹❤️
It's possible I slept through the service. Maybe I'll try again next summer. Thanks for all the great information!
Air Transat Flight 236 is famous for the inflight incident when it ran out of fuel, became the world's largest passenger glider with no operating engines and successfully landed in Terciera after a transatlantic flight from Canada. It blew most of its tyres during the impact on landing too. Thanks for the great content 👍
EXCELLENT VIDEO! My parents immigrated from Faial Island in 1959 because of the Volcano that erupted on the island. There is an incredible amount of History of People who immigrated from the Azores to many parts of the world . And it all started with the whaling industry. I can't even tell you a third of it because it wouldn't fit here. The Bay area pre tech were mostly farms of which there was a large Azorean farming community and it eventually expanded into the Central valley because of land Costs. After world War 2 the bay area became very expensive and many farmers sold the operations and moved into the central valley. And it basically expanded into the central valley even more. There were Azorean farmers in the central valley during world War 2 but it expanded further after the war. My wife is from Terciera. We are currently starting a restoration of a and most likely the only mid evil Lighthouse in the world on Terciera. This light house complete with what will be a working Brazier atop the structure was used during the exploration and navigation of Portuguese ships during the 15th century. Immigrants from California and around the world have helped these islands immensely with investment such as rebuilding homes, hotels etc.... I can go on and on but not enough room. Also the American Airbase witch was created first by the English was a major employer and a tremendous financial benefit to Terceira and the Azores. Keep up the great work. Hopefully you go back and see other islands in the chain! We should start construction on the Lighthouse late 2023. Take care!
Fantastic information!! Thanks a bunch for that!
Such a cool flight! I didn’t even know Azores made it all the way to OAK till I saw this video. Crazy awesome.
Thanks! It’s definitely a fun one
Never would have thought that there could be a market for a direct flight between these two locations that are as disparate and as remote from each other as is possible to be. Thanks for sharing.
That’s been my thought for years. It was great to fly it and get some more insight
@@PatrickSheaAviation Yes, I got that; thanks for sharing your insight too.
@@paul2587 There is a market because there is a large community of Azoreans and their descendants in Oakland
I lived on Terceira and loved it! Dad was stationed there. I would love to go back!
Just realizing that the new microphone I used to record distorted the audio slightly in the publishing of the video. I’ll see what I can do to help out with that. Thanks for standing by in the meantime!
whats the cost?
@@jesselivermore2291 it’s crazy cheap for transatlantic. The most expensive I saw it at was $1200 for the summer and as low as $300
@@PatrickSheaAviation you can fix it, book another flight and use a better mic we love second take videos lol You are Awesome Patrick.
@@michaelmacy6235 id love to! Maybe one day Azores will buy their own long haul aircraft. That’d get me back there for sure!
Thanks for this vlog. Have an amazing week. Ciao. 2023.
Thank you! You too
The Azores, one of the most exotic places I must visit one day; fancied the seats a lot, seem quite comfortable; and as usual fancied your review A LOT; first time I see or rather hear about this airline. And something else ...."I simply fancy the sound of the engines during take off"...brilliant review Patrick
The Azores are fantastic! And Azores Airlines is a great way to get there, even though this flight was a wet lease with EuroAtlantic. Although I did appreciate the seats
awesome video.
Thank you!
The really nice weather in Terceira spans from approximately early May until about late September/early October. This is also the time when the biggest festivals are held (bullfights, Sanjoaninas, Holy Spirit, Festas da Praia, etc.). These are the main factors contributing to the high demand in travel to Terceira during this period. A very high percentage of visitors to Terceira are originally from the island (or are descendants of people of Terceira) who return to visit family and friends and participate in their beloved traditions so, therefore, the highest demand for travel to the island is from areas with the highest concentration of these people. These areas include Ontario (serviced by Toronto Pearson International), Quebec (Montreal's Trudeau International), Bermuda (L.F. Wade International Airport), Massachusetts (Logan) and California (Oakland International).
Great info!
The other thing you should note is that Lajes Field has long been a US military base so there might be families born of that union that have links in California.
Well done video i live in Terceira and u did a really nice job narrated this trip u gained a subscriber.
Thank you! You live in a beautiful place! I'll be back for sure
@@PatrickSheaAviation thanks
Hey, I’m from Oakland. My dad was born in West Oakland, and he told me there was a large Portuguese community in West Oakland (We aren’t Portuguese). Eventually, they moved, as people do. Now, for decades, the San Leandro also has many people of Portuguese descent, and from Brazil and a few from Cape Verde. Most of the Portuguese-Americans I know, families came from the Adores 2-4 generations ago.
I’m just looking at my options to get to Portugal. This isn’t it, for my next trip. I miss Norwegian! 😩 I knew the flights were too cheap to last. I few as much as I could!
i know one of the old bags that you filmed !!! she had a tuff time fitting into the seats
Just found your account like 2 days ago and I love what you’ve been doing! Keep it up. It would be cool if you could show some more obscure routes like this one. Also, which iPhone did you use to record this and what camera setting is it on? It’s SUPER high quality 👍🏽
Thanks for checking it out! I have a iPhone 12 Pro and I just use that for all of the videos in the normal HD quality
Great review Patrick. Thanks for sharing something so unique. You're fortunate you did this in 2022 on euroAtlantic (YU) because this year SATA Azores Airlines (S4) has wet-leased an old A330-220 from Spain-based Plus Ultra (PU) that they're using on the OAK-TER route. This aircraft only has 165° angle-flats in business class, not a full lie flat, and with a 2 x 2 x 2 configuration not all seats have aisle access. That said the PU business class seats are 1.5" wider and have about 8" more pitch than the YU 767. They're using this same old A330 between TER and BOS, YUL AND YYZ as well. I haven't flown on PU, but most reviews I read would have me steer clear of them.
Interesting to note that here out of Toronto S4 is using a YU 777-200ER on their YYZ-PDL route until mid-July at which time they change it to their own A321neo. The business class fare YYZ to TER is the same on the non-stop PU flight as it is on S4 with a connection in PDL. Given the choice I'd take the connection in PDL and enjoy the A321neo.
Alas with a range of 7400km (4600 miles), the A321neo can't service OAK-TER non-stop. It'd be cool to see S4 add OAK-BDL-TER, OAK-PVD-TER, or OAK-YXU-TER or OAK-YHM-TER (with 5th freedom for OAK-YXU or OAK-YHM), using the A321neo. It'd add less than 100 miles versus the non-stop.
What an impressive trip and airline in addition to flying into the Azores and to a military base with an American Awac. You have made an incredible unique trip Patrick. You did not show us the pillow/blanket and amenity kit they provided you with. Note: It is weird that you had a 10 hour flight and so little food. You should have had an hour and a half before landing some breakfast. How long did you stay in the Azores. Will you be doing a trip to the famous island resort of Madeira, Portugal? Thanks again for sharing this unique destination and airline and all that you came across upon landing.
Thanks! There wasn’t any amenity kits and the pillow and blanket were much simpler. I agree, there must have been a breakfast, but I woke up around that time and didn’t see any food around me so who knows 🤷♂️
That Portuguese terminal, probably the older building was literally where my husband and I first met! I was 9 and he was 8…… we flew over on a C-141 and we’re bussed over to the Azorean airport terminal to go through customs. I distinctly remember being up on a higher floor looking down at some families who came to greet us there. Then I married one of those boys after we grew up!
Awesome story!!
I was born on that base and remained there until I was almost 19 years old in 1987. That Terminal used to be one big gray Tin Square building in the 80's. As a teen Ager I had a summer job working at the Mac Passenger terminal and helped military passengers and famlies board C-141 and C-130 Aircraft on that tarmac. So much was put into life for Americans, for the U.S. just to walk away like they did is a damn shame. On of the Stupidest moves America ever made that can't ever be replaced. The Chinese are just waiting for a chance. We here Republicans talk about tax cuts, its a joke they spent millions in the 80s making that base so much better, just to give it away. That's what I call stupid.
@@michaelmacy6235 it is very sad.
Hello great video! I believe the main reasons for this flight being so rare are because alot of the azorean communities in the west coast still opt for going through Boston Logan to "shorten" the flight timeand happen throughout the whole year and more frequently through Ponta Delgada S.Miguel aswell. Also Azores Arilines had to sell the A330 it had so these flights are usually always operated by wet lease. This year those flights are set out to be operated by Plus Ultra in a A340 if im not mistaken. Also you should definetely visit some of the other islands especially the central ones, Pico, Faial and S. Jorge.
Great info! I definitely want to go back and spend more time there, especially on the other islands
I don’t see this flight on sata website. Planning for June travel. Great vid
Last year they released the schedule for this route very late. I kept checking a few times a week. Remember that it only operates once a week, so hopefully you’re able to find it! I hope you enjoy it!
I worked for Azores airlines in Oakland for 10 years. They only fly seasonally because of the unpredictable weather in the Azores.
That’s good information! I have enjoyed the flight as a way to get to Europe. I’d love to see it expanded, but it seems like they’ve ironed out the Oakland service by now
@@PatrickSheaAviation they just announced the lease of an A330 from a Spanish airline, Plus Ultra, to operate this route for a couple of months. As for the seasonality of the route, may also be that in summer there are many religious festivities. Portuguese is a very religious country, and in general our immigrants tend to come and visit their relatives in summer. We work all year to mainly go on holidays in the summer months. Maybe there isn't much demand for a year round operation, but only in specific times.
On a side note they also operate Ponta Delgada to Bermudas, which may be even more rare than OAK
Hello Patrick...have you ever thought about how you 'dress' in Business/Premier classes? (Said warmly and out of genuine questioning). I appreciate your inputs on various airlines and your naivety...that certainly adds an 'alternate' view from perhaps others. Go well!
I typically just want to be comfortable if I'm on a plane for a long time so I'll wear what I would wear on a typical day, as most people do these days. There are a couple people who routinely comment and critique my outfits, but honestly the days of flying in suits is in the past. Now it just seems uncomfortable... but idk. To each their own
The Azores is beautiful there are 9 islands you would like Sao Miguel which is the main larges island.
Good to know! I do plan on going back in the next couple years to see more than just Terceira Island
Nothing to see in Sao Miguel the most overrated of the 9 islands
Awesome video, can you share what pricing on the route was? Looking into flying this line in the next year or two.
Of course. Economy ran from $300-600, business usually around $800-1200. Much more affordable than other options. You just have to find the week that works for you. This year it went TO Oakland on Tuesday’s and returned on Wednesdays only
@@PatrickSheaAviation Thanks! Pricing is one-way right? Otherwise that's a steal for round trip.
@@Argonx16 that is correct. I wish the prices were round trip!
This is the flight we took in August 2022 to move to Terceira you can book with pets also I recognize the flight attendants ❤️
That’s awesome!!
When did Iberia serve OAK? (At 11:00).
In 2017, Level started OAK-Barcelona service. It was originally operated by Iberia before becoming a Level operated route. Level moved to SFO a year later however
I guess the A310 never flew to Oakland, it's too far for the aircraft type. This particular route has been operated by EuroAtlantic, White Airways and HiFly through ACMI contracts, and Azores Airlines themselves when they used to operate a single Airbus A330 painted like a whale, resulting in severe financial losses. Lajes airport can acomodate an A310 on the civilian ramp and even larger aircraft like the A330, taking a lot of space. Space is limited, so during summer you might get the long bus ride. Consider yourself lucky for that
Great information! I believe the A310 did used to come to Oakland, but if I remember correctly, it made a stop in Toronto as part of the journey
SATA Azores did fly A310s into OAK for a couple of summers with a stop at YYZ one summer and PVD another summer. The A310 had to make the stop westbound, but had the legs for the eastbound nonstop. For a few years, SATA chartered North American 767-300's for the flight. I got to see one of their A330's at OAK as well. To my knowledge, this route has been around since the late 1980s.
The cows that appear that they are looking at the airplanes, those cows are having dreams of going to São Miguel. 😂
Love it! 😂
How did you like Terceira?
Terceira was fantastic but I didn’t get to spend more than a day there. I would love to go back and go to other islands as well
30:41 Just so you know, you pronounce the ‘j’ in Portuguese, so I’d be Lajes, not “lahays” It’s not like Spanish in that sense.
Got it. Thanks for the info. As someone who grew up learning Spanish, Portuguese is close enough but there are some key differences I’ve picked up on recently
I like the way you talk about 'skimpy' blankets etc., when you are wearing a T-shirt and shorts. Perhaps you don't realise that you are flying in an atmosphere outside of around -50C? Perhaps wearing long trousers and a long-sleeved shirt might be more appropriate? ;-) Any mention of who pays for your flights and how much you pay? Perhaps that would be helpful to your viewership? Go well.
I mean I get hot almost every time I'm on an airplane. Skimpy is more a relative term from the blankets other airlines have. And I have considering throwing that information in there, but I also like to avoid mentioning exactly which airlines I have membership with since I did that once upon a time, and then someone hacked in and stole all my miles, so now we are a bit more secretive about it.....
🖐🙂Hello, I am from Angra do Heroísmo.
Welcome! You’re from a beautiful place!
@@PatrickSheaAviation 😀Thank you❗I also recommend you to visit the island of São Jorge, their famous "fajãs" have spectacular views. I am on the East Coast U.S.A., but have gone many times to visit, and to go to the Sanjoaninas Feast, which is in the city of my birth. One trip was quite memorable, because on the flight back to Boston, there was a stopover at Gander, Newfoundland, and we "changed" planes. We had left Lajes (Terceira), on a nice new, and very comfortable plane, and then we boarded a much older (and shaky) plane, on the flight from Gander, Newfoundland to Boston. It was cool though, because as the plane approached Massachusetts, I looked out the window, and the plane was slightly tilted and saw the whole "arm" of Cape Cod.
Was so looking forward to watching this until you started to pronounce Azores. WRONG! It has no Eh? In it’s pronunciation what so ever