Since the first pioneering departure over 20 years ago, Fly & Cruise trips to Antarctica have grown in popularity. They skip the two day voyage across the famous Drake Passage from Ushuaia in Argentina by simply flying over it, so that travellers join their cruise ship in Antarctica and get straight into the important action of being among the penguins and the icebergs.
This shortened travel time is great for anyone worried about seasickness on the Southern Ocean, but however you choose to travel there, it’s worth remembering that Antarctica is a remote and untamed wilderness, where Mother Nature always has the final say in any itinerary. With that in mind, we’ve put together this essential guide to Fly & Cruise trips to Antarctica – and what you need to know about the weather before you travel.
- How do Fly & Cruise trips to Antarctica operate?
- How can weather affect my flight to Antarctica?
- What happens if my flight to Antarctica is delayed?
- What happens if my flight back from Antarctica is delayed?
- Do Fly & Cruise trips to Antarctica ever get cancelled?
- How should I plan for my Fly & Cruise Antarctica trip?
- What other options exist for getting to Antarctica?
- Fly & Cruise Antarctica trips: Our advice
How do Fly & Cruise trips to Antarctica operate?
All fly & cruise trips operate from southern Chile, and all use special charter flights to get to Antarctica. The majority of trips depart from Punta Arenas (which is also the main gateway to Patagonia), but some operators fly from Puerto Williams or Puerto Natales. Whichever one your trip departs from, it’s a roughly two hour flight with Antarctic Airways to King George Island, where your ship will be waiting for you.
There is no set schedule for Antarctic Airways – flights depart according to the best weather window. For this reason, all fly & cruise trips insist that travellers arrive at least one night ahead of the flight date, so that everyone is ready and prepared to transfer to the airport when the flight time is announced.
King George Island is in the South Shetland Islands, which lie just off the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. No matter how well travelled you are, this is probably the remotest place you’ve ever flown to – even landing here brings on an immediate sense of adventure. There isn’t really a proper airport as you’re used to, just a gravel airstrip and a cluster of basic buildings that make up the ‘terminal’. Once landed, a bus transfers you to the beach, where you and your luggage will be transferred to your waiting ship by zodiac.
Fly & cruise trips operate throughout the entire Antarctic visitor season, starting from late October and running all the way through until March.
How can weather affect my flight to Antarctica?
Flights to Antarctica are more weather dependent than sailing voyages, and since the polar weather can be unpredictable, there is always a small but real chance of meeting with delays on a Fly & Cruise trip to Antarctica. Clear weather in Punta Arenas or Puerto Williams doesn’t always mean perfect conditions on King George Island. Unlike larger airports where it’s possible to land in fog, the small airstrip here is quite sensitive to local weather and requires good visibility for planes to land safely.
As a result, flights to Antarctica can sometimes be adjusted, delayed or occasionally brought forward at short notice in response to weather conditions. Safety is paramount: flights won’t operate unless it is completely safe to do so.
Using data gathered from Fly & Cruise operations over more than 20 years, we can say that around 75% of all flights to King George Island depart on their intended day. A small percentage fly a day earlier than planned – giving some bonus time in Antarctica, but also underscoring why it’s essential to arrive early on the first day of the trip.
In some cases, flights may be delayed by a day, or in rare cases even longer. It’s very rare for a trip to be completely cancelled, but this can sometimes happen if there is prolonged weather window that makes it impossible for the flights to safely operate.
What happens if my flight to Antarctica is delayed?
If delays do happen, the main culprits are likely to be strong winds or low clouds and fog around King George Island, making it unsafe for planes to take off or land. All the operators that Swoop work with are very experienced with everything the Antarctic weather can throw at them, and have contingency plans that will immediately come into play. While the exact plans vary from operator to operator, the main factor is whether a delay takes place at the beginning or end of the trip.
If your flight to Antarctica can’t depart on the scheduled day due to unfavourable weather conditions, you will be given accommodation and potentially the opportunity to join guided excursions in the area until the flight is ready to depart. Two of Swoop’s Fly & Cruise specialist partners also have their own private facilities to ensure maximum comfort for their guests pre- and post-Antarctic experience.
Antarctica21 run Explorers House, their own stylish private club in downtown Punta Arenas for the exclusive use of guests travelling on Magellan Explorer or Magellan Discoverer. Explorers House hosts all their pre-departure briefings and dinners, and is a great place to relax while waiting for the all-clear for your flight.
For travellers flying to Antarctica to join the Silver Endeavour, Silver Cloud or Silver Wind ships, trips include a first night in Puerto Williams at the luxury hotel The Cormorant at 55 South, run by Silversea Expeditions for their Fly & Cruise guests. The hotel has a stunning location on the Beagle Channel, with the option of activities like kayaking or hiking if weather affects a flight departure.
Other Fly & Cruise operators will provide additional accommodation and continue to cover all arrangements for you until your flight is ready to depart.
It’s important to note that if your flight is delayed so that your time in Antarctica is curtailed, this is considered part of the adventurous nature of the destination and you won’t receive any compensation on the price of your trip.
What happens if my flight back from Antarctica is delayed?
If you’re delayed in Antarctica prior to your flight back to Chile, then you will continue to stay aboard your ship. You’ll be well taken care of: weather permitting, the expedition team will look to organise additional excursions exploring the South Shetland Islands, and put on extra educational talks by their expert guides until your flight can depart
If Swoop has booked any extra hotel nights for or trip extensions to your trip such as a Santiago winery tour near Santiago or a bigger Patagonia adventure, we can take care of amending any arrangements with our partners. It’s worth keeping in mind that you may end up paying for any changes to flights or travel services at the end of your trip, and have to claim the costs back on your travel insurance.
In some cases, weather systems can mean that it becomes necessary to fly out of Antarctica slightly early to avoid being stranded. This is regarded as part and parcel of adventure travel (big storms on the Drake Passage can also sometimes curtail cruises for safety reasons), meaning that you won’t receive any refunds against the cost of your trip.
Although it’s important to be aware of the risks, in reality it’s worth remembering that the vast majority of Fly & Cruise trips operate to their planned schedule.
Do Fly & Cruise trips to Antarctica ever get cancelled?
Although the unpredictable Antarctic weather means that no Fly & Cruise itinerary can ever be guaranteed, it is rare for trips to be cancelled completely. No operator ever wants to cancel a trip, so they’ll always do their very best to get you to Antarctica, even if it’s for a slightly shorter period.
Cancellation policies on Fly & Cruise voyages are generally only enacted if a trip is not able to depart by the end of day four of the cruise itinerary. If this happens, the trip will be deemed ‘interrupted’ and a full refund will be provided for the cruise element of your trip.
It’s important to note that any additional costs incurred for other impacted elements of your trip such as flight or hotel changes wouldn’t be covered, and would need to be claimed for on your travel insurance.
For trips where the departure or return journey is delayed but takes place on a later date, compensation is not offered, given that inclement weather is beyond any party’s control. In these circumstances, you’d need to make a travel insurance claim for any additional costs or missed services as a result of the delay.
How should I plan for my Fly & Cruise Antarctica trip?
A trip to Antarctica should always be centred on the excitement of the White Continent rather than stressing about travel logistics, so if you’re planning a Fly & Cruise trip there are a couple of points to consider.
The most important thing is to carefully plan your time around the start and finish of your trip to minimise the chance of any delays disrupting your trip. We particularly recommend booking an extra hotel night or two at the end of your trip, so that you can relax and not worry about missed onward flight connections.
If you’re planning on spending extra time in Patagonia – to visit Torres del Paine National Park for example – we generally advise arranging these for before your cruise rather than after. In the event that you’re in Antarctica with a flight delay, it’s much easier to enjoy some bonus time with the penguins when you’re not stressed about missing out on a puma tracking trip or your W Trek hike. If you’ve booked those Patagonia arrangements through Swoop, we can also seamlessly take care of any arrangements if the worst happens and your Fly & Cruise trip encounters any delays.
Finally, always make sure that your travel insurance is in order before you travel, and includes appropriate coverage for delayed or cancelled services.
What other options exist for getting to Antarctica?
Fly & Cruise trips are only one option for visiting Antarctica if you don’t want to go by sea each way. There are an increasing number of Fly-Sail cruises, offering the chance to fly to Antarctica and sail back, or vice versa. These hybrid options reduce the risk of delays in one direction and also give you the chance to experience sailing across the Drake Passage without committing to a double crossing.
Opinions are divided about which direction is best to fly and which to sail (members of the Swoop team have done both). Some people prefer to sail, building the anticipation of arriving in Antarctica during the sea crossing, with the knowledge that voyages are rarely impacted severely by the weather. At the end, it’s just a short flight back, and any delays will give you extra time in Antarctica.
Alternatively, flying out starts your trip with the total immersion of your rapid arrival, and gives you the voyage back to relax and process everything you’ve seen before returning to civilisation. If you’ve got a fixed event you need to get home for, the Drake Passage crossing is also more reliable for timing.
Note that whichever option you choose, the flight element of your trip will be always be from Chile and the sailing part usually from Argentina, so you’ll need to plan your flights accordingly.
Fly & Cruise Antarctica trips: Our advice
Fly & Cruise trips are brilliant for getting you to Antarctica quickly. There aren’t many places on Earth where a two hour flight can take you somewhere so overwhelmingly different from everyday life. In many ways, they’re the most concentrated travel experience you can have. However, they do come with an increased level of uncertainty and risk due to the reliance on a good weather window for flights. This is part of the adventure of planning a trip to the wildest continent on Earth.
We’ve presented this information to help you make an informed decision about your trip, so that you can plan your travels to mitigate against the potential impact of delays. That way, you can concentrate on the most important thing of all: being blown away by Antarctica’s extraordinary frozen landscapes, with its piercing blue icebergs, and its penguins, seals and whales.
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This blog was first published on 5 August 2021 and updated on 8 June 2026.
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