Airline Fee “Transparency”

I just booked tickets to visit a friend in the suburbs of Paris for a week. The airfare wasn’t great, but it wasn’t bad. And Continental tried to be upfront about where all of the charges were going, which I appreciated. However, when I saw the final tally of where my $800 was going, I was shocked. I’ve highlighted in orange the most shocking part – Check it out… this is copied directly from my e-ticket:

Not only were the additional fees almost 2x the actual fare, they tossed in a disclaimer at the end that let me know we could be randomly charged for things not listed in the fare rules. While I’m pretty sure that won’t happen, it seems like insult to injury.

Is it actually helping the airlines’ brand image to tell us where all of the extra money is going? On one hand, it’s probably helpful for them to be able to say “it’s not us asking for this money, it’s the government.” But on the other hand, the reality is that the largest extra fee is the fuel surcharge, which is paid to the airline. Why don’t they just adjust their fares to incorporate this? Why are fuel rates pegged back in the 1980s and only surcharges have been adjusted since? It makes me feel a little lied to to hear that my fare is only $292, when the reality is I’m paying Continental $712. The pass through fees to the governments are “only” $129.16.

At Fleet, we are regulated the same as the airlines, even though we are on-demand. Our training programs are the same and if we had aircraft that were above the weight threshold, we’d be charging tax as well. We also have to deal with the volatility of fuel prices and have had to make the difficult decision to adopt a fuel surcharge. But we never use the fuel surcharge to profit. It is a straight pass-through, calculated by an equation we publish on our website. Furthermore, we adjust our rates once a year to accommodate rises in fuel prices, to keep the fuel surcharges as low as possible. We believe predictability in pricing breeds trust. We would never try to be sneaky and gouge you with sneaky extras after you’ve agreed to the flying rate.

Flying Fleet is a no hassle experience. We don’t just mean skipping the headaches of TSA security and crowded airports. We mean it in everything we do – even in how we price our flights. Try us today and experience why when you want to Fly Smart, you should Fly Fleet.

Autumn in New England

The weather this Columbus 3-day weekend is going to be fabulous all throughout New England. The perfect time to head out and catch the beautiful fall foliage, eat some cider donuts, and enjoy a much needed break since returning to work/school in early September.

It’s so easy to get away for two or three nights without exhausting yourself and regretting the previous weekend’s fun when you get back to your desk at the start of the week. Flying charter with Fleet means you leave closer to home and land within minutes of your final destination.  Avoid the crowds and long waits at major airports – all for an affordable hourly rate that rivals the per-person cost of flying commercial when you fly with friends and family.

Not sure where to go? Here are a few suggestions on where to maximize your fall fun (click the city names to get more information on places to eat and sleep):

The Berkshires, Massachusetts.
Nestled within the rolling Appalachian mountains and a neighbor to New York, Connecticut and Vermont — the Berkshires breathes a calm, yet vibrant energy amid an illuminated landscape steeped in culture. The Berkshires is rich in culture & is made up of picturesque towns filled with outdoor recreation, as well as farm-fresh dining and breathtaking four-season scenery.

Pittsfield Airport (KPSF) is only 45 minutes away.

Bethel, Maine.

The historic town of Bethel, Maine, founded in 1774, is located in western Maine. Bethel is best known as a ski town, but the same peaks that appeal to skiers when covered in wintry white are even more spectacular when dressed in vivid autumn hues. Leaves reflect in shining mountain lakes, adding to this region’s fall beauty. A fall visit to Bethel puts leaf peepers in the heart of a region noted for scenic driving, hiking, biking and more.

Bethel Regional Airport (0B1) is only 1.5 hours away (sure beats the 7 hour drive from NYC!)

Franconia, New Hampshire

Nestled in the heart of the White Mountains, Franconia is a four-season tourist destination. Immerse yourself in the unspoiled great outdoors. Breathtaking views, spectacular snow capped mountain peaks, pristine waterfalls, glacier lakes, moose and bear, historic covered bridges and a tradition of warm hospitality welcome visitors from around the world. For a video on autumn in Franconia, watch here.

Mount Washington Regional Airport (KHIE) is less than 1.5 hours away.

Instead of bemoaning the coming winter, enjoy this beautiful and unique time of year to its fullest. Get a quote and book your trip today!

Trust Us: No Hidden Fees

With news breaking this morning that many big US banks plan to start charging for using debit cards, the hub bub on the social media networks has been largely negative. It was similar to the outrage felt when the major airlines started charging extra fees for everything from food to pillows to baggage. While some people like to feel empowered to choose what they spend on via a la carte pricing, many others feel stuck and taken advantage of when the “extras” aren’t perceived as premium or luxury items. Just as folks felt it was obvious that if you were to travel, you would take a bag with you and therefore did not want to be charged for it, banking clients now feel they were issued a debit card for the purpose of purchasing things with it and they don’t see it as an “extra” service to actually use it.

Another issue that comes to mind in situations like this is the feeling of lack of control and fear of the unknown. Both banks and airlines don’t seem to have a published time(s) of year to announce changes like this. Even if one is understanding about the new fee presented, most people feel suspicious and wary about what the next fee might be. Who’s to say they won’t add something else in 2-3 weeks? Or how often will they change the fee rates? The lack of transparency can be unnerving. It erodes trust and builds an us-versus-them culture.

The Fleet Aviation Difference

Here at Fleet Aviation, we do our best to always maintain full transparency about what goes into the pricing of your flight. We are one of the very few charter companies who publish their rates to the public and fully disclose all fees. Here is what you can always count on when flying Fleet:

• A complete, itemized quote.
• A human being to talk with at any time to explain the quote and answer all questions.
• The price you are quoted is the price you pay — unless you choose to expand your itinerary.
• No hidden fees. Ever.
• Free concierge services to arrange ground transportation for you.
• No Federal Excise Tax on flights in our Baron and Cirrus aircraft. (They are below the weight threshold)
• Flying rates that are revised only once a year – on May 1st.
• Full refund if we need to cancel a flight due to weather.

Building and maintaining your trust is our top priority. Trust in our levels of safety. Trust in our professionalism. Trust that we are never looking for an opportunity to take advantage of you. Trust that you will have an excellent flying experience – from booking to arriving back home.

Call or request a quote online today and experience it for yourself.

Relaxing Spa Getaways

With autumn upon us, most people are buckling down at work or heading back to school. But you can still carry forward the relaxing, stress-free attitude of the summer months.

How Fleet Relaxes

Fleet Aviation may be a 24/7/365 business, but that doesn’t mean we don’t like to have fun. We asked our employees what they like to do to unwind:

“I like to sit on the porch and read as much as possible.”
– Stephen Cohen, Director of Operations

“I go to the family-friendly beaches of Ocean City, NJ, even in the winter. Nothing relaxes me like sea air and boardwalk fare.”
- Jennifer Forde, Director of Sales

“My wife and I both love to cook — cooking relaxes me and allows me to spend time with my family (my wife and new puppy) at home.  We also love exploring what gems our neighborhood and New York City have to offer.”
– Karl Liang, Chief Pilot

“The upcoming season is a good time for me to relax a little more since the summer was very busy for the Fleet Team. I’ll have more chance to meet with friends and interesting people, and to revitalize my daily exercise routine with my wife.”
– Andreas Bruemmer, Pilot

“I like trying out new recipes. After working with my brain all day, nothing relaxes me more than to put all thoughts aside and immerse all 5 senses in the preparation (and eating) of a fun new meal.”
– Ellen Sluder, Director of Marketing

Kick back for Kickoff

The leaves are starting to change here in the Northeast.  There is a brisk fresh breeze, blowing out the steamy dog days of summer and leaving us with a new, clean slate. For many of us, the fall welcomes the most wonderful time of the year… Football season!  Whether you are a fan of the college game, the NFL or both, the changing of the season holds a promise unlike any other.

At 0-0-0, every team is equal.  For a moment, hope springs eternal and any fan of any team can revel in the most beautiful aspect of autumn… possibility.  More than that, for many, the tradition of Sundays spent tailgating and attending games with friends (and sometimes foes) is an opportunity to blow off steam, relax and feel like a kid again.

Where some look to a spa or a beach for relaxation, for  fanatics, there is no stress release that can compare with the experience of game day.  Whether it’s the joyous camaraderie of a shared victory or even the “misery loves company” approach to a defeat, passing the day cheering, eating and imbibing is a great way to spend an afternoon.

While the collegiate teams took the field last week, the National Football League opens the 2011 season this weekend.  We are blessed here in the Northeast to have so many games take place nearby. A Fleet flight is the perfect way to get to the game without creating the stress of a five or six hour car ride.
Although we haven’t figured out how to taxi our aircraft directly to the tailgate party, Fleet’s customer service team is happy to help set up your travel arrangements from airfield to playing field.  We can’t guarantee your team a victory of course, but with Fleet you’ll certainly be a winner at the travel game.

Here are some great NFL match ups in Fleet’s flight radius:
•    10/02/11, 8:20pm:   New York Jets @ Baltimore Ravens
•    10/09/11, 1:00pm: 
  Philadelphia Eagles @ Buffalo Bills
•    10/30/11, 4:15pm:   
New England Patriots @ Pittsburgh Steelers
•    11/06/11, 4:15pm
:    New York Giants @ New England Patriots
•    11/20/11, 1:00pm
:   Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Redskins

We are also happy to fly to many other sporting events in the Northeast. Give us a call and Fleet’s resident sports geek will help you get to your game of choice.

I Love Airports

The following is a post by Fleet’s Director of Sales, Jennifer Forde, who is helping many learn how to enjoy airports again.

Dirty little secret… I LOVE AIRPORTS! I know that sounds strange, as most people see them as a morass of long lines, delays, lost luggage and irate travelers.  Of course, all these plagues are legitimate problems and they are becoming terminal, I’m afraid.  Yet, regardless of the frustrations I often encounter when flying, as I arrive at the airport I am filled with a sense of excitement and wonder.

When I was a small child, my father traveled extensively for his international finance job, and my mother and I either accompanied him or hopped aboard a plane to meet him in some exotic locale. By age three, my passport had more stamps than many will collect in a lifetime.

Perhaps it was that every time we arrived at the airport my mother treated each trip as a new adventure. Maybe it was that I was simply a child excited that we were going to meet daddy. Collecting a shiny set of wings for each trip was a pretty big deal for me back then, too. Whatever the reason, when we would pull up to the curb and they came to check our bags, I could feel the energy in the air.  Why were so many people heading in so many different directions all at once? I was small, but I recognized then that I was part of a much bigger world, full of possibility and promise. These great big planes were my chariots in the sky. I could go anywhere! I could do anything!

Of course, the day came when evil turned something wondrous into a vessel of destruction, not only altering the skyline of our city, but the way we took to the sky, as well.  I traveled internationally shortly after 9-11, and while the excited hum was still present in the air, it was a fearful energy.  It was no longer a feeling that the airport could grant access to the world, but that it could let the rest of the world in as well, for better and for worse.

The security measures and restrictions have understandably increased exponentially since that September. Every adjustment brings longer lines, reduced amenities and increased fees and surcharges.  We have irritated passengers paying for bags, standing around barefoot and beltless, while they wait to be x-rayed before their overbooked flights are inevitably delayed. Sure, this adds hours to the trips we take. Yes, it’s nauseating to smell the feet of the man in front of you. Yet, I still feel the excitement. It’s imprinted on my child-brain, I suppose. I understand that security is there to try to safeguard us and that delays are now somehow the norm on commercial flights. I remember trips with Mom and try to see it all as part of the adventure.  However, I know I am the exception to the rule.

This is why I am thrilled to work with Fleet Aviation, where I can offer a safe, personal and hassle-free flight experience for our clients, without draining their wallets.  I love that when you charter a smaller private plane with us that you get all of the excitement of the airport and none of the frustration. Working for Fleet has allowed me to revisit the airports I remember from my childhood.

I cannot help but smile when I see the familiar wonder in the eyes of our clients’ kids when they climb aboard their very own aircraft, heading off on an adventure of their own with Mom or Dad in tow.  Even Mom and Dad have that same gleam in their eye when they charter a plane for a business trip! The wonder of taking to the sky hasn’t diminished one bit; it’s just a whole lot easier to recognize it – when you remove all the lines and fees and bare feet.

Working for Fleet Aviation has enabled me to share what air travel should be and what I know it can be - safe, efficient and affordable flights with all the excitement and none of the hassle. I hope that everyone has a chance to experience what Fleet has to offer and I invite you to call or email me so I can help you plan your next trip in the Northeast.