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!