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.

Make a Wiser School Investment

IT IS NO SECRET that the cost of sending a child to private secondary school or university is exponentially increasing. Tuition at New York City private schools have increased 79% in a mere 10 years, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article. And the New York Times reports the average tuition at a private college in the US is $27,293 and is increasing at around 4-5% a year. And that doesn’t even include room, board, books and other living expenses. According to the Department of Education, the most expensive institution, Bates College in Maine, comes in at a whopping $51,300 per year including room and board.   That means those students and parents are looking at spending almost a quarter million dollars for one diploma. The numbers are staggering.

If you had a $250,000 investment to make – would you feel comfortable researching opportunities,  looking at potential benefits, deciding on their value, comparing them to alternatives and making the investment decision completely on your own? Probably not. The private wealth management industry continues to flourish and many people turn to their financial advisors to guide them through the most critical decision making processes, keeping them aware of all aspects of the investment environment. It is the same for applying to college. People understand the risks and realize they are probably not qualified to lead the search without guidance. They turn to college counselors who can make as much as $40,000 to coach one child and their parents through the admissions process.

On the other hand, as much as you put your trust in the hands of these experts, would you turn 6-figure investment decision completely over to someone else and take a laissez-faire attitude with it? The answer is an equally enthusiastic “no.” You have regular check-ins and get involved in the decisions based on your overall risk tolerance, life goals and personality. And it’s the same with selecting a 4 year school – be it secondary or university level education.  You and your child need to spend time on campus seeing the buildings, meeting the teachers and professors, talking to other students, and getting a clearer sense of the culture and environment. You need to find the “right fit” in order to ensure your quarter-million dollar investment will reap the return you seek.

Yet many parents don’t spend as much time visiting prospective campuses as they should, if they were really thinking about the investment in their child’s future from a dollars-and-cents perspective. There are at least 4 opportunities for visiting schools and getting a better sense of them before classes actually commence:

1. Pre-Application: Campus Tour
2. While Applying: Interview
3. Post-Acceptance: Admitted Students weekend
4. After Placing a Deposit: Orientation

And many students go back a handful of times in between just to be sure they are making the best decision possible.

Now marry that with the fact that universities and boarding schools are notoriously located in hard-to-reach destinations. The first three scenarios are most likely going to be happening at more than one university as they are all critical parts of the filtering and narrowing process. Are you really going to spend hundreds of hours on the car to make these visits happen? Are you going to skip these and risk investing in an institution that won’t pay off later? That would probably be unwise. The answer seems to be to make the travel more efficient and productive. And we have an idea how you can do that: charter.

Fleet Aviation flies to hundreds of airports in the Northeast alone and no matter how far away the school is, there is typically always an airport less than an hour away. (Follow these links to see a sampling of Boarding Schools and Colleges & Universities in Fleet’s Range.) And because you fly completely on your own schedule, you can easily visit more than one location in a day saving hours of time and a lot of hassle. We’ll wait on the ground while you take a tour or participate in an interview, and we’ll even help arrange your ground transportation so the entire trip is seamless. Instead of being exhausted at your desk on Monday after a weekend of slogging through traffic all across the region, we keep you productive both on the road and back at home. And our low hourly rates means you not only save headache and hassle, but you can your travel plans aren’t dramatically adding to the cost of admission.

With our help, you can focus on learning what you need so that you can be sure to mitigate the risk of your hefty investment and be confident it will pay off four years from now.