Getting A Private Charter At An Affordable Price
When you think of private jets and private charter trips, your mind probably goes to the rich and famous like Donald Trump or some other business mogul. Having your own private flight can be an amazing experience, but it's certainly not for those with shallow pockets. An air charter can be extremely costly, sometimes in the range of tens of thousands of dollars per trip. But what about those who want the amazing experience without the huge bill? Here are some ways you can have your own private charter trip for much less.
Wait in the Wings
When a charter plane drops off the VIP passengers, they still have to approach a new destination, and there may not be anyone hopping on board to join the pilot. These flights are sometimes referred to as a "deadhead" flight. Many private charter companies will offer flights just to fill their seats at a deep discount. You'll have to agree to fly to their next pick up location, so plan accordingly.
Get Social
Much like the popular website Groupon, many private charter companies now offer much cheaper rates for groups of people booking at once. You can search for these deals online and recruit your friends to pitch in so you can all experience the fun of a private flight together. The charter companies want to keep their seats full, and by offering group discounts they can almost always guarantee each trip will be booked to capacity. As a result, the passengers get a terrific price on their private charter flight.
Be Flexible With Your Dates
Much like a traditional airline, charter flights can offer passengers deeper discounts if they're willing to fly on a Tuesday for example. If you have your heart set on flying privately, being willing to fly on an odd day or at an odd time that will get you better rates is a good option. Often, if small private jet charters cannot fill their airplanes on a Wednesday morning for example, they will give people a better rate just so they can have more people buying tickets. Keep your flight schedule flexible, and you will be surprised at the price difference.
Consider the Type of Airplane
Remember that private charter companies are in the business to make money, but they also want to save money when it comes to overhead expenses. Single prop turbo style planes cost much less for fuel to fly, so look for charters that use these types of airplanes rather than traditional bigger jet planes. This one factor can actually mean the difference between a really expensive ticket and a much less costly one.