Anyone ever chartered a private jet before?

[Mill]

I don't plan to have a large wedding, but many people are balking at how expensive a ticket would cost to get to it (800-1200 dollars), and I don't blame them one bit.

I thought of just flying everyone commercial, but availability, connections, etc are a big problem.

Anyone ever used a company like Bluestar Jets or NetJets? So far I'm not seeing it to be very practical.

 

[xchangx]

Greyhound

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Unless you're Bill's nephew, chartering a private jet will cost much more than $800 to $1200 per person.

 

[crab]

It is if they're all going from and to the same places, and there is enough people, and they'd all be flying first class if they werent flying on a private jet. How many people are you talking about, and where are they coming from and going to?

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Unless you're Bill's nephew, chartering a private jet will cost much more than $800 to $1200 per person.

No fvcking sh!t. I'm asking if anyone has done it before and not what it costs. I know what it costs.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: crab
It is if they're all going from and to the same places, and there is enough people, and they'd all be flying first class if they werent flying on a private jet. How many people are you talking about, and where are they coming from and going to?

Everyone would be going to the same place, but not back to the same place. The problem, of course, is mainly that. However, a vast majority would be coming from one location, so the stragglers could fly commerical to meet the jet.

It'd be BHM/ATL to CTG.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: xchangx
Greyhound

Buses don't float.

 

[OMoT]

I know if you check out a local small airport, you could probbaly post up flyers (no pun intended) asking for a private trip. There are tons of enthusiast pilots who would probably be willing to do it.

 

[George P Burdell]

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: xchangx
Greyhound

Buses don't float.

ROFL

 

[crab]

Well, 8 people can hop on a King Air, and they're ~$1000-$1500/hr...

Its very practical, if you can justify the costs.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: crab
Well, 8 people can hop on a King Air, and they're ~$1000-$1500/hr...

Its very practical, if you can justify the costs.

So, you think it would be better to use a local company instead of a more national company that specializes in fractional ownership? I kind of felt the same way myself. I mean it should cost less by nature because they'd be flying out of their home airport. I'm sure you know more than me...

 

[jimbob200521]

My brother has for his business, but I have not. He said it was pretty damned nice. Practical, I don't think so. But it is hard to beat the cool factor of flying into somewhere on your own jet.

 

[crab]

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: crab
Well, 8 people can hop on a King Air, and they're ~$1000-$1500/hr...

Its very practical, if you can justify the costs.

So, you think it would be better to use a local company instead of a more national company that specializes in fractional ownership? I kind of felt the same way myself. I mean it should cost less by nature because they'd be flying out of their home airport. I'm sure you know more than me...

A local company should cost less because you would usually pay to have an aircraft brought to your departure airport if one isnt available. You really need to call around and see whats what. They all have different fees on top of the charter rate. Its not unheard of to do what you're asking, and any company will rent to anybody for whatever reason, if they can afford it.

 

[Scarpozzi]

How far is the distance? You might be better off going with a turbo-prop. They run about 100 knots slower, but you'd probably save a lot in the end. Maybe rent an ATR-72?

I've never done this, but know a lot of diving companies around here, as well as the University I work for that do this yearly. They rent a plane/pilot and run down to the bahamas.

Delta Does it...but check with your local airport and see what companies they might suggest...
http://www.delta.com/business_programs_services/charter_flights/index.jsp

 

[olds]

I guess my invitation is still in the mail?

 

[iamwiz82]

You'll probably have to stop off for fuel in Jamaica or something if you are looking for a smaller plane.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: crab

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: crab
Well, 8 people can hop on a King Air, and they're ~$1000-$1500/hr...

Its very practical, if you can justify the costs.

So, you think it would be better to use a local company instead of a more national company that specializes in fractional ownership? I kind of felt the same way myself. I mean it should cost less by nature because they'd be flying out of their home airport. I'm sure you know more than me...

A local company should cost less because you would usually pay to have an aircraft brought to your departure airport if one isnt available. You really need to call around and see whats what. They all have different fees on top of the charter rate. Its not unheard of to do what you're asking, and any company will rent to anybody for whatever reason, if they can afford it.

Yeah, I looked into NetJets, Bluestar, and a bunch of other companies, but I didn't look anywhere local. I think I could shave some considerable cost off by flying with a local company. Most of the quotes I'd received right now were about 50k. That'd be way more than just flying everyone Business Class.

 

[gsethi]

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: xchangx
Greyhound

Buses don't float.

Greyhound + Ferry

 

[xchangx]

Originally posted by: gsethi

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: xchangx
Greyhound

Buses don't float.

Greyhound + Ferry

My bad, didn't know it was international

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

I got a tour of Christos Cotsakos' private jet once. At the time, he was CEO of E*Trade and his daughter was among my circle of friends at school. Another friend and I were interviewing him for a project in my Management Theory & Practice course.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
You'll probably have to stop off for fuel in Jamaica or something if you are looking for a smaller plane.

Yeah, that's why I've been getting quotes for medium size aircraft. I think I'm looking at a distance of about 1900 miles. I've found some Citations, Hawkers, a few Lear, and a Gulfstream. Some are wayyyyyyyy too expensive to consider. I'm just gonna see what I can get out of a local company.

Like I said, it is likely it isn't practical, but I just wanted to check.

 

[crab]

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: crab

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: crab
Well, 8 people can hop on a King Air, and they're ~$1000-$1500/hr...

Its very practical, if you can justify the costs.

So, you think it would be better to use a local company instead of a more national company that specializes in fractional ownership? I kind of felt the same way myself. I mean it should cost less by nature because they'd be flying out of their home airport. I'm sure you know more than me...

A local company should cost less because you would usually pay to have an aircraft brought to your departure airport if one isnt available. You really need to call around and see whats what. They all have different fees on top of the charter rate. Its not unheard of to do what you're asking, and any company will rent to anybody for whatever reason, if they can afford it.

Yeah, I looked into NetJets, Bluestar, and a bunch of other companies, but I didn't look anywhere local. I think I could shave some considerable cost off by flying with a local company. Most of the quotes I'd received right now were about 50k. That'd be way more than just flying everyone Business Class.

The thing about those big companies is that they base aircraft at airports all around the world for that exact reason. Also, alot of big corporations rent their jets out to these charter companies to minimize downtime. I guarantee theres a bunch to pick from at ATL. You should call a few and see what can be worked out.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: crab

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: crab

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: crab
Well, 8 people can hop on a King Air, and they're ~$1000-$1500/hr...

Its very practical, if you can justify the costs.

So, you think it would be better to use a local company instead of a more national company that specializes in fractional ownership? I kind of felt the same way myself. I mean it should cost less by nature because they'd be flying out of their home airport. I'm sure you know more than me...

A local company should cost less because you would usually pay to have an aircraft brought to your departure airport if one isnt available. You really need to call around and see whats what. They all have different fees on top of the charter rate. Its not unheard of to do what you're asking, and any company will rent to anybody for whatever reason, if they can afford it.

Yeah, I looked into NetJets, Bluestar, and a bunch of other companies, but I didn't look anywhere local. I think I could shave some considerable cost off by flying with a local company. Most of the quotes I'd received right now were about 50k. That'd be way more than just flying everyone Business Class.

The thing about those big companies is that they base aircraft at airports all around the world for that exact reason. Also, alot of big corporations rent their jets out to these charter companies to minimize downtime. I guarantee theres a bunch to pick from at ATL. You should call a few and see what can be worked out.

Yeah, I'm going to do that tomorrow. Almost 5PM Eastern there. Thanks for the help. I have a feeling that Atlanta will be much more competitive than BHM, but I'm going to check out both.

<----- Has to go to the airport tonight as it is to pick up my fiance.

 

[Fritzo]

We used to use private jets when our company was in it's heyday (you're lucky if they give you gas money now ). You're looking at somewhere around $20000-$25000 on average for a group of 6-8 people. The will vary greatly depending on fuel, distance, and the pilot however. There's a lot of sites around that will give you free quotes, but I can guarantee airline flying will be cheaper by far.

EDIT: Here you go, I wasn't too far off: http://www.sentientjet.com/pricing/

 

[CFster]

Took a trip in one of these from Hartford, CT to Danville, VA. It took about an hour in the air.

We flew commercial back. Left Greensboro, NC around 2:00pm and got back into Hartford at 10:00pm. Took just a little bit longer.

I didn't ask how much the private jet cost (my boss paid for it), but word is those things go about $7k to 9k an hour.

Man, that's the only way to travel. We were running a few minutes late to the airport, and I was starting to get nervous. My boss turns to me and says, "don't worry about it, they leave when WE'RE ready".

When we got there the pilots told us they put beer in the cooler behind the seats for us.

That's the life.