Guide to Charter Airlines Key Terms

Understand the terminology used by air charter services

By George Angus

1. Read any contract with an air charter service. Note any words or phrases that are not clear and ask about them.
2. If your company has a legal department, have the contract reviewed for terminology specific to your situation.
3. Don't hesitate to ask the aviation charter company about any terms that you don't understand. If they are hesitant to explain any terms, move on to the next company.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Obtain a glossary for privately chartered flights

Obtaining a broad based basic understanding of the terms you will likely encounter when seeking the services of an air charter company will help you know what to expect. Knowledge of key terms for airline charters will help smooth the process.

I recommend: An excellent private aviation glossary is available from Stratos Private Jet Services. Air Charter Guide has a comprehensive glossary of air charter terms.

Get a sample air charter services agreement

Having a sample air charter services agreement in hand prior to contacting an air charter company will prepare you for any terminology that may come up during initial discussions with the company. The agreements may include terms relating to the actual flight and items such as payment.

I recommend: Air Charter World has a sample contract to give you an idea of typical headings and sub-headings. A general agreement is available from Arrive Air Services.

Buy air charter services reports

There are well-researched reports available which include a glossary of acronyms. The acronyms used in aviation and air charter services can be both complicated and confusing. Becoming familiar with the industry jargon will help to avoid any misunderstandings.

I recommend: The Air Charter Services report from Market Research has a broad view of the charter airline industry. Hoovers has an industry overview report including a glossary of acronyms.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consolidate any sample contracts or agreements and terminology lists into a single binder. Highlight any terms in the contracts or terminology lists that may be sticking points or issues when it comes time to engage an air charter company. Take this binder with you for any meetings you may have with the air charter company.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Charter a Plane

Contact aviation charter companies directly to reserve a plane or make reservations through a charter plane network that contacts air charter services for you.

I recommend: Use an air charter company network, such as Air Charter Network or Air Charter Service, and grab discounts and special deals. Save money by flying “backhaul” on empty leg flights of aviation charter companies through air charter services networks like Leg Seek.com. These are typically empty return seats on previously chartered flights. Charter airlines often sell one-way tickets, which means the return seat is empty and priced at a discount. Charter airline networks keep track of these “backhaul” flights and sell them for the air charter company.

Travel With Charter Airlines for Convenience

Not only is flying airline charters less stressful than flying commercial, but also chartered planes are typically smaller and are private, and airline charters can land at just about any airport. Many of the smaller airports are more conveniently located and have more accessible parking with point to point air-to-ground transportation. Luggage can be taken from your vehicle directly to your plane.

I recommend: With the convenience, easy access and stress-free environment chartered flying offers, the benefits supersede the costs. Select your airport (AirNav.com) and even select your plane; easily fly based on your own schedule or your company's schedule. Choose from various national and international air charter companies: Revolution Air, CSI Aviation Services, Air Royale or Air Charter.com.

Get Your own Private Pilot and Plane

Find private pilots willing to charter to small groups. In fact, a few remote locations are only accessible by sky ferry or a private air taxi, and as more people are doing business via the Internet, your company may find it necessary to travel to business destinations off the beaten path. Some businesses opt to even buy their own planes and hire commercial rated private pilots to fly them or allow their own licensed employees to fly the planes. Leasing planes is more of an option for businesses today as well. Never miss an important meeting again due to commercial airline delays.

I recommend: For sky ferry, air taxi and private pilot services, contact smaller charter air companies directly, such as Executive Air Taxi Corporation for travel between major Midwest cities and cities on the East Coast or Northwest Sky Ferry, which offers flight services for the Northwest including Washington, Oregon and Canada.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check with flying clubs also to find out about hiring commercial pilots to fly your company plane if you're not ready to let your own executives pilot your jet.

Guide to Charter Airlines News and Trends

Find out what's new in the charter airline industry

By George Angus

1. Paying attention to the economic trends on Wall Street and in the aviation industry in general.
2. Tracking aviation fuel prices and trends to have an idea as to how this may affect your next aircraft charter.
3. Asking to be put on a notification list whenever your charter company anticipates an increase in costs, or adding a fuel surcharge for their airline charters, if you already have a contract in place.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Obtain the latest information on charter airlines news and trends

The aviation industry is dynamic and subject to news events on a daily basis. Knowing the latest news that affects the air charter industry can save you money and alert you to any potential roadblocks with your next air charter.

I recommend: Aviation Week is the leading trade magazine for the aviation industry. AVweb is a resource filled aviation site with excellent articles, including many that affect the air charter business. There are hundreds of recent news articles relating to the air charter industry at Airliners.net.

Obtain the most recent news about a particular air charter service

An air charter business is subject to change in the way they operate, or even if they are in existence any longer. Some air charter companies are merging, or splitting off from their parent organizations, or have just plain gone away. Get the latest information about your current air charter company or about a company you are considering and if it still serves in the same capacity as it has in the past.

I recommend: The National Air Transport Association (NATA) has a guide to air charter services including a list of NATA member air charter services. A comprehensive list of current air charter companies can be found at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).

Discover economic trends that affect the air charter services industry

As a user of air charter services, it's important to keep up with the current trends and news for the global and national economy. Aviation-focused news sites that provide information on airline economics will help you keep on top of these trends.

I recommend: AviationRecord.com provides regularly updated news on airlines, with a focus on economics. You can also search the website by region and topic. The Aero-News Network provides airline news so you can keep up with economic trends, and it also provides videos of major news items.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many aviation web sites have a feature that allows you to subscribe to news events either through email or an RSS feed. These updates are often sent in a headline style so you may quickly review the headlines, see if there is anything of interest, and then delete the email if there are no items of interest for your business. This is a great way to keep up with the latest news on charter airlines.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Consider airline charters as a thrifty way to travel for business

Using an air charter company could not only save you time but save you money as well, as long as you know where to look. Corporate jet travel may have a large sticker price, but carting executives from point A to point B is often simply the cost of doing business in a timely, effective manner.

I recommend: Business Jet Traveler suggests teaming up with other executives to share a the costs of chartered flights. The magazine also publishes air charter prices. Meanwhile, Cheap Charter Flights suggests resources for finding the cheapest charter flights available.

Find the best cargo charter flights to transport your product

Awards don't tell the whole story, but they can give you a picture of who is an industry leader and why. For instance, in the charter air cargo industry, timeliness is prized above all else. The good should also arrive in good condition, and fly to parts of the world where you need to connect with your clients.

I recommend: Air Transport World awards a "Best Cargo" prize. Air Cargo News reports on cargo airlines that have received industry recognition. Air Cargo World Online publishes its list of the top 50 cargo airlines.

Find top rated airline charters

Airline charter services should bring you as near to your destination as possible. Your journey should be comfortable. And your should be confident with your pilot and the aircraft.

I recommend: Skytrax offers a wealth of customer reviews on airlines, including many aviation charter companies. AirGuideOnline.com publishes its own reviews of hundreds of charter airline companies. Flightmapping.com has a list of low-cost charter commercial airlines.