Not Flying Charter

From time to time, the charter-flight experience has caused many an
otherwise bold traveler to vow to never again book a chartered flight. There
are a number of reasons some are dissatisfied with charter flights. Of
course, these reasons do not necessarily cause everyone problems, nor do
they hold true for all charter flights.
One such reason some dislike the charter flight experience is long lines.
Whereas passengers on scheduled international flights are usually asked to
check in an hour prior to departure, charter passengers generally must
arrive three to four hours early. Most of the additional time is spent
standing with luggage in long check-in lines. Sometimes these lines are
inadequately staffed, resulting in frustration by the passenger towards the
company.
Another reason some dislike flying chartered flights is crowded cabins.
While some tour operators charter the regular aircraft of scheduled airlines
(or, on occasion, buy space on scheduled flights), most flights take place
on specially redesigned charter aircraft. The most comfortable charter
planes are wide-body Boeing 757s, which usually have seating for ten with a
distance between rows of thirty-two to thirty-four inches. Narrow-body 707s
and DC-8 planes--first generation transatlantic jets now banished from
some
airports by anti-noise regulations, have seating for up to six people across
but less legroom than planes that fly scheduled flights.
The worst charter planes in the sky are certain specially configured DC-10s
and L-1011s with ten-across narrow seats and only thirty-one to thirty-two
inches of legroom. When seating capacity on a DC-10 or L-1011 approaches four-hundred seats, get ready for a tight squeeze. Charter flights are also poor when it comes to providing in-flight amenities. In-flight services:
movies, food, drinks-are supplied by the tour operator. Since economy is the
predominating principal, don't expect much.
Charter flights are also famous for being late, sometimes by hours and
even by days. Most charter airline companies have a limited number of
aircraft. As a result, if one plane is delayed by mechanical difficulty, you
have to wait until it is fixed. Unless the flight is delayed by more than
forty-eight hours, federal law mandates no form of compensation.
Charter airlines may also adhere to less stringent safety procedures than
do scheduled airlines. This situation was brought tragically to light in
February 1996, when the crash of a chartered Boeing 757 off the coast of the
Dominican Republic killed 176 German tourists and 13 crew members returning
home to Frankfurt.