How to plan and book an air charter trip

Planning and booking an air charter trip needs certain steps to be followed to avail full benefits, otherwise the charter flight can turn out to be a problem for the user. The steps to be followed are as follows:

Contact A Charter Broker:

A charter broker handles for you issues like competitive rates, contingency planning, organizing all the logistics of a trip, and how to get the customer to their destination in the wee hours of the morning if the weather won't permit the flight.
How do you pick a good charter operator in the first place? Some aircrafts are a whole lot safer and better equipped than the airlines. Some are not. An experienced broker knows how to find the answer to this question. A diligent broker will take the time to call the FAA to check on any violation history, and the nature and severity of anything discovered. This is very definitely "value added."

Choosing an Airport :

It is important to choose an airport that is closer to your point of departure to reduce the time consumption in traveling. Scheduled airlines use fewer than 500 airports across the country. And 80% of their flights are between only 22 of the major hubs. Charter operators use those and nearly 5,000 more, so chances are good that one is closer to your point of departure or arrival than the closest metropolitan airport—not to mention less crowded. This can make your trip convenient even before you board an aircraft

Choosing an aircraft :

The number of passengers traveling, the nature and amount of baggage, the ultimate destination, aircraft preferences, and budget parameters will tell the operator what size aircraft you'll need. Speed is another factor. Cruising speeds vary widely, but a rough speed estimate for propeller planes is about 200 mph/322kmh, while jets fly at something closer to 500 mph/805kmh. When estimating flight-times, add 10-15% for the time necessary to achieve cruising speed and altitude. Think about your destination and how fast you need to get there. Aircraft performance, size and passenger capacity all determine price, and choosing the right plane involves trade-offs.

Choosing an Operator :

Many criteria apply to the selection of the right charter operator.When talking to a prospective operator, quiz him thoroughly. Charter operators can sometimes make the conversation obscure by the use of technical jargons. Don’t hesitate to ask for clarifications.

Credentials are important. Don't hesitate to review the operator's operating certificate, safety record and/or insurance policy. Ask the operator for customer references. Once you get them, use them. Call these customers and ask them questions about their business dealings with the operator.

Pricing and Payment :

The expense of air charter must be evaluated against the trip at hand. How many passengers are going, and how does the cost compare to other forms of travel? What is the savings in time, lodging, ground transportation, and gained business opportunity?

Aircraft are usually chartered by the hour, with rates varying according to many factors. Hourly rates are figured against the time an aircraft is actually in the air. A strong tailwind, therefore, will lower the cost. Air traffic delays, holding patterns and en route deviations will increase it. Some operators and brokers, however, will charge based on a quotation that is fixed, and will not change, regardless of your actual flight time. Be sure to understand which method your charter professional will be using to quote and invoice you.