Private Air New York Magazine
Issue link: https://privateair.uberflip.com/i/524037
www.privateairny.com Private Air New York | Summer 2015 90 AVIATION hartering a private jet should be a seamless process: Choose the aircraft that is suitable for your travels; sign a charter agreement; make the payment; and show up and fly. ankfully, many of today's charter services do provide top-notch service and aim to please, but occasionally, there may be some flaws that could interfere with the kind of charter service experience that you've envisioned. When choosing a charter service that can provide the kind of service that is expected, here are five key points to keep in mind before booking your next air traveling journey. First, seek referrals from other travelers, businesspeople, investors, bankers, and other professionals who typically use charter systems, also known as brokers. Fixed-based operators may be another great source for referring a good chartering service and may have a wider scope of contacts they can tap as a resource. Next, respect the gut and go with your first impression. If you or a handler contacts the selected charter service and there isn't a pleasant, live voice on the other end of the line, this may be an indication that the rest of your experience will be robotic and sterile. A good charter service will have a human element to it because it is the humans you are looking to provide the understanding, service, concern, and care you are seeking. e third point is to be crystal clear about what your air travel demands are up front. As with all business transactions, communication is the one area that can make or break a good deal, and poorly communicated expectations, needs, and wants can set the foundation for an unpleasant charter service experience. Seasoned charter services companies will try to anticipate your needs from the start. "Our greatest challenge is finding ways to exceed the expectations of our clients who are accustomed to the best services in the world,"says Michael Friedman, Marketing Manager of Private Jet Services."Our style of service is proactive rather than reactive, which means we are constantly planning for the unexpected." Fourthly, check out the adaptability of the charter service. Find out if they can bend like Gumby when it comes to last minute changes. If you are scheduling an in-country flight and suddenly realize that you must fly internationally, how quickly can the service adjust to your changes? Finally, check out the safety record of the charter. Charter companies and pilots are certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before they are allowed to fly and must adhere to strict safety guidelines, but some charter services make safety a top priority. "To us, safety should always be the greatest factor,"says Jeffrey Reis, Managing Director, Executive Air Services. "Unfortunately, many clients choose to focus on price first, believing that all certificated operators are the same in terms of safety. Sadly, recent history is replete with examples of trips that ended in a fatal accident due to a number of factors, many of which could have been mitigated by having a proper safety management system in place that solely drives go/no decisions regardless of the economic impact on the operator." Considerable flexibility is one of the reasons travelers use air charter flights. ey offer the ability to fly in and out of over 5,000 pubic airports in the US and operate on the passenger's schedule. It is one of the perks the successful have earned and the choosing of a good charter service is critical for taking full advantage of what this luxury has to offer. Applying these five key points will ensure a greater chance of experiencing a flawless air travel journey. C By: Johnny Duncan CHOOSING THE CHARTER SYSTEM THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU