Corporate F/A Dispatch

If you’re looking to fly overseas, there are a few things you can do to find the best available air fare deals. Planning and patience are two of the best qualities to finding a great international fare, and timing is everything – don’t take the first deal you find, but don’t wait so long that you are no longer able to find a decent fare.

Search the Internet

Travel websites are some of the most popular sites online today. These sites – like Travelocity.com and Expedia.com are great for finding deals on last minute travel as well.

Book a Travel Package

Package deals that include air fare, hotel, and some attraction tickets are often much less expensive than purchasing each separately. Just be sure that you’re actually planning to use any of the extras included in your package. Don’t pay extra for a Paris package that includes bicycle tours if you plan to spend all day in the museums.

Consider a Charter Service

Travel charter companies are services that book a group of tickets for certain destinations. They receive a discount on these fares and are able to pass the savings along to you. If the charter company doesn’t sell all of the tickets, you may be able to get a greatly reduced fare.

Fly on a Weekday

Fares are often much cheaper during the week – especially on Tuesday and Wednesday – than they are on the weekend. You can also save a lot of money if you book your fares on these days, since many airlines release their reserved, unpaid fares on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Consider a Red Eye Flight

Some fares may be as much as forty percent less if you’re flying after 8:00 pm or before 6:00 am. Since most people prefer to travel during the day, airlines have more trouble selling these seats and may offer cheaper fares just to fill the seats.

Forgo the Non-Stop Flight

You may find a cheaper fare if you can handle a couple of stops along the way. You may also find a better fare if you spend the night at one of your layover stops before continuing on your journey.

Fly on a Bargain Airline

Many of the smaller airlines – like JetBlue – are offering terrific deals on international flights. Of course, you may find that there are fewer amenities – such as in flight movies or meals – but the resulting savings can be extensive.

Fly on a Holiday

If you fly on a holiday, you’re likely to find cheaper fares and fewer lines at the airport. Airlines are usually much busier in the few days leading up to and following a major holiday.

Check the Extra Fees

Many airlines have started charging extra fees for everything from checked baggage to snacks. Be sure you know the policies regarding baggage before you arrive at the airport and take steps to avoid them by making sure your luggage fits within the airline’s size and weight limitations and packing snacks to carry with you onboard.

Fly During the Off-Season

Most popular travel destinations have peak travel seasons set off by slower periods. If you’re able to plan your visit for any time of your choosing, you can save a lot of money by visiting during an off-peak season.

When you’re considering hiring a charter flight service, the first question that probably comes to mind is “How much does it cost?” While it’s definitely not as inexpensive as a regular commercial flight, it also isn’t as expensive as you might think.

The cost of hiring a private charter jet can vary greatly, as many factors will figure in to the final price. Typically, the price is a combination of the flight time and the expenses associated with flying the jet. There are many ways that flight time is calculated, and can be as complex as figuring out the aircraft speed, wind resistance, and usual routing by air traffic control.

In addition, much of the fee depends upon the type of aircraft you’ll be flying on. There are three common classes of jets and their specific fees are based upon the cabin dimensions. There are small, medium, and full size jets. Normally, you’ll find small jets cost about $2500/flight hour, medium size jets run about $3200/flight hour, and the full size jets are about $4500/flight hour.

Whoever charters the flight is also responsible for a multitude of other charges. These can include – but are not limited to – landing fees, international fees, overnight charges and catering.

Flying a jet is expensive, so it’s common for a plane to wait at the destination until the passengers are ready to return. This is where the overnight charges come into play. Aircraft parking is something you might not normally consider, but it can add up quickly. The expenses of the flight crew are also paid by whoever charters the plane, and usually run about $600 a night.

Operating an airport is expensive and one way to offset these expenses is by charging a landing fee to every plane that uses the runway. There are always at least two landing fees for each round trip. When you hire a charter jet for your flight, you can expect to pay a separate charge for landing at your destination and for returning to your initial departure airport.

There are also fees for traveling internationally. There are permits and paperwork required for the airline and for the passengers. Customs and Immigration will require permits to enter the destination company, and also to leave the departure country. These permits will be required for the crew, passengers, and even the plane. Again, these fees are usually paid by the person who charters the flight.

Finally, you may be required to pay for catering fees. These can include everything from a full bar and snacks, to a gourmet meal including champagne and caviar, depending on the service you fly with. In addition, you may find other amenities on your jet – such as an in flight phone – which will charge additional fees per minute of use.

As you can see, the total cost of your chartered flight can vary widely, depending on the type of plane, your destination and flight time, landing fees, overnight fees and any other expenses incurred. However, when you think about the convenience of having your own chartered flight and that most planes can accompany at least eight passengers, the pricing may not seem quite as high as you originally thought. If you’re considering chartering a plane for your next major trip, be sure to get quotes from several companies to secure the best possible deal for your next trip.