When a person goes to the
internet to charter a private plane in the San Diego area, an
overwhelming number of options usually appear. In actuality, there are
only a few true charter companies in the area. Many of the options that
appear are actually brokers, rather than direct charter operators. How
does one determine the difference between a broker and an operator?
“When
looking at the websites, it is important to look for certain words,”
advised Kimberly Herrell, Director of Sales at Schubach Aviation.
“Brokers will note that they ‘have access to’ rather than ‘operate’
charter flights. Brokers don’t actually operate aircraft. They are the
middlemen in the transaction putting private fliers with operators like
us and can be very helpful if a person travels around in a lot of
different areas.”
“Keep in
mind that there are no regulations in the broker industry so it’s
important to find someone with a good reference and a good reputation
who will find you the best value,” continued Herrell. “If you are
planning on several flights out of the area, I would recommend bypassing
the broker and working directly with an operator as they provide
quicker service and response, and typically a lower price.”
A
charter operator is an aviation company that holds a Part 135 operating
certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. The company
staffs the plane, conducts the maintenance and adheres to stringent FAA
guidelines.
“If you
determine that an operator is the best choice to go with,” said Herrell,
“check out the operator’s history. Have they had any accidents or
incidents? What steps were implemented to keep you safe in the future?
What is the company’s reputation? Where and how are the pilots trained?
Do they know their stuff? Do they keep you informed of delays? You are
putting your life and your loved ones’ lives in their hands. It’s
important to feel comfortable with the choice you make. We often give
tours here at Schubach Aviation so that our clients know what to expect.
It makes them feel more at ease, knowing who they are flying with.”
Once
a person feels they have made the best choice based on the solid
operation of the company, the next consideration is service.
“We
cater to our customers,” said Herrell. “Some clients enjoy having a
certain wine, or maybe a particularly comfortable blanket or a favorite
magazine. We try our hardest to make people feel that they are at
home…that this is the closest thing to having your own private plane
without the hefty price tag of ownership.”
Pricing and payment is the next consideration: Is it competitive? Is prepayment required? Are there high cancellation fees?
“We
only charge cancellation fees when absolutely necessary,” explained
Herrell, “because we focus on the long-term relationship we want to form
with our clients. Mr. Schubach is very customer focused, and we haven’t
forgotten the reason why we get to do what we do.”
More information
Schubach Aviation
Phone: (760) 929-0307
Address: 2026 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad
No comments:
Post a Comment