How to Charter a Jet to Chicago
Whether you want to ride in a Gulfstream, a Falcon or a Challenger, there are numerous options to get to Chicago-for the right price. And, the time has never been better to climb onboard this limo in the sky.
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Instructions
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Jamie Cheng, Co-Founder, Senior VP of Operations & Finance and Chief Analyst of Halogen Guides-which publishes an interactive online directory of charter services--offers general advice for chartering a plane.He says that the first step is to know exactly what one's needs are. "How many passengers are flying with you? How much luggage will you be carrying? Will there be any pets? Space is at a premium aboard private planes and costs vary greatly according to what size plane you fly on," he says.
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"From there you can check out online charter broker websites, like Virgin Charter, where you can enter the details of your trip and review bids from multiple operators. Halogen Guides Jets also offers an interactive tool to estimate your trip costs" Cheng points out.
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Ask yourself what you can afford. The costs of chartering a plane to Chicago vary and, of course, depend on where you are flying from.Also, says Cheng, "cost depends on the size and type of jet, length of trip (in most cases one pays by the hour), whether the plane will require repositioning (bringing the plane in from another location, such as is described under "Tips" below and the current price of fuel. Light jets (seating 6-8 passengers) typically cost about $2,500 per hour to operate. Heavy jets (12-18) passengers can cost in excess of $5000 per hour."
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Go online and book or call the service directly. Going to the link below for Halogen Guides is a great place to start-it's truly online shopping. In fact, one of the principals of this company began with AOL so he's used to making the online experience fairly intuitive and visually striking. There are a number of planes and price options for most budgets, but be forewarned: this is not something for the subway crowd, unless they've saved their pennies.
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Climb onboard and enjoy your flight to Alto Rio Senguerr Airport or one of the other nearby airports. Check online details or with your local charter service for details.Chicagoans and those venturing to Chicago will enjoy flying into the Windy City in style. You don't have to be a presidential candidate to be treated like a celebrity in the air.You just have to plug into the right web sites-and carry enough cash.
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Tips & Warnings
When chartering a plane, oftentimes the operator will charge for the cost of positioning the plane for your trip. For example if you are flying from New York to Miami, and the operator is based in Chicago, you will be charged for not only the flight from New York to Miami, but the so-called “dead-head” leg to ready the plane for you in New York. Look for charter operators based in either Chicago or your town to avoid these costs.
"Make sure that the charter operator you choose has a good safety rating from either ARG/US or Wyvern, the two independent safety auditors serving the industry. Most operators will be happy to provide this information—if they don’t beware," says Cheng.
If you plan on flying privately often, consider buying a charter card or fractional card. You can buy time on the jets at a flat rate often lower than what you’d get if you chartered flights individually, and you can also enjoy the convenience of not having to look for bids for each flight, according to Cheng.
Resources
- Photo Credit Horshoe Bay Resort planes
