Friday, April 3, 2009

Airfare Consolidators - What Are They and How Can They Help You Find Cheap Airline Fares?

Have you been hearing about airfare consolidators lately and wondering what in the world it is and how it could help you find cheap airline fares? Are you even sure exactly what it is? I was in the same boat, wanting to find cheap travel deals and inexpensive airfare for my yearly vacation, but scratching my head about how to do so. I kept reading about these airfare consolidators all over the place and I actually had no idea what the term even meant. Why would I want to consolidate airfare anyway?
Consolidator fares are those elusive fares that are released in very limited amounts to various companies who then resell them. It's possible to get a hold of them but it's also possible to find better deals elsewhere sometimes.
To gain a better understanding of what these fares actually are, it basically goes like this. In years past, airline companies realized that the process of selling fares to travel agencies and to regular consumers was too "visible" to the competitors, allowing those competing companies to lower their fares enough to steal away their customers. So what they did was, on the not-so-popular flights, they began offering non-publicized lower fares to consolidators, who would then sell them in a fire-sale-type manner.
Nowadays, consolidators are still doing business and most airlines have contracts with them. The consolidator will be contracted to sell these "private" airfares at a lower price than any published fares the general public would see. You generally won't be able to find any consolidators who will sell straight to the consumer, but you will find these cheap travel tickets possibly in the travel section of your paper on Sunday, offered by a local travel agency. You may also find them advertised through some of the online travel agencies.
The best opportunities for finding these marked-down prices from the airfare consolidators is if you happen to be shopping for a plane ticket at the very last minute, and/or if you happen to be planning to travel out of the country by coach.
Remember though that not all bargain basement prices you find are in reality consolidator fares, although they might be. The best way to find value-priced airfare is still to shop around and compare prices well in advance of your travel date.

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Friday, March 27, 2009

Fractional Jets - 9 Reasons Why Fractional Jet Ownership Makes Financial Sense

Sooner or later, every public airplane passenger experiences an unpleasant moment that makes him or her think about an alternative. If possible, the vast majority of people who travel very often would opt out for commercial air transport and fly only private. Finding spare cash to purchase and maintain a private jet seems daunting. With fractional ownership you always have the opportunity to buy only a piece of a plane.
1. Pay less for aircraft maintenance
It feels good to have your own plane. Unfortunately, owning an entire aircraft demands a lot of care and might be rather expensive. Fractional companies spread those maintenance costs among all owners.
2. No more extra costs - pay only for what you use
Have you ever heard about the wheel-up and wheel-down concept? You should know that reputable fractional companies have this principle implemented in their business on a regular basis. If you take a two-hour flight from Washington to New York - you will pay only for two hours in the air. And again, if you fly back a week later - pay for two more hours and that's all.
3. Private jets aren't worth what they used to be
A jet membership card is a no-hassle private aviation option for ladies and gentlemen who do not like commitment or contracts. However, if you plan on using the aircraft for corporate purposes, you should properly analyze the benefits of fractional jets.
4. Cheaper than commercial
Flying private seems extremely exotic and expensive, but when you break down the costs, you may find it to be competitive with the best commercial airlines. A last-minute roundtrip flight from Miami to New York might cost around $2,500 per person. What if six employees need to take such a business trip? Then total cost in first class would be $15,000. In comparison with an occupied hourly fee from most of the fractional jets companies, carrying the entire group would run $1,700 per hour. So a six hour roundtrip would be equal to $10,200. What do you think?
5. No delays, no hassle
Nowadays, missed flights and meetings in the world of commercial aviation cost you time. Indirect routes cost you even more time. Landing into an airport hours away from your final destination also costs you time. Your private fractional jet can take you directly from your starting point to a small airport just a short drive from where you want to be.
6. No more intimidation
Security checkpoints are a necessary part of mass travel, but they are very frustrating. Imagine your meeting runs late and the checkpoint is backed up - you could miss your commercial flight. With a private fractional jet, your limousine is cleared at a security checkpoint and can often stop right next to your aircraft's stairway. Your pilots will check your ID and you're in.
7. An extremely flexible schedule
When a business emergency occurs, you need to be able to solve things quickly. There's no time to wait for the next scheduled direct flight. With a fractional jet at your disposal, you can often have a plane ready to transport you where you need to go within hours of your call. Remember that time is money. Prevent all possible business meltdowns when possible.
8. Constructive ideas in the skies
Ingenious thoughts might come in mind when traveling from your main office to your client's site or vice versa. It is impractical and risky to discus confidential matters on a commercial airliner. However, your private fractional jet can be easily transformed into a personal flying meeting room. Such decisions will significantly influence the financial stability value for your company.
9. Reap the benefits of competition
As in any industry, competition within the private jet fractional ownership sector has brought rewards to consumers. Aircraft owners might take advantage of different attractive offers and save hundreds of thousands of dollars on their purchase price. Competition breeds benefits and you are the one who should take maximum advantage.