Successful Meetings - September 2008 - (Page 79) Incentive Travel CHARTER Air charters offer no-hassle travel, “celebrity-style” MEMBERS Air charter companies bring the frills back to flying By Andrea Doyle andrea.doyle@nielsen.com “Please make sure your seat belt is securely fastened,” a well-coiffed flight attendant articulates. “Seat belts can be purchased for five dollars. To fasten, insert the metal fitting into the buckle. To release, purchase a release flap for seven dollars. Please take a moment to look at your safety pamphlet. The charge for looking at this pamphlet is three dollars. The charge for looking at this pamphlet and putting it back quickly is four dollars. Should there be a rapid change in cabin pressure, oxygen masks will automatically drop from a compartment above your seat free of charge. To start the flow of oxygen, pay a flight attendant $75.63.” This may be just a satire about the state of today’s airline industry that appeared on MADtv and has been viewed by thousands on YouTube, but it is close to the truth. Who would have ever thought it would cost $50 to check a second bag, $11 for a meal, $10 SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS SEPTEMBER 2008 for extra legroom? Feeling chilly? A pillow and blanket are seven dollars. (A complete list of airline fees can be accessed at www.kayak.com/airline-fees.) To further cut expenses, commercial airlines have abandoned smaller airports, making it even more laborious to reach certain destinations. There are labyrinthine security lines, interrupted service, and delays. According to FlightStats, which tracks the airlines, only 73.5 percent of flights arrived on time in the United States in 2007. Major carriers are turning in an even worse record this year, with an aggregate on-time performance of only 70.7 percent. No-frills flying is de rigueur in today’s commercial planes. Just the opposite is true with charter companies. With one phone call, you set the schedule, based on your needs; choose the aircraft type and the amenities you want on board; and select your departure successfulmeetings.com 79 http://www.kayak.com/airline-fees http://successfulmeetings.com
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