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

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Successful Meetings - September 2008

Successful Meetings - September 2008
Contents
Editor's Note
Industry Trends
Supplier News
Technology
Calendar
Incentives
Association News
Corporate Meetings
Independent Planners
Management Matters
Meetings Law
Mouth for Sale
Planner Spotlight
Pre-Event
On Site
On Site
Tools of the Trade
Where All That Glitters May Bring Gold
Stepping Up in Class
Going for the Green
10 Great Drive-To Destinations
Charter Members
Night at the Museum
Places & Spaces
Charleston and Savannah
Los Angeles
Phoenix/Scottsdale
Rocky Mountain Resorts
Caribbean
Monaco
Malaysia
Gurus

Successful Meetings - September 2008