Private flying

[8gv]

If you mean via a private charter, no I have not.

Via a privately owned plane, I have done so several times.

[tis]

Originally Posted by 8gv

If you mean via a private charter, no I have not.

Via a privately owned plane, I have done so several times.

Yes, a private charter. Wow, you are very lucky!

[Riviera]

Yes, many times. Very convenient.

[ITD]

Yes, not a charter, I flew myself last February, back in April.

[tis]

Originally Posted by ITD

Yes, not a charter, I flew myself last February, back in April.

Your own plane? Want company?

[ITD]

Originally Posted by tis

Your own plane? Want company?

Lol, rental, lot's of luggage for a long trip like this, so just me and my wife, sorry.

[tis]

Originally Posted by ITD

Lol, rental, lot's of luggage for a long trip like this, so just me and my wife, sorry.

Oh darn. Well, I tried. If you get a bigger plane, let me know.

[Descant]

There are several "larger" planes in and out of Laconia on weekends. Some companies will take additional passengers for a reasonable fee. Like th
e airlines, you are at the mercy of their schedule. Many full charter companies will come to Laconia, pick you and take you wherever. Price is often dependent on if they can get somebody at the other end so they are not flying empty.

[tis]

Originally Posted by Descant

There are several "larger" planes in and out of Laconia on weekends. Some companies will take additional passengers for a reasonable fee. Like th
e airlines, you are at the mercy of their schedule. Many full charter companies will come to Laconia, pick you and take you wherever. Price is often dependent on if they can get somebody at the other end so they are not flying empty.

We see those planes. I wouldn't mind sharing. I have heard of that, I think they call it empty leg. I wouldn't mind that and we could be flexible. We went to the airport a couple years ago and asked but they didn't know any thing about it. Any ideas how you could find out?

[Descant]

Originally Posted by tis

We see those planes. I wouldn't mind sharing. I have heard of that, I think they call it empty leg. I wouldn't mind that and we could be flexible. We went to the airport a couple years ago and asked but they didn't know any thing about it. Any ideas how you could find out?

Riviera had some good input in post #12. You can Google "Airplane Ride Share" and get some places to shop. Laconia may be a sticking point due to low traffic volume, but you might just hit the jackpot, too. Good luck.

BTW, you may want to look at luggage shipping services as ride shares may have weight/luggage restrictions.

[tis]

Originally Posted by Descant

Riviera had some good input in post #12. You can Google "Airplane Ride Share" and get some places to shop. Laconia may be a sticking point due to low traffic volume, but you might just hit the jackpot, too. Good luck.

BTW, you may want to look at luggage shipping services as ride shares may have weight/luggage restrictions.

Thank you. I will look at that.

[Islandbum]

There’s a bunch of companies online. Check ‘em all
25 k from Laconia to Ft. Lauderdale private airport. It’s awesome. They wait for you, drive right up to plane and unload luggage then park. All employees of Laconia airport are great, the FOB is so so compared to most.
We have quarter share of a Pilatus PC 12 turboprop. Nj to Nh ,mass,Virginia about an hour. Arrive late no problem. Can land pretty much anywhere, anytime.lots of airports don’t let jets land after 9 or 10 pm. We even landed on a grass runway at buddies house. Now that was a hoot. All pilots could talk about was their first grass strip landing. I could go on and on. Spend the money do it. We only live once and longevity is not definite. Oh and pilatus rocks.

[tis]

Originally Posted by Islandbum

There’s a bunch of companies online. Check ‘em all
25 k from Laconia to Ft. Lauderdale private airport. It’s awesome. They wait for you, drive right up to plane and unload luggage then park. All employees of Laconia airport are great, the FOB is so so compared to most.
We have quarter share of a Pilatus PC 12 turboprop. Nj to Nh ,mass,Virginia about an hour. Arrive late no problem. Can land pretty much anywhere, anytime.lots of airports don’t let jets land after 9 or 10 pm. We even landed on a grass runway at buddies house. Now that was a hoot. All pilots could talk about was their first grass strip landing. I could go on and on. Spend the money do it. We only live once and longevity is not definite. Oh and pilatus rocks.

I would think to buy shares you would fly more than twice a year to make it worth it, right?

[pjard]

I am in this business. Some of my customers are these charter companies. Trust me, you are getting alot or simply incorrect information. I would start by calling Atlas Air over in Portsmouth NH. (I don't work for them or have any financial interest). They manage and operate several PC-12's and I'm sure would be happy to give you a quote. They are the blue colored, single engine turbo prop you see in Laconia quite often.

[tis]

Originally Posted by pjard

I am in this business. Some of my customers are these charter companies. Trust me, you are getting alot or simply incorrect information. I would start by calling Atlas Air over in Portsmouth NH. (I don't work for them or have any financial interest). They manage and operate several PC-12's and I'm sure would be happy to give you a quote. They are the blue colored, single engine turbo prop you see in Laconia quite often.

Thank you for the name. I am looking at all options. Can you tell me what is incorrect? If you'd rather, you could pm me. Thanks.

[tis]

Originally Posted by Riviera

Yes, many times. Very convenient.

Any information/advice you can give me?

[Riviera]

Originally Posted by tis

Any information/advice you can give me?

Sure. I now fly my own plane to FL, but chartered or used a jet card for several years.

First, if you are only flying one way, or are staying for more than a day or two, you may have to pay for the flight back, even if you’re not on the plane. In some instances, you can find a charter where they sell the return leg.

Second, rates have skyrocketed since Covid. Not quite doubled, but close. That is beginning to subside, to some degree.

Round trip, (1 or 2 night stay) for a plane that could carry 6 passengers and enough fuel to get to FL, you are probably going to see a rate just north of $40,000. One way, assuming they can find somebody to take the return trip, you can expect to pay in the mid $20’s. This is for a plane similar to a Cessna Citation CJ3, which is considered a light jet. The flight would be +/- 3 hours to S Florida, depending on winds. Mid size or large jets are considerably more expensive.

If you are making the trip often, you can pre-buy hours through a company such as FlyExclusive. This probably reduces the costs by 10% - 20%, and there is no premium for one way flights, because they operate nationally.

If you were interested, you could call SkyBright at Laconia Airport, and they will seek quotes from charter companies on your behalf.

[tis]

Originally Posted by Riviera

Sure. I now fly my own plane to FL, but chartered or used a jet card for several years.

First, if you are only flying one way, or are staying for more than a day or two, you may have to pay for the flight back, even if you’re not on the plane. In some instances, you can find a charter where they sell the return leg.

Second, rates have skyrocketed since Covid. Not quite doubled, but close. That is beginning to subside, to some degree.

Round trip, (1 or 2 night stay) for a plane that could carry 6 passengers and enough fuel to get to FL, you are probably going to see a rate just north of $40,000. One way, assuming they can find somebody to take the return trip, you can expect to pay in the mid $20’s. This is for a plane similar to a Cessna Citation CJ3, which is considered a light jet. The flight would be +/- 3 hours to S Florida, depending on winds. Mid size or large jets are considerably more expensive.

If you are making the trip often, you can pre-buy hours through a company such as FlyExclusive. This probably reduces the costs by 10% - 20%, and there is no premium for one way flights, because they operate nationally.

If you were interested, you could call SkyBright at Laconia Airport, and they will seek quotes from charter companies on your behalf.

Thank you. I appreciate the info. We would make the trip twice-down in the fall and back here in the spring. It might be hard to get somebody to take the return trip. I assume if it seats 6 they might try to find another couple to go with you? Do they allow little dogs and do they have to stay in the carriers?