by CharterJet Staff on November 3, 2010
A wise friend once told us that it really is our choice whether we live in poverty or in prosperity. You can spend your life in a welfare line or you can grab the bull by the horns and live a life that involves seeing the world, traveling by charter jet, having money in your pockets, and so many of the better things in life.
Don’t get us wrong; we’re not saying that you can just choose to be prosperous today and jump onto a private charter jet tomorrow for some tropical island where you wile away the rest of your days in comfort and luxury. We all know that life just doesn’t work that way. What we are saying, though, is that you can have the better things in life if you make the choices that will lead to them.
Everyone’s situation is different, so there’s no way we could tell you exactly what you need to do to live the kind of lifestyle you’d like to live. What we can do, though, is give you some general ideas that can help you start living a life of prosperity:
- Eliminate the poverty mindset. Poverty is like a disease of the brain. Once you have it in your head that you’ll only have enough to get by (or worse, won’t even have that), you’re going to start living as if that were true. Most impoverished people spend every dime that comes their way. But you don’t have to. Start using a percentage of your money to work for you, whether you invest it, start a business, or even just put it into a quality savings vehicle.
- Set goals. No one plans to be a financial failure. It happens fairly easily because people fail to plan. No one would get in the car and start randomly driving and expect to get anywhere. Map out your future. Start taking control. Even if you can only take small steps at first, map them out and take them.
- Be generous. Contrary to popular belief, most wealthy people are fairly generous. We believe that part of the reason for that boils down to an age old truth: what goes around comes around, what you sow, you reap, and those who give, receive. We’re not trying to pass an offering plate like a tent revivalist, but we do suggest that you make charitable giving a regular part of your life. If nothing else, it instills a sense of discipline with your finances that translates well into other financial dealings.
- Be your own boss. No one is going to give you anything if they don’t have to. While there’s nothing wrong with steady employment, it’s much better to have at least part of your income from your own business or investments.
Prosperity is a choice. Rather, it’s the result of a series of quality choices that only you can make for yourself.
by CharterJet Staff on October 27, 2010
Saving money and charter jet flight are two phrases you won’t see in the same sentence very often. Yet while it’s true that chartering a jet is going to cost you more money than flying coach, or even first class, there are ways for a savvy flyer to enjoy the comfort of a chartered flight and still save a few (thousand) bucks.
Do you want to know a secret?
Here’s the dirty little secret: more often than not (around 60% of the time, actually), charter jets fly without passengers. Often, this is because they are simply returning after dropping off a one way customer. At other times, this is because they are carrying cargo instead of live passengers. In either case, they are going to be making the same trip, whether they have you on board or not.
Often, you can get a great price on a charter jet flight by simply asking the company if they have any “empty leg” flights going your way. If an empty charter jet happens to be headed the direction you want to go, you can usually negotiate a very good deal on the flight.
How much can I save?
Savings typically run in the 20%-25% range, but if you stand your ground you can often get an even better deal. After all, the jet is going to be making the trip and burning the fuel anyway. It simply makes sense for them to take on a passenger at any reasonable price if they have the opportunity to do so.
Of course, this often means that you will need to work around their schedule a bit. Still, if you’re not in a particular hurry, there’s no reason to pay full price for a chartered flight if you can hop an empty leg flight instead.
Can I really do this?
Your chances of hitching a ride on an empty leg flight go up dramatically if you’re traveling along the beaten path. Your chances of catching a charter jet going where you want to go aren’t quite so good if you are traveling to (or from) one of the less popular destinations. Of course, it never hurts to ask. Unless you’ve already made travel plans, it’s always a good idea to check to see if you can catch an empty leg flight.
by CharterJet Staff on October 20, 2010
Today, you’re flying in a charter jet to Stockholm. With any luck, tomorrow your destination could be the moon. While we’re not there yet, private companies are working furiously to begin a new space tourism industry that could offer you travel opportunities which are (quite literally) out of this world.
Recently, Virgin Galactic, one of several private companies hoping to break into the emerging space tourism industry, conducted its first manned flight over 45,000 feet above the earth’s surface. While this is only a start, it holds a great deal of promise for people hoping to one day fly into space.
So much hope, as a matter of fact, that many are already shelling out the $20,000 it takes to put a deposit down on a space tourism flight. That’s right, 20 grand is just the deposit. The flight itself is expected to cost in the neighborhood of $200,000 (and you thought a charter jet was pricey).
Of course, while most people don’t have 200 grand sitting around for a vacation, you have to consider that this is really a once in a lifetime opportunity. We mean, really, who hasn’t dreamt of flying into space? And to think that it might be a real possibility in the next couple of years.
What’s more, the deposit (which is actually refundable) allows you a great deal of access to the workings of Virgin Galactic, including involvement in media events, tours of the research and manufacturing facilities, and VIP invitations to locations such as:
- The Caribbean Islands. Virgin Galactic holds astronaut forums there at the home of Sir Richard Branson.
- South Africa. We’re not sure what it has to do with traveling to space, but being invited to a South African game reserve is certainly not a bad little perk.
- Scaled Composites. The site where much of the R&D is done is available to you at times.
Of course, when you are invited to one of the VIP events, you’ll want to take a charter jet. It just wouldn’t look quite right flying coach to go to an astronaut meeting regarding your impending vacation to outer space.
by CharterJet Staff on October 13, 2010
Using a charter jet has become a real possibility for many who would not have even considered it just a few years ago. With the increase in problems and prices from the larger airlines, taking a private charter has become a much more sensible option for business professionals with a need to get where they are going quickly.
Of course, this means that charter jet companies have been expanding. It doesn’t take an economics major to figure out that the increasing demand for private flights leads to many new job opportunities in the charter jet industry. While there are many opportunities available, here are some of the best careers available for those who want to work with charter jets:
- Pilots. With more flights taking off, it’s three shades of obvious that more jet pilots are needed. Those with experience flying smaller jet aircraft are especially in demand, and former military pilots will find themselves with a host of opportunities.
- Hospitality/ Flight Attendants. While not all private flights make use of a hostess, those which do are looking for the best. If you have experience as a flight attendant with an airline and want better working conditions and higher pay, you may consider looking into working with a charter jet service.
- Brokers. Private charter jet brokers serve to match clients with an appropriate private flight. A high degree of professionalism and ability to market the company’s charter services is required for this kind of position. These positions basically boil down to sales positions, albeit with a very upscale clientele. Those with strong sales or marketing experience can often land thee positions even without prior experience in the airline or charter jet industry.
Regardless of what specific position you are seeking, the charter jet industry is a global industry. This will likely require you to be willing to move around as the company’s needs dictate. Pilots and flight attendants, of course, travel as part of their day to day careers.
Pay in the private charter jet industry is comparable to what you can expect to make with the major airlines, in most cases. Of course, pay for pilots and flight attendants is largely dependant upon how much you fly. Brokers are often paid partly or entirely by commission.
by CharterJet Staff on October 9, 2010
If you’re involved in international business on a global level, chances are that you’ve spent plenty of time in airports. If you fly on the commercial airlines, you can spend untold hours waiting for flights to take off or dealing with other delays. Even if you take a charter jet, you’ve probably spent more time than you’d care to admit in many of the world’s 49,000 airports.
Of course, some airports are better than others, both in terms of comfort and amenities and in terms of how long you typically have to wait. In our experience, the smaller, private airports are much offer much better service if you’re taking a charter jet. Inevitably, though, we all get stuck in the big airports one in a while. Here are the world’s 10 biggest, busiest airports:
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Int’l. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this is the major stop into and out of the Eastern United States.
- Beijing Capitol Int’l Airport. Located in the heart of Beijing, this airport is a testament to the fact that the world’s largest country (in terms of population) has become a major player in the world of business, and in terms of international flights.
- O’Hare Int’l Airport. Located in Chicago, Illinois, O’Hare is a major hub and if you fly anywhere within the US, you’ll probably spend a lot of time there. Of course, using a private charter jet will eliminate a lot of layover in busy airports like O’Hare.
- Heathrow Airport. London’s airport is the UK’s busiest, and the 4th busies in the world. It goes without saying that many business flights come to and from Heathrow.
- Tokyo Int’l. By far the busiest airport in Japan and the 2nd busiest in Asia, Tokyo.Ironically, most of the air traffic to and from Tokyo International is domestic. Tokyo has a different airport for international travelers. However, many charters do fly into and out of Tokyo from Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
- LA Int’l. The major point of entry or departure on the US West Coast, Los Angeles International. Of course, if you’re on a private jet, you can bypass LAX in favor of one of several smaller airports which are closer to business and recreational interests.
- Dallas-Ft. Worth. This is actually the world’s largest, if you’re only considering runways that don’t intersect. It’s also considered by many as the world’s best airport for cargo and freight. Incidentally, as large airports go, it isn’t too bad for passengers, either.
by CharterJet Staff on September 27, 2010
Aurora Aviation, a charter jet operator, is hosting a “Challenge Air Fly-Day” event on August 7th so that kids with disabilities will have the chance to experience the thrill of flying. The event is the result of a partnership between Aurora Aviation and Challenge Air for Kids and Friends. Continue Reading
by CharterJet Staff on September 22, 2010
Protecting the environment is everyone’s concern these days, and we all know that driving cars and flying in airplanes produce greenhouse gases. Luckily, charter jet companies and private plane manufacturers are looking for more ways to go green. The effort is in response to environmental concerns, which are important many of the industry’s VIP customers. Continue Reading
by CharterJet Staff on September 20, 2010
With so many business travelers flying by charter jet these days, the industry is adding more and more flexible options to keep rates competitive. Gone are the days when chartering a flight meant paying full price. Several business models have emerged in recent years that are making private charter jet options more accessible and affordable for the average business traveler. Continue Reading
by CharterJet Staff on September 15, 2010
Everyone could use a little help in the dating game, and nothing will impress your lover more than a trip to one of these great romantic getaway spots. Make the weekend even more memorable when you whisk him or her away on a charter jet for the absolute best in a luxury vacation. Continue Reading
by CharterJet Staff on September 6, 2010
Couples that have good relationships know what it takes to keep the spark alive, and one thing that is a great thing for any relationship is getting a romantic weekend together at least every few months or so. As you get older and have kids it tends to get harder to find the time, as well as finding babysitters for a whole weekend, but taking the time to plan weekends away every once in a while should be a priority as well, because in order to be happy couples need this type of getaway. Here are some great ideas for romantic weekend getaways, so if you haven’t had a weekend away with your loved one in a while hopefully some of these posts will inspire you. Continue Reading
