Jet operator calls for industry to promote time saving, not luxury to business clients

Patrick Margetson-Rushmore, the CEO of London Executive Aviation (LEA), one of Europe’s biggest business jet charter operators, is calling on the business aviation industry to promote time-saving benefits rather than giving out 'luxury messages' in its marketing this summer.

Speaking ahead of the annual meeting of the British Business & General Aviation Association (BBGA) later this month, Margetson-Rushmore says: “After a very tough recession, private jet charter operators stand to do good business this summer, thanks to Euro 2012 and the Olympics. However, we risk squandering the chance of a sustained recovery after these events if we don’t portray ourselves intelligently.

“The BBGA and the European Business Aviation Association do a great job in communicating the invaluable benefits we offer, namely efficient and convenient travel. But there is still a temptation for many operators to emphasise ‘the champagne lifestyle’ in their marketing, which is self-defeating folly given the general public mood,” Margetson-Rushmore continues. “The Zeitgeist is still very critical of excessive City bonuses, so it is vital we distance ourselves from so-called ‘corporate greed’. We should instead promote the true value of business aviation, which is all about saving precious time, an important ingredient for the economic recovery that will benefit us all.

“After the ‘tarring and feathering’ our reputation received during the credit crunch, there is a lot of PR damage our industry has to repair,” he says. “The BBGA can lead the way, but can only succeed if we present a united front. Only once we have detoxified the public’s perceptions of chartering an aircraft can a sustained industry recovery truly get underway.”

According to Margetson-Rushmore, the Olympics offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve the public’s understanding of business aviation. “The fact is we have an essential role to play in the south-east’s overstretched air transport system. The Olympics will bring a huge number of people into London and our major airports will struggle to handle this volume.

"Heathrow Airport operated at 99.2% of its annual limit for flights in 2011 and has severe capacity issues. On its busiest days during the Olympics, Heathrow expects to handle 138,000 passengers, a 45% increase over normal levels. This increase is despite takeoff and landing slots at Heathrow being reduced during the Games from around 43 to 36 per hour. Therefore, not only will business aviation allow many to visit London without delays, but we will also be taking an important share of the strain on London’s travel infrastructure. This is a story we should be promoting.”

Euro 2012 gives operators another chance to promote messages of time-saving and value, according to LEA’s chief executive. “Fans travelling abroad face significant challenges because of where the matches are to be played, and these problems could worsen if England is as successful as we hope. Fans may need to shuttle between Donetsk and Kiev in Ukraine to support the team in the group stages, which could be a challenge as the cities are more than 400 miles apart. If England make the semi-finals, supporters may have to fly to Warsaw to watch the match. And, if the team gets to the final, fans may need to fly back to Kiev.”

With limited options for scheduled air and ground transportation, this situation is almost a case study for why business aviation is so invaluable, says Margetson-Rushmore. “Rather than losing days or weeks out of the office, fans chartering aircraft with their friends could fly out to see all the live action and be home again within hours. Splitting air charter costs between six or eight passengers could make the expense per person very attractive, especially when you factor in savings on hotels and ground transportation. Explained in this way, the financial attractions of what we offer become far clearer and less elitist to potential critics.

“Summer 2012 offers us all a great showcase for what we do as an industry,” Margetson-Rushmore concludes. “I hope we take advantage of the opportunity in a way that yields us the maximum mutual, lasting benefit.”

StrawBurries Launches Flight Booking Service with Heavy Discounts Online

StrawBurries.com is pleased to announce its unique flight booking service for frequent flyers. The booking service is intended for regular or first-time flyers looking for lower cost flights to various destinations. From the StrawBurries website, orders sent in are manually handled leaving a process that’s fool-proof, error-free, and trustworthy. Users who book through StrawBurries will have access to cheap flights offers on United, JetBlue, Qantas, and AirCanada.

“We offer up to a 30% discount on each flight with another possible discount to firms and individuals with bulk orders. We strongly believe StrawBurries currently is the most attractive place for cheap Aircanada or Qantas flights with discounts that are simply hard to find anywhere online,” says Mr. Perrino Martinez, Founder and President of StrawBurries.com.

The StrawBurries online booking service is one that focuses on lowering overall retail prices for the user. In line with its customer satisfaction policy, StrawBurries provides 24 hour customer support service, with speedy response times, availing users the benefit of its service at any time of the day. This includes international users looking to book cheap return flights or for their loved ones back home.

“We have literally the cheapest tickets for 4 major airlines including United and AirCanada anywhere online,” added Mr. Perrino Martinez.

FACTFILE
StrawBurries is a unique flight booking service that provides the highest discount on air travel to destinations within and outside the US, 30% cheaper than retail prices on Aircanada, JetBlue, United and Qantas Airways. Its online booking service offers cheaper flight deals to users who want the best deals on flights to favorite destinations. StrawBurries can be accessed via its website at www.StrawBurries.com.

Be prepared for a long haul flight

Last week for business reasons I made a flight from the UK to California. The flights were booked as economy flights and I have some important lessons to share with you.

Firstly, ensure that if you are going on a long haul flight -the flight, including European transfer for the flight to San Francisco was 11 to 12 hours long- that if you can you book either economy plus or business class. You can ask for an upgrade to business to economy, but if that is not possible, and you have problems with a knee or health issues or are exceptionally tall, then you should ask for a seat by one of the exits, as there is more leg room there. You will have to agree to help the plane crew in the case of an emergency, but this should not present you with a problem.

The food on the airlines can be variable in quality, though is, in general, of good quality. On the flight from Europe to California there is generally -depending on the time of day- a main meal (with a choice of two meals in economy) two light snacks and perhaps breakfast. Coffee and tea, soft drinks and water are free  though alcoholic drinks are available for an extra sum. Though seasoned travellers caution against the consumption of too much alcohol during a flight.

Meals in business and first class are generally better, with more choice and on some airlines, free alcoholic drinks, but the point about not consuming too much alcohol remains valid, even for he better off passengers.

Ensure that you tell your credit card or bank that you will be abroad. You do not want your bank suspending your credit or debit card for "suspicious activity" when your spending activity suddenly starts to take place in a different part of the world! Also, get you money changed before you go, if possible. The Post Office offers good rates. Although there is a minimum amount you can order should you buy on line, there's no minimum at the Post Office branch, so check out the nearest Post Office with a Bureaux de Change facility. There rates are generally pretty good and I was able to instantly obtain the US Dollars that I required. Though for purchases using a debit card you will have to take a passport with you as identification.

Do not forget to sort out travel/health insurance before you go. 

They tried to take WHAT on the flight?

 Following a recent survey of Virgin Atlantic check in staff at airports worldwide, Virgin Atlantic have discovered the strangest items passengers have attempted to check in when flying to one of our 32 destinations.   

The survey revealed items such as the lady who had her family carry her bath tub through the airport at JFK expecting the item to be checked in, it wasn’t even wrapped or packaged, she just turned up with it at the check in desk!

From a giant wheel of cheese to a car engine, the survey revealed the strangest items that turn up at Virgin Atlantic check in desks around the world.

1)      A pet tarantula hidden in a lady’s coat at JFK airport.

2)      A dead cow wrapped in plastic at JFK airport.

3)      A bag of cutlery previously stolen from a Virgin Atlantic flight at Delhi airport.

4)      A couple who fell in love on the island of Grenada decided to try and check in a bag full of sand, sea and water as a memory from the island they met and fell in love on.

5)      A bag of soil and coconut trees at Grenada airport.

 Greg Dawson, Director of Corporate Communications commented: “ Virgin Atlantic check in staff see thousands of passengers on a daily basis but every now and then, a passenger will arrive at check in with something you would never expect – it certainly brightens up their day.”

Virgin Atlantic flies to 32 destinations worldwide including New York, Boston, Washington DC, Miami, San Francisco & Los Angeles, Delhi, Shanghai, Tokyo, Dubai, Lagos and Nairobi as well as many Caribbean destinations.

To book a flight with Virgin Atlantic, log onto www.virginatlantic.com or call 0844 20 92 770 in the UK.