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How Air Taxi works: In this 2 minute overview, we showcase the ease and convenience of using an air charter / air taxi service.

Why Air Charter Flights? How Air Taxi works

Air Charter can be a confusing array of choices to newcomers. How Air Taxi works: Our charter flights offer a safe, reliable, and affordable alternative to commercial air travel for yourself or your small group. Imagine replacing hours of driving or airline travel with a private charter. You get to relax or work in a private aircraft with no crowds, no delays, and no hassles whatsoever.

Moreover, by the time you drive to your nearest commercial airport, get through security, and wait for your flight, you could already be arriving at your destination with our charter flights!

There are hundreds of airports where commercial airlines can’t land – airports that are located closer to your home and destination. Many times, people don’t even realize there is a General Aviation airport nearby. With charter flights, you can put that infrastructure to work for you. You can take multiple leg trips in one day and still arrive home in time for dinner, which is an impossible task for standard flights given the airline hub-and-spoke system and schedules.

For small groups of one to three passengers, you can’t beat the value and convenience of a private charter flight. Importantly, you don’t waste time on the road and sitting in big airports. Instead, you gain more time for actually doing business and more time at home, too.

The difference is clear. Fly a straight shot to your destination absent of crowds and security hassles.

How Air Taxi Charter Flights Work

On the day of your trip, you’ll drive right up to the airplane. Your air taxi pilot will help with your luggage, and you’ll be on your way in less than 15 minutes. No crowds, delays, or security line. You can keep your shoes on and forget about the body scanner.

Depart on your schedule from an airport closer to your home or business. Arrive in style at a local airport (one that the airlines have never heard of) that is closer to your destination.

While on one of our charter flights, you can work, read, relax, sleep, or sit up front and watch your pilot. Plug your laptop or electronic devices into the plane’s power and audio systems. Or you can simply gaze out the window. We are lucky to have some of the most beautiful scenery in the country around here!

Schedule changes? No problem! Once your trip is booked, you can call dispatch to make changes. This is your trip! It will remain customized for you.

Once you’re on the ground, most small airports have rental car arrangements. We can also arrange to have a taxi or ride sharing service waiting for you upon arrival.

QuikCharter Advantages

Unlike a traditional jet charter, we charge by the trip, not by the hour. We guarantee pricing at the time you book. You are chartering the entire aircraft. The price is the same whether it’s just you or up to three total passengers (depending on weight of passengers + luggage).

Imagine the time you’ll save by not having to deal with the crowds at major airports and extended airline delays. We fly to any of hundreds of airports in the Western United States that are not served by any commercial airline.

Air Charter Flight Safety

QuikCharter is an air carrier authorized and monitored by the FAA. Our aircraft and pilots are subject to the same standards and testing as the commercial airlines are.

You can fly with confidence knowing that your pilot has thousands of hours of experience and complies with commercial airline pilot requirements. Pilots are tested and approved for FAA Part 135 air charter operations in VFR and IFR weather conditions every six months.

How Air Charter Works: Sample Aircraft

The Piper Meridian boasts turboprop reliability and the ability to get through more challenging weather. It features a pressurized cabin for 1-4 people. Choose the Meridian to fly higher, farther, and faster.

The Cirrus SR22 is ideal for shorter hops with 1-3 people.  The aircraft is a single engine, four-seat propeller airplane perhaps best known for being equipped with the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS), an emergency parachute capable of lowering the entire aircraft and occupants to the ground in an emergency.

Short-Hop Business Flights

Our charter flights are perfect for short-hop business trips wherever you travel for work. Firstly, you enjoy the efficiency and convenience of a personal plane without the extravagant cost of owning a private jet. Secondly, since you are hiring the entire plane, bringing colleagues lowers your average cost per passenger. In doing so, you quickly see the benefits of chartering a plane over business class and coach airline fares.

On Demand, On Your Schedule

Catch your flight at the exact time you want it. Forget the hassle of leaving the day before and staying in a hotel to ensure you make that breakfast meeting. Simply schedule an early-morning charter flight and be back in your office that afternoon. Alternatively, you can take multiple same-day flights and meet face-to-face with several remote clients. Because you control the flight schedule, you can pack more actual work time into your business travel day and still be home for dinner.

Unlock Thousands of Regional Airports

Spend less time in airports. Sure, you can depart from a major airport, but the power of charter flights is in their access to regional airports. Meet your plane at an executive terminal with easy, free parking right on site. Most will valet your car at no cost. No lines, no gates to get in the way of flying. Simply drive up 15 minutes before departure, meet your pilot, and take off.

Maximize Performance

Flying commercial means hours of productivity sucked out of your day. The minutes you spend looking for parking, walking to the terminal, waiting in security lines, waiting at gates, boarding by zone, and then disembarking en masse add up to hours of empty time. But with a charter flight, door-to-door travel time is primarily spent flying. No aggravating waits. No costly hotel rooms and extra meals on the road. You pack maximum performance into your work day and relax longer at home.

In conclusion that’s a summary of how Air Taxi works in general. Please feel free to Contact us for more information or to obtain a quote, or visit the QuikCharter home page.

Our most popular inquiries surround pricing guidelines for Air Taxi flights. A lot of variables contribute to a trip’s total price, including aircraft repositioning, pilot waiting time, overnight expenses, and possible large-airport landing fees, just to name a few. So instead of quoting an hourly rate (which doesn’t paint the whole picture), we instead quote a fixed price for our air taxi that is customized to your trip so that there aren’t any surprises later.

No matter which cost variables apply to your trip profile, we’ll quote a competitive price and stick to it. In many situations, we will even suggest small changes to bring your cost down.

Currently QuikCharter serves California and the western United States with a Cirrus SR22 and a Piper Meridian. Let us know how we can assist you by contacting us for a fast quote.

Trip Types: Air Charter Pricing Guidelines

One Way

Quick point-to-point air taxi
– local airports
– fly direct
– no waiting
– no hassles

Same Day Round Trip

Your airplane for a day
– pilot & aircraft wait on location
– depart exactly when you’re ready

Round Trip

Return on a different day
– aircraft returns on your pick-up date
– schedule change flexibility

Multiple Legs

Same or different day
– offers maximum customization

Enjoy Flying Again

Now that you understand the types of trips and how pricing guidelines for Air Taxi flights are determined… Relax and enjoy the benefits of an air taxi. It’s all about flying on your schedule, in your own plane, to and from regional airports away from the crowds, without the extravagance of private jet charter.

As a licensed charter operator and member of NBAA, we serve California and the western United States with a Cirrus SR22 and a Piper Meridian. We are happy to assist with answering your questions – please let us know how we can assist by contacting us for a fast quote. We look forward to speaking with you.

Depart on your schedule from an airport closer to your home or business. Arrive in style at a local airport (one that the airlines have never heard of) that is closer to your destination.

QuikCharter is a licensed Air Carrier and member of NBAA. Contact us for any questions and to get a quick quote here.

Our private charter flights – air taxi destinations are available in California and the western USA in our safe and reliable aircraft. This map shows example destinations with approximate flying times. If your destination is in a state shown on this map, we can get you there without airline hassles. Secondly, our private charter flights are usually non-stop to a municipal airport very close to where you’re trying to go.

Please contact us with any questions and to obtain a quote.

Aircraft Choices and Sample Destinations
with Flight Times from the Bay Area

The Cirrus SR22 is by far the most economical choice in Air Charter. Based in San Jose, you can fly a straight line to your destination among thousands of public-use airports throughout the west.  Sample cities and travel time are shown here:

Turboprop Air Taxi – Piper Meridian based at SJC

Our turboprop aircraft is the best turbine value in the Bay Area. Fly faster and higher (above most weather) in pressurized comfort. Sure, the turboprop is more costly to hire but the speed, comfort, and weather capability make this a great value in the air charter world. Here’s the same map showing the same Air Taxi destinations the speed difference vs. the Cirrus above:

For small groups of one to three passengers, you can’t beat the value and convenience of a private charter flight. As a result, you don’t waste time on the road and sitting in big airports. Instead, you gain more time for actually doing business and more time at home, too. Imagine the time you’ll save by not having to deal with the crowds at major airports and extended airline delays. Moreover, we fly to any of hundreds of airports in the Western United States that are not served by any commercial airline.

QuikCharter is a licensed charter operator and a member of NBAA. Please contact us with any questions and to obtain a quote.

When you decide to fly charter for either personal or business reasons, doing your homework to make sure the company is legal is important. If, for example, you contact two companies with similar aircrafts and one gives you a quote with a price that is significantly lower than the other company, this may raise a red flag for you. Here are some signs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has put together to look for to determine if the company you are interested in chartering a plane with is a legal operation.

Red Flags

According to the FAA:

• “If the company provides the aircraft and at least one crewmember, yet attempts to transfer operational control to a consumer via any document.
• “A lack of Federal Excise Tax charged to the consumer. Legitimate operators have to charge this. If the price is too good to be true, it probably is.
• “A lack of a safety briefing or passenger briefing cards.
•  “Any evasiveness to questions or concerns. Legitimate operators should be transparent and helpful.
•  “If the pilot or someone associated with the company coaches passengers on what to say or do if an FAA aviation inspector meets the aircraft at its destination.”

Ways to Identify a Legal Operation

Legal operators should provide you with complete transparency. If you ask them to see a copy of their Part 135 certification, they should readily provide it to you. Another thing you can ask for is the charter operator’s insurance certificate, which they should readily provide you with. You can also ask for verification that the aircraft they will be using for your flight is authorized for charter use. Sometimes, an illegal operation will have one aircraft that is certified and insured but have other aircrafts they use that are not certified.  

However, if the airline gives you an excuse about not having the documents available, they are most likely operating illegally.

When you decide to book a charter flight, make sure you take the time to ensure it is legal beforehand, there are some dangers linked to flying with a pilot who is not properly licensed.

Importance of a Legal Operation

A pilot who is Part 135 certified has to go through rigorous and regular training, and they have to have a higher level of training than commercial pilots. A pilot certified under Part 135 is required to have at least 1,200 hours of flight time. They are also subject to random drug and alcohol testing.

Any aircraft under Part 135 has to be maintained under strict guidelines by people who are highly trained in the field, to ensure quality and safety standards are met.

These strict standards are put in place to ensure the safety of the passengers as well as the personnel operating the aircraft.

What to do if You Suspect an Operation is Illegal

The FAA offers five different options for where you can report an operation you think is illegal.

•  FAA Hotline
•   Flight Standards District Offices
•   Illegal Charter Hotline
• National Air Transportation Association
• 1-888-SKY-FLT1 or 1-888-750-3581

References

“Safe Air Charter Operations.” Federal Aviation Administration, 22 May 2020, www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/safe_charter_operations/.

QuikCharter is a licensed Air Taxi in San Jose, California. Contact us with any questions and to get a quick quote.

Did You Know?

Companies needing to reach multiple destinations in a single day rely on business aviation. This type of itinerary is often impossible to keep using other modes of transportation. When using a business airplane, employees can meet, plan, work en route and discuss proprietary information in a secure environment and without fear of eavesdropping. Examples are everywhere showing how companies are using business aviation to compete and succeed in a very demanding marketplace. You can learn more about the many ways business aviation benefits the nation’s economy and companies of all sizes, all across the U.S., visit NoPlaneNoGain.org.

If you have any questions and when you’re ready to book your first charter flight, please don’t hesitate to contact us for a quick quote!

Private Charters Have Spiked Amid Covid.

A new flier profile has emerged in the last six months: Individuals who used to fly commercially are now chartering private airplanes for personal travel. Coronavirus has shaped private aviation in unexpected ways, creating new programs that make private flight more efficient and affordable.

A safety bubble that extends from your home to your aircraft. An air taxi or light jet that offers social distancing and safe passage at a fraction of the cost of most jet charter flights.

At QuikCharter, we’ve been working to find the combination of factors that will make private aviation as simple as possible, and we think we’ve got a pretty good start.

Please contact us to find out more on how we can solve your regional travel needs around California, or just get a fast quote. We’re ready to help!

Journalism credit to Robb Report

Flying privately eliminates as many as 680 “person-to-person touch points” rather than traveling by commercial airline — potentially reducing the chances of contracting the coronavirus leading to COVID-19, according to private charter brokers.

Private aviation offers terminals with significantly fewer people in them, less idle time, no shopping areas or restaurants, no ticket agents, boarding passes, kiosk machines, baggage handlers or lines to check bags. In addition, private terminals are able to be cleaned and disinfected more thoroughly and frequently and the aircraft have fewer or no other passengers on them.

The airlines have canceled thousands of routes as a result of the pandemic, making it more difficult or impossible to reach certain destinations. The time a passenger spends on board a commercial flight could increase dramatically as new health measures are introduced by the airlines and at airports.

Read the full article in Aviation Week.

Chartering a private airplane for is no longer just for the Fortune 500 companies, it has become a more accessible way to travel for smaller businesses too. However, even a smaller business that has a plane likely only grants access to specific people in certain positions in the company. This means that you can use the company’s charter plane as an incentive in your company. Here are some of the benefits of how using private airplane charters as an incentive in your business can be beneficial to your company.

Employee Rewards

One of the best ways to use an airplane charter as an incentive for your employees is to use it as a way to reward employees for certain things. One study found that there was a 22 percent increase in employee performance after a new incentive program was implemented and after six months it rose to between 44 and 48 percent.

Employees want recognition for the hard work they put into a job, so offering an incentive program like this shows that you see the work they put into their job every day. This can boost employee morale.

You can even make a special incentive that gives the employee the plane for personal use and you put them up in a nice hotel for the night, potentially with a nice dinner and a show. Give them the opportunity of a lifetime. Making your employees feel that special is something that truly shows you see what they do, especially if it is a lower-ranking employee.

Time Saver

If those in your company often have to travel for work, offering them a charter plane is a good way to save time and boost your productivity. Think about it. When you need to fly somewhere, you have to arrive at the airport long before your flight to wait at the ticket counter and get through security. Plus, you are operating on the airline’s schedule. Going to meetings in two different cities or states in a single day is difficult, if not impossible when flying commercial. However, with a charter flight, it is doable, and you can be home in time for dinner.

Safety

Private planes also tend to be safer than commercial planes, since you have control over what and who is on the flight. Also, with the Coronavirus pandemic, a commercial airline will expose someone to more touchpoints than a private plane does. This shows your employees who need to travel right now that you care about their health and safety, and it will help decrease somewhat the risk of their exposure to the virus.

Conclusion

These are just some of the benefits of using a private plane as an incentive for your employees. All of these bring us back to one simple thing: showing your employees you care and you see what they do every day. While you may not have thought about chartering a private plane for your business before, you may want to consider it, because there are numerous advantages to using one.

References

“Award Program Value & Evidence Study.” Award Program Value & Evidence Study | Research | The Incentive Research Foundation, theirf.org/research/award-program-value-evidence-study/2437/.

You may think that in order to buy a plane for your business you need to be a huge corporation and you need a large, fancy jet. But that is not the case! There are thousands of small businesses and entrepreneurs who have a small aircraft for business travel.

You may be thinking to yourself, “why do I need a small plane for my business? I can just use commercial flights to get around.” Here are a few reasons why your small business could benefit from owning a small plane.

Saves Time and Money

Think about your last few business trips. How much time did you spend waiting? You had to check-in at the ticket counter, go through security, wait for boarding and exiting, and wait to pick up your luggage, if you had any. Plus, the person sitting behind you keeps kicking your seat, so you cannot relax and enjoy your flight.

If your business had a plane, you could just drive up to the tarmac 15 or so minutes before your flight, go directly where you need to be, and not have to wait around. You could potentially visit multiple cities in a single day for meetings and be home in time for dinner. You could potentially save money since you do not have to pay for as many hotel rooms when you fly this way.

If there is an emergency that you need to fly to right away, you do not have to scramble to find an airline that has an empty seat left, pay a larger fee for it, and then wait for hours before you can actually leave.

Productivity

It can be difficult to get much work done when you are on a commercial flight because there is so much going on around you that it is difficult to focus. You cannot work on anything sensitive since there are so many people around you.

On a private plane, there are no other people to distract you, so you can work in peace and go over sensitive information without risking security.

Easier to Get to Smaller Airports

There are hundreds — if not thousands — of tiny airports in the country that commercial airlines do not go to, so you have to rent a car and drive from the nearest big city. A small private plane can fly you to these small airports, significantly reducing your travel time.

Bring the Family Along

When you fly commercial, you may not be able to bring the family if there are no seats available. With a private plane, you can bring them with you for your trip; the dog can even come with you without the headache of taking your pup on a commercial flight. This also allows you to combine business with pleasure; you can take the family along, attend your meeting, and then spend the day enjoying the town you are in. You can explore a lot of cities this way.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the perks you can enjoy when you have a small plane for your business. It may not be a luxury jumbo jet, but it will get you where you need to go with less time and energy.

As it is with adults, some children love flying and others find it terrifying. It is a fairly common scene in an airport and on a commercial flight to see a child throwing a tantrum about having to go on the plane. They can scream, kick the seat in front of them, slip out of their seatbelts, and run around, and some may even get sick from fear. This is an embarrassing and frustrating scene for the parents.

Flying in a smaller plane or an air taxi is a good way to provide some privacy and possibly avoid some embarrassment for the parents. These tips can help you prepare your child for flying in an air taxi that might make the trip more enjoyable for you and your kids.

Packing

You are probably going to be tempted to pack everything your kids use regularly at home, to be sure they have their favorite toys and you are fully prepared for your trip. This seems like a great idea, but it really is not practical.

Instead, give them a little backpack of their own and let them pack the toys and books they want to have with them. It will have to be light enough for them to carry, so it will not get overloaded with everything. If there is a special candy they love, slip some of that in before the flight as a surprise for them when they open their bag during the flight. If there is a special toy or book they have been wanting, you can sneak it into their bag too, as a surprise for the flight.

Bring gum, suckers, and/or hard candy, it can help them cope with their ears popping. Try to explain to them what is happening, if they are old enough, it might make the experience less scary for them.

Basic Medication

It is a good idea to travel with some basic medications in case someone gets sick or is already sick before the flight. Some medications you may want to bring are for headaches, allergies,  upset stomachs, motion sickness prevention, and possibly — depending on the situation and your child — something to help them sleep. If they are sick they are not going to enjoy the trip anyway, so giving them something that will help them sleep during the flight is always a good idea.

If your child is angry or upset, it is not recommended to give them a sedative. It will not negate their fears of being on the plane and it might end up making the flight even more difficult for you. Try to work with them through their fear and prepare them mentally instead of giving them a sedative.

Mental Preparation

Whether your child has a fear of flying or has never been on a plane before, take time to prepare them mentally for the trip. Teach them “air taxi manners,” to help with their potential behavior. These manners can include things like no running, keep your shoes and socks on, do not throw things, and other things you might anticipate your child needing to know. You can try telling them that air taxi manners are controlled by the “air police,” if you think that will work on your child.

Final Thoughts

Try to avoid scolding your child during the flight; this will often make their behavior worse. Try to distract them with whatever activities you packed — coloring books, movies, books, puzzles, etc — to keep them calm. This may not work on every child, but it is worth trying.