Group and Event Travel Planning - Anyone have experience/advice on booking a charter for 150 people

My kids dance troupe has been selected to dance in New York City. It will be an experience of a lifetime. I've been selected to make the travel arrangements for 50 kids and about 100 parents/siblings. I'm thinking about a charter flight. Does anyone here have any experience with these? Is it better to just book a commercial flight?

Thanks

No, I have no experience, but I would not book a regular flight (chances are that would involve multiple flights since one rarely finds 150 empty seats on any flight). I would call an airline such as Frontier or Jetblue and see what they have to say.

FT actually has a "Group and Event Planning" forum that might be the better venue for such a query. It's in the Special Interest section.

So we do.

OK, this thread can join the other charter request there.

And being a UA/CO flyer I know for a fact that they charter, so you can always check with them. They also have a Group travel (http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/products/groups/default.aspx)FT actually has a "Group and Event Planning" forum section on their web site.

EmailKid
Budget Travel moderator

With that many people there's bound for something to go wrong and if you're the point guy it all falls on you. Best for your sanity to work with a travel agent.

In the event of delays or flight cancellations, a travel agent can get everyone rebooked faster than you can.

While we love the internet, go with a local travel agent who has large group experience.

You could also try charterhub.com if you are still looking. You can enter your info and request a quote.