I'm looking to take a small group 12-14 people to a location about two air hours away. We need scheduling flexibility because the return date is not certain - It may be pushed back days or even a week. I am thinking a private charter might be able to accommodate this at a price that may end up being not much more than first or business class fully-refundable tickets for the same number of people on a commercial airline (where trying to rebook the return leg at the last minute for a dozen people would probably be a nightmare, anyway.)

The departure/arrival conveniences of the charter as well as avoiding TSA groping would be a nice bonus!

Where do I go to find reputable air charter companies and what should I be looking for? Is this something for which a really good business travel agent would be essential?

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Charter a bus?

Where are you located and where are you going?

If the geography works, you might check out these folks.

Jetsuite

google & call the operators....

what are the dep & arr airports?

2 air hours by jet or prop?

good luck...

I cannot help but interpret the "two hours" in surface travel distance, and with the uncertain return date, suspect that an air charter will be high priced, higher than all sorts of alternatives. Personally, I'd opt for a charter bus company as a viable and more cost-effective alternative, especially with an "open" return which will actually price out based on four instead of two legs (hidden or obvious). Counting the airport evolutions involved, even the time span involved may be closer to the same than seems likely.

It varies company to company, but I would expect to pay near 10,000 in total. That may infact be a lower price than if you put all 14 people in business or first class.

However, that many people cannot fit into a standard Cessna Citation or Lear 45. You would need a bigger aircraft like a Gulfstream and may end up paying more than 10k.

Also be aware the hourly rate is just the starting point. There will be fuel surcharges, landing fees, facility fees, repositioning fees, and other costs added on. Depending on the company, there are also minimum hours although 2 air hours is typical.

I'm not sure why people recommend a bus. 11-14 hours of bus one way, for a group of people that would fly business/first (executives in training I believe) ?

To reduce cost, and pay only one positionning flight each way, I would first start by looking at charter companies based at your origin or destination. Call both airports to get a list... If you don't need a Gulfstream, there are turboprops from some regional companies that can be had for a reasonnable amount of money. Cessna Grand Caravan comes to mind.

In all honesty "NODENUFINFO" (Not enough Information).....

Re-reading (Mea Culpa!) to establish "air hours" distance provides a more definitive set of parameters. ARR/DEP airport and eventual destination might make a suggestion more realistic and cost effective. The uncertain return date throws a wrench into the entire "travel plan", and opens the alternative of "full price" (with revisable sked) fares on commercial carriers (even to an alternate airport close to your eventual destination)as stll less expensive and complex than a charter.