Bad form?

minitour said:
Not sure why the Signature-hate. We get great gas prices (Paid $3.41/gal yesterday), great service (free GPU, up front parking, mmmmm popcorn) and don't pay facility or ramp fees.

You guys need to negotiate better.

...and yes, bad form.

-mini
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dbrault17 said:
...and cargo guys, no matter how much fuel you buy from them
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Signature has earned their reputation in the freight dawg world by the way some FBO's have treated fregiht pilots. Unfortunately, the bad ones get remembered more than the good ones. I have had 1 or 2 signature's FBO treat me well.

Now Atlantic Aviation doesn't care who you are they always have given me outstanding service.

In regards to using the FBO while traveling via car, I probably wouldn't do it unless your airline uses that specifc FO a lot and then I would still ask them. If you don't freqent the FBO a lot then forget it entirely.
 
Heheh. This reminds me of this time when I was 16 and just got my license, long before I realized that normal people can fly planes. I lived about four minutes from APA, one night when I was bored, drove over for some reason to look at the plane stuff. Somehow I ended up in the Denver jetCenter pilot lounge, which soon thereafter became my hangout place -- free coffee, free popcorn, couches, TV, magazines, people with funny clothes that had stripes on them. I started to bring my friends. It was great.

Then I got kicked out. I went next door to Signature, and life went on happy for me.
 
Douglas said:
They charged me (I mean company...but still pissed me off and did a little rant) $76 bucks in STL just to drop off a box and leave. I don't have much experience with them, but I'm going to avoid them like the plague from now on. Thanks for the $76 dollar chocking.
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I'm sure This won't be a popular post.... But

That $76 is just the cost of your company doing business. As you said, it wasn't your money so why take it so personal? The FBO takes on responsibilities and risks for you using their ramp. It is a business. They are trying to make money. Or buy $76 worth of fuel. But for that $76 bones you better get the best service on the field.

To the OP.... I say go for it. Use their services. They want you to. Just buy some fuel sometime soon.
 
Because some people want to try to help prevent their company from being gouged. Keep BS costs like that low theres more to pay me raises with. (Theoretically.)
 
kiloalpha said:
Pretty much.

Don't abuse the system... which is why we shell out $6 a gallon for gas at these places.

Although Signature is an exception... you have my blessing to use them.
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Their lineguys pulled the lav handle after servicing it, and didn't drain it as a joke, on one of our base tenants.

They are forever banned.

And yes, bad form.
 
In Opa-Locka they use to have a cool self service fuel and parking area. One time during Thanksgiving I was parked at Flightline and they run out of fuel, which I paid for to get free service. I got the money back but no fuel, a pilot flying to Bimini told my about this place. After that I always parked there, they had security too. I checked AirNAV and it`s gone.....sad.
 
Krieger said:
I'm sure This won't be a popular post.... But

That $76 is just the cost of your company doing business. As you said, it wasn't your money so why take it so personal? The FBO takes on responsibilities and risks for you using their ramp. It is a business. They are trying to make money. Or buy $76 worth of fuel. But for that $76 bones you better get the best service on the field.
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I don't have a problem with a modest "ramp fee" if you don't buy any gas, waived with a minimum amount of fuel and/or a top off. That facility cost a lot of money to lease and operate, I get that. 20 bucks for a quick in and out is not a unreasonable charge.

However many Signature locations has gone WAY beyond "reasonable", and seem to be actively trying to run off small piston GA airplanes. The airports where they are the only FBO on the field are the worst, it's almost as if they resent having to deal with AvGas. 50$ ramp fee, 20$ security charge, none of it waived if you buy their expensive gas.


In fairness, I got great treatment from their AUS facility last weekend. Like I said the bad apples are actually few and far between, but enough that I will still avoid them if I have a choice.
 
Krieger said:
I'm sure This won't be a popular post.... But

That $76 is just the cost of your company doing business. As you said, it wasn't your money so why take it so personal? The FBO takes on responsibilities and risks for you using their ramp. It is a business. They are trying to make money. Or buy $76 worth of fuel. But for that $76 bones you better get the best service on the field.

To the OP.... I say go for it. Use their services. They want you to. Just buy some fuel sometime soon.
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:deadhorse:
There are some FBO's out there that are just out to gouge every operator they can and it is BS. I am so sick of seeing several thousand dollar loading and ramp fees for loading and going when they don't even touch the freight other than with a forklift that they can't drive. I don't know why FBO's can't just charge a reasonable fee and give a reasonable amount of service.
:soapbox:
 
Bandit_Driver said:
:deadhorse:
There are some FBO's out there that are just out to gouge every operator they can and it is BS. I am so sick of seeing several thousand dollar loading and ramp fees for loading and going when they don't even touch the freight other than with a forklift that they can't drive. I don't know why FBO's can't just charge a reasonable fee and give a reasonable amount of service.
:soapbox:
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gotta pay for those flat screens, recliners, cookies, and pop corn somehow.
 
cmill said:
gotta pay for those flat screens, recliners, cookies, and pop corn somehow.
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Come on, there's a fair price and then there is stupid. Atlantic is one of the nicest FBO's I've seen and they charge normal prices...IMO some many place forget the repeat customer. Treat em right the first time and they'll be back. Treat em wrong and they'll avoid the chain like the plague.
 
Bandit_Driver said:
Come on, there's a fair price and then there is stupid. Atlantic is one of the nicest FBO's I've seen and they charge normal prices...IMO some many place forget the repeat customer. Treat em right the first time and they'll be back. Treat em wrong and they'll avoid the chain like the plague.
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yeah, i think it really depends on the field. At MSY atlantic and signature are right next to eachother and atlantic charges 40 dollars more than sig.

We had to go to jackson int'l for a while, where atlantic is the only place on the field, and the manager flat out told us he didnt want our planes on the ramp.
 
cmill said:
gotta pay for those flat screens, recliners, cookies, and pop corn somehow.
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cmill said:
yeah, i think it really depends on the field. At MSY atlantic and signature are right next to eachother and atlantic charges 40 dollars more than sig.

We had to go to jackson int'l for a while, where atlantic is the only place on the field, and the manager flat out told us he didnt want our planes on the ramp.
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Damn, that is just wrong. I am truly suprised to hear that Sig was lower. I've been at AA in SDF, ONT, and CHS and have had stellar service and fair rates.
 
All of them are hit or miss at times, but I've had very few bad experiences with Atlantic. Special mention to Bud the night manager at ATL...that guy is a hero.

Also, they have a nice little briber...er "awards" program, although I hear it used to be much better.
 
The Signature in MCO has treated me very well. It may be because they see me so often and I'm on a first name basis with most of the employees, but they usually have me fueled, GPU connected, and ready to go within 15 minutes after landing.

FTY signature? Not so much! They have gotten better though. The service is slow. They know that I'm only going to be there ten minutes and yet I have walk over to the FBO and get line guys to start me everytime. We fly into their often enough where they should know the drill.

SDF Atlantic treats us well also. I usually drive down from Cinci and park at Atlantic (my company rents hangar space from them) and get a ride over to the terminal whenever I jumpseat on SWA.

CHS Atlantic is also really good.

Honestly I have mixed reviews with all the FBO's. Determining fuel cost, ramp fees, and loading charges are outside of my pay grade.:D
 
I was at Milion Air in VCV and SBD today, and I must say, VERY NICE! Theatre rooms, Starbucks freshly brewed, complimentary chapstick, BMW crew car for around town stuff at SBD, full compliment of snacks and a soda fountain at SBD. Very nice places to relax for a few while waiting on people.
 
Krieger said:
Or buy $76 worth of fuel. But for that $76 bones you better get the best service on the field.
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I'm a pretty reasonable guy and I am more than willing to pay the right price.
The rant came after he wouldn't wave it if I topped off. I didn't have room to put i their minimum twin engine gallon requirement...I was going to nearly meet the requirement but still no dice.
 
The Signature at HXD airport (Hilton head, SC) is actually pretty nice as far as Signatures go. They give me free sodas, or they did.
 
Wow. I lit a fuse on a powder keg here. I just this as a poke of fun, what one would feel like doing, I have yet to take advantage of an FBO when I am not flying. But the thought crossed my mind once or twice.
 
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