Do the big airlines do charters?

[ozone]

I’m in a group of 400 people from MN who are all going on a trip to Europe this summer. The travel agency put us on (what seems to me) to be a crazy flight plan: We leave MSP at 6am, Goto Houston, then fly to London at 5pm Houston time.
The way back is similarly crazy in that we take multiple buses to Munich, then to Boston, and Back to MSP.

I was wondering, for a group this large, if there was a less crazy ( even cheaper), way to charter a plane from MSP direct to London and then do the same for the Munich to MSP trip back.

I’m surprised there isn’t a business model for this type of flight. The group is the ambassadors of music program, and they do this type of trip for almost all 50 states…every summer.

 

[ASpilot2be]

Atlas charters 747s.

 

[luke3]

Delta does it all the time, and from MSP they might be your best bet

Delta Charters | Delta Air Lines

Delta has a number of charter options to fit the needs of teams or a group of business professionals.

www.delta.com

 

[scooter2525]

Atlas charters 747s.

“Todays adventure is flying in your travel pod…”

 

[Roger Roger]

Sun Country does a lot of exactly this IIRC but with 400 peeps you’d be looking at 3 737s.

 

[CFIT99]

I believe all the big 3 do charters

Flew the TCU football team last year, it’s a nice change of pace

 

[derg]

I’m in a group of 400 people from MN who are all going on a trip to Europe this summer. The travel agency put us on (what seems to me) to be a crazy flight plan: We leave MSP at 6am, Goto Houston, then fly to London at 5pm Houston time.
The way back is similarly crazy in that we take multiple buses to Munich, then to Boston, and Back to MSP.

I was wondering, for a group this large, if there was a less crazy ( even cheaper), way to charter a plane from MSP direct to London and then do the same for the Munich to MSP trip back.

I’m surprised there isn’t a business model for this type of flight. The group is the ambassadors of music program, and they do this type of trip for almost all 50 states…every summer.

I’ve flown quite a few charters, yes. Most airlines have a charter department that you would have to contact directly.

 

[mightynimbus]

I would not be caught dead around 400 people that I know,
actually being dead is the only chance that might happen

 

[Polar742]

I’m in a group of 400 people from MN who are all going on a trip to Europe this summer. The travel agency put us on (what seems to me) to be a crazy flight plan: We leave MSP at 6am, Goto Houston, then fly to London at 5pm Houston time.
The way back is similarly crazy in that we take multiple buses to Munich, then to Boston, and Back to MSP.

I was wondering, for a group this large, if there was a less crazy ( even cheaper), way to charter a plane from MSP direct to London and then do the same for the Munich to MSP trip back.

I’m surprised there isn’t a business model for this type of flight. The group is the ambassadors of music program, and they do this type of trip for almost all 50 states…every summer.

What @ASpilot2be said. 2 74s can accommodate that size. The agency can just contact via the web.

 

[Hiboglossi]

Since you're going to the UK, I wonder if chartering a British Airways A380 would be an option? They apparently have 469 seats so you could accommodate everyone on 1 flight.

 

[cmac88]

So I'm more curious then anything but is everyone travelling at exactly the same time? I can't even imagine the complexity of figuring that out.

 

[knot4u]

Since you're going to the UK, I wonder if chartering a British Airways A380 would be an option? They apparently have 469 seats so you could accommodate everyone on 1 flight.

If your going to charter a plane do you want to ride in economy class? Who gets to ride in first?

 

[tcco94]

Do we do sports charters and other events? Yes. Do we charter specific one off requests like a group event? No idea. I mean we did just let a captain charter a 330 for his retirement so I’d venture to guess, yes for the right price. Lol

 

[ozone]

If your going to charter a plane do you want to ride in economy class? Who gets to ride in first?

Clearly, the parents and the chaperones. The kids can enjoy the cheap seats.

 

[ozone]

Do we do sports charters and other events? Yes. Do we charter specific one off requests like a group event? No idea. I mean we did just let a captain charter a 330 for his retirement so I’d venture to guess, yes for the right price. Lol

Is the “right price” ever cheaper than a regularly scheduled part 121 flight?

 

[tcco94]

Is the “right price” ever cheaper than a regularly scheduled part 121 flight?

I seriously doubt it, but no idea.

 

[greg1016]

A good travel agency would have already thought of chartering, so either they aren't good or the cost is not comparable.

 

[erice]

The one time a asked an airline charter department about that, they said they'd have to quote two round-trips, because they have to pay for the airplane and crew to get back home when they drop you off, then another round-trip to pick you up again. They won't sit at the destination waiting for you to be ready to return. It is not a way to save money ...

 

[ppragman]

D-Day 80th anniversary?

 

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

I would not be caught dead around 400 people that I know,
actually being dead is the only chance that might happen

Seriously.

There was a news article about a Delta Capt who spent 1 year’s salary to charter an A330 for his own retirement.


When I retire, it’ll be a Cherokee Six…. and I’ll still have one or two open seats.