The hardest part of being a corporate pilot...

ZapBrannigan

ZapBrannigan

If it ain’t a Boeing, I’m not going. No choice.
... Is finding hotels a few steps up from those where airline management puts their crews... and staying in budget. I literally spend more time doing that than I do flight planning. (sigh)
 
www.hotwire.com has worked great for us in pricey places. We got water front rooms at the W in FLL for $130 a night on a MLK weekend. The same weekend the Hampton 10 miles inland was $160 a night.

Alex.
 
Really? I always had good luck with Marriott as my main source, with Hilton as a backup. We stayed in some pretty BFE places, and usually found something with those two. Barring that, I'd call the FBO and see what they had.

Incidentally, I stay in some pretty nice places at my regional. Definitely in par with what I usually stayed at in corporate... Often full service Marriott/Hilton, Courtyards, Doubletrees, etc. Hell, a couple of our properties are full on resort hotels (MRY, CRQ, etc.).
 
Our budget can often be a challenge. Marriotts are rarely in budget (other than Fairfields). I put the time in on Trip Advisor, Yelp, and looking at distance to the airport, restaurants and entertainment nearby. Saving money while still finding safe, comfortable, quiet lodging for the crew is part of the job.
 
Things must have improved since i was airline. i spent many a night at the "Dayton Airport Inn", the "Econolodge Elmira", and many and varied LaQuintas...
 
We are extremely lucky in that regard. We stay pretty much wherever we want, but typically keep it to the Marriott/Hilton brands hotels. The funny thing I noticed however is that I usually prefer a Courtyard Marriott over a full service Marriott due to the amenities at the Courtyards. I had a 6:30 AM show this morning at a full service Marriott in Chicago today and they told me no breakfast was available until 6:30, not even a cup of coffee....the courtyards at least have the market and breakfast starting at 5:30.
 
I try to stay with Marriotts, I have the Marriott Visa (we get reimbursed) and HOLY POINTS, in 3 months since Ive gotten the card im over 100,000 points, plus 2 free nights. As for finding a good rate with Marriott call their reservation line, and ask for a travel industry or flight crew rate. a few weeks ago we got a full service Marriott in Houston for the low price of $85! Which is a steal for that, but for the most part Full Service ones have been running around $120 a night by calling them directly and negotiating the rate.
 
I've had mixed (but sometimes good) luck just saying that I'd like to stay there, but my company will only pay X, otherwise I'll be staying down the street.
 
ZapBrannigan said:
That's intriguing, what do you say?
Click to expand...

I find what hotel I wanna stay at online, call Marriott reservations (not the actual hotel) give them the name/location of the hotel, say your flight crew, travel industry and need a good rate.

I would think that this is possible with other brands as well but Ive only tried it with Marriotts.
 
ZapBrannigan said:
... Is finding hotels a few steps up from those where airline management puts their crews... and staying in budget. I literally spend more time doing that than I do flight planning. (sigh)
Click to expand...

If I may ask a stupid question...why are you trying to stay somewhere different that airline crews? I can't say I notice a difference between staying at an airline hotel and my own personal hotel. We aren't exactly raising hell for everyone to see wherever we go.
 
Further up the thread I mentioned the types of hotels USAir put us in back in the day. They weren't the nicest places around. Sounds like things have changed since then so my joke is less applicable.

By the way, the rate code for travel industry on the Marriott site is TVL and the code for NetJets is EJA.

Both work and offer good rates, but I've been asked to see my travel industry credentials and/or my NetJets ID. (Of which I had neither) Wasn't turned away, but it was embarrassing!
 
I would also recommend calling your FBO. Most of the places have amazing crew rates with local Hilton/Marriott hotels. I have even called the hotel directly and asked for the "insert FBO name" rate and have been given the negotiated rate without having to go through the FBO. This comes in handy when you want to put a room in each crew members name. We are all point collectors and splitting up the rooms at check in can be a hassle for everyone. Another thing I noticed is to log into the Marriott/Hilton sites periodically and look for promotions. Marriott is running a mega-bonus promotion right now, where every 2 nights you stay, you get a free night certificate. This goes automatically into your account and can be used for a year.
 
Yes! Already got 2 nights free at the Residence Inn near Port Canaveral in advance of our family cruise vacation later this year. Great promotion!
 
It's funny how our owner will spend thousands upon thousands of dollars operating the airplane, but will complain about 20 extra dollars than he's used to on a hotel room.
 
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