Comments on: You’re Now Free to Book Really Expensive Flights Online http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/ Startup and Technology News Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:35:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Max http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2032955 Max Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:34:56 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2032955 I don't get it. How is the Virgin Charter experience any better than calling my broker? Based on what I have seen, I get to type everything in myself?! Has anyone actually booked on privatejets.com? Their site says they have real time availability and pricing but it sounds too good to be true. I don’t get it. How is the Virgin Charter experience any better than calling my broker? Based on what I have seen, I get to type everything in myself?! Has anyone actually booked on privatejets.com? Their site says they have real time availability and pricing but it sounds too good to be true.

]]> By: Tom Styles http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2016448 Tom Styles Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:08:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2016448 This service is currently only available for flights to and/or from the USA. International charters, are not permitted. You have to get a long way through the booking process before that is clear though. Bit of time wasted. This service is currently only available for flights to and/or from the USA. International charters, are not permitted. You have to get a long way through the booking process before that is clear though. Bit of time wasted.

]]> By: Andre Stechert http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2016311 Andre Stechert Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:32:00 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2016311 @Raskin Please accept our humblest apologies for the inconvenience and our thanks for pointing us at the problem. Fixed. @Scott PHNL will get you the airport you're looking for. Your comment will get us thinking about how to do a better job getting the right airport in front of you the first time. Thanks for taking the time to let us know. @Andy Thanks for the heads up about KCGX - we'll get this fixed ASAP. Cheers, Andre (on behalf of the team at Virgin Charter) @Raskin Please accept our humblest apologies for the inconvenience and our thanks for pointing us at the problem. Fixed.

@Scott PHNL will get you the airport you’re looking for. Your comment will get us thinking about how to do a better job getting the right airport in front of you the first time. Thanks for taking the time to let us know.

@Andy Thanks for the heads up about KCGX - we’ll get this fixed ASAP.

Cheers,
Andre (on behalf of the team at Virgin Charter)

]]> By: NickC http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2016169 NickC Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:43:07 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2016169 'That is how Virgin Atlantic started' - er not quite. That business was put together by a very interesting character called Randolph Fields who brought Branson in as a partner and was subsequently bought out. Branson has a penchant for quirky names, in his book he says he wanted to call Economy class 'Riff Raff' but was talked out of it... ‘That is how Virgin Atlantic started’ - er not quite. That business was put together by a very interesting character called Randolph Fields who brought Branson in as a partner and was subsequently bought out.

Branson has a penchant for quirky names, in his book he says he wanted to call Economy class ‘Riff Raff’ but was talked out of it…

]]> By: JenG24 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2015836 JenG24 Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:48:05 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2015836 Free ride from TETERBORO, NJ (TEB) > TETERBORO, NJ (TEB) https://www.virgincharter.com/empty_leg/view/354 It says it is repositionable with in 100 miles. Maybe you can negotiate a free 100 mile flight :) Free ride from TETERBORO, NJ (TEB) > TETERBORO, NJ (TEB) https://www.virgincharter.com/empty_leg/view/354

It says it is repositionable with in 100 miles. Maybe you can negotiate a free 100 mile flight :)

]]> By: pdr tools http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2015703 pdr tools Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:53:11 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2015703 $1,500 to ride this? https://www.virgincharter.com/empty_leg/view/416 I dunno, seems like a deal for a person who wants to appear rich. $1,500 to ride this?
https://www.virgincharter.com/empty_leg/view/416

I dunno, seems like a deal for a person who wants to appear rich.

]]> By: Sparky http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2015689 Sparky Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:25:49 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2015689 I like Branson's initial name for the venture. Empty Legs is appropriate also for the amount of booze passengers will consume on the flights. I like Branson’s initial name for the venture. Empty Legs is appropriate also for the amount of booze passengers will consume on the flights.

]]> By: Raskin http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2015674 Raskin Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:59:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2015674 Clunky login process. "Please enter a number, with area code, in the form +##-###-#######." That took me 4 tries to get right. The correct entry, in fact, was not in that form. Clunky login process.

“Please enter a number, with area code, in the form +##-###-#######.”

That took me 4 tries to get right. The correct entry, in fact, was not in that form.

]]> By: Jon http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2015633 Jon Tue, 04 Mar 2008 13:50:40 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2015633 Environmentally speaking, it doesn't save anything to have empty planes flying around but that being said, the cost per passenger (not just financial) is way higher for charters then otherwise. Financially, this will save some wealthy people a few thousand bucks off a flight and for the richer ones out there, they own their own planes themselves to the effect is negligible on the industry. I think if this vision comes true, many smaller airports will become nice profit centers and up their landing fees which are, for the most part, free. This is a mid-tier level they are after, people too poor to own or run their own fractional ownership yet too rich to bother with the headaches of commercial travel. You can get a decent jet for under 1M now anyways, just got to make sure the engines aren't due for a 300K rebuild within a few months of purchase ;-) Jon http://woodmarvels.com - Create Unique Memories Environmentally speaking, it doesn’t save anything to have empty planes flying around but that being said, the cost per passenger (not just financial) is way higher for charters then otherwise. Financially, this will save some wealthy people a few thousand bucks off a flight and for the richer ones out there, they own their own planes themselves to the effect is negligible on the industry. I think if this vision comes true, many smaller airports will become nice profit centers and up their landing fees which are, for the most part, free.

This is a mid-tier level they are after, people too poor to own or run their own fractional ownership yet too rich to bother with the headaches of commercial travel. You can get a decent jet for under 1M now anyways, just got to make sure the engines aren’t due for a 300K rebuild within a few months of purchase ;-)

Jon
http://woodmarvels.com - Create Unique Memories

]]> By: Jurado http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2015617 Jurado Tue, 04 Mar 2008 13:25:59 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2015617 But wait!!!! if you book now, we will throw in a weekend at Necker Island for the low price of $30,000 a day.....But wait, we will also receive a set of Lee Press on Nails.... But wait!!!! if you book now, we will throw in a weekend at Necker Island for the low price of $30,000 a day…..But wait, we will also receive a set of Lee Press on Nails….

]]> By: AD http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2015590 AD Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:42:47 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2015590 And who is going to book these tickets And who is going to book these tickets

]]> By: Scott http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2015466 Scott Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:20:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2015466 cvg to hnl does not work. They need some Regex or something over there ;) cvg to hnl does not work. They need some Regex or something over there ;)

]]> By: Boring Market http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2015464 Boring Market Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:18:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2015464 Who would of thought that the internet doesn't cheapen a brand/concept? Who would of thought that the internet doesn’t cheapen a brand/concept?

]]> By: Andy http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2015423 Andy Tue, 04 Mar 2008 06:55:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2015423 Their airport database apparently hasn't been updated to show that there hasn't been a usable Meigs field in Chicago since about 2002. You can't even get weather reports for downtown from the old tower anymore. Their airport database apparently hasn’t been updated to show that there hasn’t been a usable Meigs field in Chicago since about 2002. You can’t even get weather reports for downtown from the old tower anymore.

]]> By: Fabian Schonholz http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2015378 Fabian Schonholz Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:48:57 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/youre-now-free-to-book-really-expensive-flights-online/#comment-2015378 We all have to come to the beginning at some point. Even if it is at a level higher. We all have to come to the beginning at some point. Even if it is at a level higher.

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