Winter can be a difficult time to travel, even if you plan on using a private jet charter. Travel volume for air travel increases during the holidays, causing demand for aircraft to soar. In addition, passengers must consider that winter weather may unexpectedly alter their travel plans. This year, we’re seeing even greater potential for winter travel challenges due to a surge in demand for private aviation options.
Being informed about potential obstacles can help you better plan your winter trips and be prepared to make adjustments. Here are some considerations we want to make you aware of as we progress deeper into the winter season.
Possible Challenges of Winter Private Air Travel
In addition to typical challenges like supply and demand, winter brings some unique possibilities to your travel plans.
Aircraft De-Icing
We take the health and safety of all our passengers very seriously, which is why de-icing is sometimes necessary in order for your aircraft to properly fly. Cold conditions may cause ice and snow buildup on the outside of the aircraft, which affects its safe performance.
In response, your crew may elect to de-ice the aircraft prior to departure. This is a relatively straightforward procedure: de-icing fluid is applied to the outside body of the aircraft to melt any snow or ice and allow for safer operation.
If you have not factored the potential for de-icing into your travels, you may experience delays and an unexpected cost added to your trip. De-icing can cost as much as $10,000, depending on the size of the aircraft and the type of fluid used.
Access Jet Group’s concierge service works around the clock to minimize the inconveniences of de-icing as much as possible. We continually monitor local weather conditions for our guests, so if there is a possibility of wintry weather, we may be able to alert you ahead of time or arrange for your aircraft to be placed in a warm hangar. This may incur hangar fees, but it’s usually a minimal cost compared to de-icing and the delays that accompany it.
Weather Delays & Disruptions
Destinations like sunny Florida or Los Angeles don’t pose much risk for winter-related travel delays. But the same can’t be said for the rest of the country. As we monitor the weather, we will keep you up to date of any possible weather delays. And if you are traveling to parts of the country that typically experience heavy snow or ice (such as the Northeast United States), it’s best to expect to incur some sort of interruption. This might require your flight to divert to a different airport or arrange an alternate takeoff or landing time, for example.
COVID-Related Changes
The COVID climate continues to change. Winter has historically been considered the cold and flu season, and adding COVID to the list of health risks can further complicate winter travel. In response, some countries may choose to close their borders for travelers, while cities and states may implement new requirements like mask mandates.
We continue to monitor the COVID situation across the areas where our guests travel to keep you informed of any local changes that might affect you.
How Access Jet Group Mitigates Winter Travel Challenges
Access Jet Group knows how important your trip is to you, which is why we work diligently to consider every possible detail that might affect your ability to travel. From monitoring weather conditions to anticipating COVID-related changes, our team on the ground ensures you have the best experience in the air.
To help prepare for your trip, we recommend that you book your flight as far in advance as possible. This allows us more time to customize your flight experience and ensure aircraft availability for the dates and times you choose.
We also recommend arriving early for your flight in the event that the aircraft will need to be de-iced or in case additional weather conditions affect your departure time. Arriving early ensures you’re ready to board at the scheduled time. The longer your aircraft sits on the runway, the colder it gets and the chance of needing de-icing may increase.
We invite you to contact us regarding any winter travel concerns you may have. For the best pricing and availability, contact Access Jet Group today.
