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as published in the Surrey Advertiser.

In this age of the Mega Check-In at airports with multi-queuing and security checks,  Convention Travel’s Ian Murray points to some alternatives for the time-strapped Executive Traveller.

Q: I am an extremely busy company director and I need to travel a lot in Europe. But Heathrow and Gatwick are driving me mad with the queues, security checks, crowds and now the threatened strike after Christmas of BAA staff. What can I do to avoid this bedlam??

A:  Private Jet travel may be the last word in luxury, but it also helps avoid any of the above. You might subscribe to an airline and order up a plane as you would a taxi. You then have the freedom to go when you want, from your own local airfield.

Q:  So I’d avoid the main airports?

A: Yes, that’s the beauty of it. You may spend a hefty premium, but you also save a lot of time and you can use Surrey airports like Redhill and Woking which are very local. There are also Farnborough and Biggin Hill – both only 44 minutes drive from Effingham, which is the centre of Surrey.

Q:  So, how does it work?

A:  First it works very quickly. Once you are at the local airport you have the same security, customs and passport controls as usual, but these only take 10 minutes as opposed to the customary two hours.

Q:  That’s very interesting, but how much will all this cost?

A:  I’ll give you two examples. First, NetJets, the longest-established private airline, which has been operating in Europe since 1996.The entry level for their Corporate Jet Card Members is nearly £98,000, which entitles you to 25 hours flying – just over £3,900 per hour. Or you could join their Owner Programme at £200,000, which buys you 50 hours at £4,000 per hour. Card members can get a flight at 24 hours notice; Owners at 10 hours. 

Q:  Who else could I go to?

A:  Another serious player in the Private Jet business locally is Tag Aviation based at Farnborough. A Lear Jet with them costs £3,000 - £4,000 per hour to hire. For example, a 6 –seater Lear Jet 40 to Nice from Farnborough would cost £8,500 one-way. They need between three and 24 hours notice. For NetJets you would have to be either a Card Member or Owner to do the same trip.

Convention Travel is one of Surrey’s leading Business Travel Specialists with 25 years experience.

www.conventiontravel.co.uk. Tel. 01483   304 184. E-m. jcarpenter@conventiontravel.co.uk   

For further information please call PNPR at 01483  824458.

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