Backup to wedding flights?

[BulldogBen]

Hi there

I'm about to start promoting a service to fly people to / from / at weddings.

Imagine my customer has booked to fly to their wedding a year in advance, and the day before the forecast says it's unflyable. We'll need to provide them with a backup plan.

Aside from booking a taxi the day before, does anyone have any suggestions?

With thanks

Ben

[TiPwEiGhT]

Simple, in you terms and conditions mention that all flights are subject to suitable and safe flight conditions and the operator reserves the right to cancel due to weather. Explain to people when they book with you that the weather can sometimes pose a problem, and that you recommend that they have an alternative form of transport incase the weather is not flyable on the day.

Cetainly that's what my previous employer did.

TiP

[RavenII]

I do a lot of wedding flights, and i do it exactly how TiP said.....

[kneedwondean]

Surely a nice Company car(or use the Chief Pilots Car) would do nicely? It would surely help offer piece of mind to the clients, and make an easier sell. If the weather turns bad just get the pilot to drive the car to the wedding at a reduced rate. That way you would offer them a complete wedding service, maybe even think of working with local wedding car services.

[Lord Mount]

The problem with aligning yourself with an established wedding car hire service is that it is extremely nlikely they will keep a vehicle in reserve in case inclement weather means another firm cannot fulfill their commitments.
Their cars don't make money stting in a garage.
The safest option I can see is to have a decent car available without having to rely on an outside firm.

LM

[md 600 driver]

your AOC will not cover you to be a private hire [car]driver if you get paid to transport by car you will need to get a private hire licence and insurance

if it was free thats a different matter

[TiPwEiGhT]

Mmm...

I wonder who makes more...

:sad:

[HeliCraig]

I echo what others have said - its unlikely local wedding firms will keep hold of a car just for you; but to make the product more palatable to couples its a great idea to have a backup plan.

Just had a quick look at some car leasing places, and something respectable like a Mercedes E Class saloon is coming out around £350 + vat per month on a 24 month deal.

Or, if you got in touch with a local car hire company you will find a lot of them do deal in higher end cars (as they have agreements to provide cars on behalf of the manufacturer in the event of a breakdown).

It might be possible to do a deal with a local branch whereby they keep something nice available for you to hire in the event of bad Wx in return for a retainer.

I know for a fact that Enterprise used to keep a number of reasonable spec Mercedes on fleet as part of their deal for Mercs Breakdown programme (I know, because I used to have one, and I spent a lot of time in an Enterprise car!!). Perhaps speak to a local branch manager?

Md600 is also correct about the legality of private hire etc; although I am sure a good solicitor could draft up T&C's which stated that the use of the "backup car" was free as a good will gesture but the deposit would be kept in the event of bad Wx.

Hope this helps.

Out of interest, what machine are you thinking of using, and whereabouts are you thinking of operating?

[TiPwEiGhT]

Certainly 90% of wedding flights I use to do envolved dropping of pax a couple of miles away, they needed a car anyway to take them anything from 100yrds to 3 miles.

[dazdaz]

Deleted my last post, just being perdantic. It's that time of night.Having said that, I'm always looking for a cheap flight to Devon from the South East. My sister's partner owns some fields Tavistock free parking. PM for future deals.

[airborne_artist]

If your operate a car as described it'll be for "hire or reward" and subject to a whole host of insurance and related issues.

Even if it was free it would be directly associated with the flight booking, so it'd still come under the hire and reward legislation. And I doubt you could possibly afford to keep/run a decent car just to back up as described.

Just provide a clear caveat on your contract, and suggest that the bride's uncle gives his old Merc/BMW a good clean the day before.

[Agaricus bisporus]

I'd spend the time organising ground handling staff to make sure pissed-up guests or photographers don't run under the tail rotor while the happy couple are getting in and out. Constant worry at wedding lifts.

Bad weather? - they'll need to make other arrangements. Simple.

[helicopter-redeye]

Quality weddings (ie the people who can afford the heli package too) tend to be in the better weather months as folk want nice piccys too, so I guess its not so much of an issue if the clause is inserted about 'in the event of poor wx..'

h-r

[[email protected]]

Just don't go and ruin it all by arriving in a Robinson:)

[RavenII]

As long as it's not a 22 and you have to fly twice ;-)

[airvole]

dazdaz,

I'm looking for a landing site Nr. MaryTavey which isn't far from Tavistock
Are the fields suitable for overnight parking ?

Airvole