Handling charges
Join Date: May 2000
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Yep I see the bigger picture alright, some are coining it in big time. Just the like a lot of the African airports were no different in reality same dynamic at work - charge what you can when you can . Thats all it is. That why were pilots not aircraft owners who can afford all of this. Carry on best of luck to all that foster the spirit of business!
Join Date: Jun 2009
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On the surface the handling charges at RAF Northolt do seem very high, however if an accountant was to look into this, the picture could look very different...
The rent charges (to become the only handler) at RAF Northolt cannot be cheap... The MoD insist on a large number of handling and security staff to be on duty at any one time to fullfill the contract. No catering vehicles are allowed airside due to new MoD regulations and all catering must be stored in approved fridges then security screened before being delivered to the aircraft.
All in all any military airport is an expensive location to run a business from. Add in the recession and the vastly reduced number of slots being taken at Northolt (no slot requests are being refused at the moment, the uptake is that low!) Actually with all that in mind a £30 handling fee for catering doesn't sound like enough to break even!
And here is another angle. One of our clients recently left a bag behind in the lounge at Northolt. The Jet Centre took full responsibility for their staff not checking the room after the pax left and flew the bag to Nice on the next BA flight (together with a member of their staff). Quite exceptional customer service and I doubt that other FBOs in London would do the same?
The rent charges (to become the only handler) at RAF Northolt cannot be cheap... The MoD insist on a large number of handling and security staff to be on duty at any one time to fullfill the contract. No catering vehicles are allowed airside due to new MoD regulations and all catering must be stored in approved fridges then security screened before being delivered to the aircraft.
All in all any military airport is an expensive location to run a business from. Add in the recession and the vastly reduced number of slots being taken at Northolt (no slot requests are being refused at the moment, the uptake is that low!) Actually with all that in mind a £30 handling fee for catering doesn't sound like enough to break even!
And here is another angle. One of our clients recently left a bag behind in the lounge at Northolt. The Jet Centre took full responsibility for their staff not checking the room after the pax left and flew the bag to Nice on the next BA flight (together with a member of their staff). Quite exceptional customer service and I doubt that other FBOs in London would do the same?
Join Date: Nov 1999
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And another thing.....
Why should anyone have to pay 'out of hour charges' for handling at a 24/7 airport where they have made handling mandatory.... I don't mind paying for a service but hate being ripped off!
Why should anyone have to pay 'out of hour charges' for handling at a 24/7 airport where they have made handling mandatory.... I don't mind paying for a service but hate being ripped off!
Join Date: May 2006
Location: london
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The FBO probably doesnt want to handle you out of hours but is made to by the airport? That means that they will have to pay overtime/stand by allowances to their staff and all that stuff. If they are made to pay this surely it is reasonable to pass it on?
FBO's generally are not huge earners. Focus on the landing fees, thats where the money goes.
FBO's generally are not huge earners. Focus on the landing fees, thats where the money goes.
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Banbury, United Kingdom
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"Focus on the landing fees, thats where the money goes".
You are bloody joking.........................
Since when have the airport landing fees EVER represented more than 20% of the total bill for "handling", and other "services"???!!!
Paphos Total bill 2,494 Euros - Landing fee 86 Euros
Madrid Torejon 668 Euros - Landing fee 127 Euros
Olbia 499 Euros - landing fee 66 Euros
Bremen 435 Euros - landing fee 85 Euros
That's just in the last 3 weeks!
Most handling agents are a law unto themselves and can charge all manner of hidden (un-communicated to the crew) charges that only appear on the bill at the end when you have 3 minutes to settle up before the Boss arrives (early of course) and you have no option but to pay and try and claim back (yeh right!) later.
Handling Agents do have their uses, BUT, their charges are (in many cases) both fictional, and criminal in our opinion.
You are bloody joking.........................
Since when have the airport landing fees EVER represented more than 20% of the total bill for "handling", and other "services"???!!!
Paphos Total bill 2,494 Euros - Landing fee 86 Euros
Madrid Torejon 668 Euros - Landing fee 127 Euros
Olbia 499 Euros - landing fee 66 Euros
Bremen 435 Euros - landing fee 85 Euros
That's just in the last 3 weeks!
Most handling agents are a law unto themselves and can charge all manner of hidden (un-communicated to the crew) charges that only appear on the bill at the end when you have 3 minutes to settle up before the Boss arrives (early of course) and you have no option but to pay and try and claim back (yeh right!) later.
Handling Agents do have their uses, BUT, their charges are (in many cases) both fictional, and criminal in our opinion.
Join Date: Jan 2007
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FBOman
You totally miss the point. Why in a 24/7 industry do handling staff expect to be payed overtime to work after 8 PM? I'll bet no airline surcharges it's passengers for night flights and I know not of any airlines who pay their aircrew 50% extra for working after 8. There again, I have been known to be wrong. I recently wanted to go into Gatwick at 11pm on a Saturday evening and leave 11 am next morning. CREW ONLY. The only task asked for was to pick up the crew in a bus and drop them off the next morning. Quoted £600 for handling. Declined the kind offer.
You totally miss the point. Why in a 24/7 industry do handling staff expect to be payed overtime to work after 8 PM? I'll bet no airline surcharges it's passengers for night flights and I know not of any airlines who pay their aircrew 50% extra for working after 8. There again, I have been known to be wrong. I recently wanted to go into Gatwick at 11pm on a Saturday evening and leave 11 am next morning. CREW ONLY. The only task asked for was to pick up the crew in a bus and drop them off the next morning. Quoted £600 for handling. Declined the kind offer.
Join Date: Nov 1999
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FBOman -
You missed my point, or I didn't make it clear. Why should there be out of hours charges for being handled at a 24 hour airport where handling is mandatory? As for landing fees outweighing handling fees....have you seen many landing/handling receipts recently?
I even had a 2.5% credit card surcharge from one UK FBO recently.
You missed my point, or I didn't make it clear. Why should there be out of hours charges for being handled at a 24 hour airport where handling is mandatory? As for landing fees outweighing handling fees....have you seen many landing/handling receipts recently?
I even had a 2.5% credit card surcharge from one UK FBO recently.
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Handling Charges Narita Japan
In the past I used to operate a Corporate Jet into and out of Narita. The total cost for a landing and a departure and the agent, was three thousand US. dollars. Good service though.
Tmb
Tmb
Join Date: Dec 2008
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£130 parking fee, per hour (that's £3120 per 24 hours for those of us who are not so good with numbers). On a ramp that now days is mostly deserted. $10.000 + for parking and handling for a couple of days or so at an airport far far away.
If you need to ask for the price then.....etc etc.
If you need to ask for the price then.....etc etc.
Join Date: May 2006
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Im not sure that I missed the point, I think that we are looking at the same point from different perspectives.
Of course airlines do not surcharge passengers for night flights because a large bulk of their business is night flights, the pax have all bought a ticket and crew have been rostered. No problems here.
FBO's that reside on 24/7 airfields generally have nil business between about 2200-0600 and therefore do not roster staff as it is not cost effective. The airport make handling mandatory, not the FBO. I promise you that FBO's do not want the problem of staffing during the night. The HSE now insist on nobody working alone and all that nonsense so you need a minimum of a couple of staff. They have to be paid overtime as they generally wont work for free and have not been rostered. On top of the overtime you have to actually ask someone to be on call and not drink etc so standby payments kick in.
All I am saying is that from a business perspective an out of hours fee at an FBO can actually be explained. I agree that some FBO's charge nonsensical fee's for all manner of things and that is wrong. Personally, I have always published my fee's and charges each year via website, sent them out to each operator by way of letter and emailed them also to regular customers. Nothing hidden, all very transparent. Did you enquire about the fees before you went to any of the places commented on above? Did you look at their Acu-Kwik entry or similar?
Some of the comments on here are valid and some are not. My view is simply that if I provide a good service then people are generally happy to pay the bill. If I dont then they should not be asked to pay and the FBO deserves all the criticism in the world.
Of course airlines do not surcharge passengers for night flights because a large bulk of their business is night flights, the pax have all bought a ticket and crew have been rostered. No problems here.
FBO's that reside on 24/7 airfields generally have nil business between about 2200-0600 and therefore do not roster staff as it is not cost effective. The airport make handling mandatory, not the FBO. I promise you that FBO's do not want the problem of staffing during the night. The HSE now insist on nobody working alone and all that nonsense so you need a minimum of a couple of staff. They have to be paid overtime as they generally wont work for free and have not been rostered. On top of the overtime you have to actually ask someone to be on call and not drink etc so standby payments kick in.
All I am saying is that from a business perspective an out of hours fee at an FBO can actually be explained. I agree that some FBO's charge nonsensical fee's for all manner of things and that is wrong. Personally, I have always published my fee's and charges each year via website, sent them out to each operator by way of letter and emailed them also to regular customers. Nothing hidden, all very transparent. Did you enquire about the fees before you went to any of the places commented on above? Did you look at their Acu-Kwik entry or similar?
Some of the comments on here are valid and some are not. My view is simply that if I provide a good service then people are generally happy to pay the bill. If I dont then they should not be asked to pay and the FBO deserves all the criticism in the world.
G'day Jez
Can you e-mail or pm me that Paphos invoice? That sounds way off the mark... At least you got away with the bus fees. I will take the issue up for you here with Skylink if you want. Hope all is well otherwise mate.
Looking forwards to our next kebab and beer together here (if the boss can afford the handling!)
Regards
Can you e-mail or pm me that Paphos invoice? That sounds way off the mark... At least you got away with the bus fees. I will take the issue up for you here with Skylink if you want. Hope all is well otherwise mate.
Looking forwards to our next kebab and beer together here (if the boss can afford the handling!)
Regards
