Warbird Information Exchange

Just a thought after booking a seat on Fi-Fi.

Say a warbird has seven seats and gives rides at $500 a seat. The plane is taking-off in ten minutes with two empty seats, should they discount the last two seats or let it fly with two empty seats?

Thanks,
Phil

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A man's got to know his limitations.

I'd sell them, but I'd want to hear the best story first!
If it was a WWII Vet, I'd give it away!
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

That is usually the time when someone that has been volunteering on the ramp or for the airshow gets a ride. Makes up for all the long days!

John

Sounds good Jerry, or maybe some young kid.
Are you going to NEAM to see CAF birds?

I almost got a free ride on Aluminum Overcast when I was working as an A&P at the hosting FBO, but weather came in.
Ten years later I went as a paying costumer, the next (and last) flight had some empty seats and they were asking if anyone want to go (at full cost). I said I would go at a discount, seeing that I had already flown and was an E.A.A. life member, but they weren’t interested.

Phil

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A man's got to know his limitations.

Yes I am Phil. I've flown on FIFI back in 1996, but it would be nice to see her along with Diamond Lil's new paint scheme. Not sure what day, depends on the weather.
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

This is something I've thought about too. Makes sense to get some revenue rather than have empties. Similarly, at the end of sports games, instead of throwing away all those uneaten hotdogs, nachos, etc, why not offer to customers for a buck or two?

Tommy

I know for a fact that some warbird operators will do this. As someone else pointed out in this thread, it's better to take in some dollars than zero dollars. Someone else mentioned that this is the time that some of the ramp hands and tour guides get a free ride. That is also quite true, and I've been able to partake on more than one occasion.

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Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida

Sticky situation. Say one of the other paying passengers overhears the conversation to offer to discount the last two seats. Is it fair to those who paid full price, just because they booked their ride a few minutes or more earlier? IF it were me running the operation, I'd much prefer to give the seats to some well-deserved volunteers or veterans at no cost, rather than playing the discount game and perhaps offending the other passengers who paid full price.

Zack

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Volunteer Coordinator/Curator - Military Aviation Museum - Virginia Beach, VA
"America's Flying Museum"
http://www.militaryaviationmuseum.org

Phil
After touring with "FIFI" much of last year, there are no hard and fast rules about how such situations are handled. As others have mentioned we take this opportunity to fly our supporters, hosts, helpers but most importantly veterans. It is our unspoken policy to never fly with empty seats. Hope this helps. BTW very rarely does this happen, most of the time we end up adding additional seats to accommodate walk up flyers!

Chris

I agree. That said...How about the extra fuel it takes to get 8 passengers in the air as opposed to 6?
As an airline employee traveling on a "pass", (NO...they're not FREE.) we were instructed to say nothing about the fact that we were not full fare passengers.

Mudge the freeloader

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Land of the free because of the brave