The type of aircraft considered is determined by the size of the group, the distance between the origin and destination of the group, if over water equipment is required, and general availability. A sample list of aircraft, capacity, and range is as follows:

Aircraft	Seating	Maximum Range
DC9	60 - 115	4 Hours
B737-300	Up to 149	4.5 Hours
B727-200	Up to 189	5 Hours
MD 82/83/88	Up to 172	4 - 6 Hours
Airbus 320	Up to 179	5.5 Hours
B757	Up to 220	7 Hours
B767	Up to 255	8 - 10 Hours
DC10	Up to 380	8 -12 Hours
L1011	Up to 400	8 - 9 Hours
MD11	Up to 488	13 - 14 Hours
B747	Up to 490	10 - 12 Hours

Note: Not all aircraft are certified for travel over water.
Also Note: Amount of baggage can affect range.

Combination Charter & scheduled Airfares

Southern Caribbean

For some travel destinations, we offer a combination of charter aircraft and scheduled airline service in order to enable groups to charter aircraft without incurring a substantial increase in airfare costs. An example of this is the Southern Caribbean where we offer a combination of charters and scheduled air at substantially less than all charter rates alone in order to compensate for limited scheduled service. For a list of charter destinations to which this is most effective, click on the button below.

Air Charters fall into several categories:

• Single Entity often referred to as an Ad Hoc Charter - This is the most widely used. In this situation, an aircraft meeting the specific needs of a group is acquired. Charterer pays entire price of charter. Passengers pay nothing directly or indirectly. Contract must be in the name and address of the entity actually paying for the trip, not in the agent or brokers name.
  
  
• Track Charter - Charters are perceived by the general public to be very inexpensive because they are thinking of track charters, which are often advertised at very low rates. It is true that if your group is originating in the samecity where a track charter originates and the group is traveling to the same destination on exactly the same dates of travel, this type of charter will work extremely well. However, this almost never happens. Track charters seldom offer the needed combination of pattern, city of origin, timing, and destination necessary to meet specific program needs.
  
  
• Pro Rata - Charterer is a membership organization and only members and their immediate families are eligible to participate in the charter flight. All passengers must pay the same pro rata rate except children may pay less.

• A destination such as Acapulco, Nevis, St. Kitts or Casa de Campo has inadequate air service.
  
  
• The group is too large for the scheduled lift (number of flights/seats per day).
  
  
• Scheduled service is sold out.
  
  
• A company simply wishes the convenience of controlling its own flight schedules to enhance the value of its program. Many times the group is too small for the type of aircraft needed given the range and/or over-the-water equipment required. Often company policy prohibits a large number of participants on a single aircraft. At Contacts Unlimited, we assess the relative merit of a charter given your specific needs and desires and acquire the appropriate pricing and aircraft for the job.

Contacts Unlimited will always suggest air charter if the demographics of participants and scheduled service to the selected destination warrants. Contacts Unlimited has resources worldwide to help secure reliable equipment of every size.