Private air travel can save time and money.

Many people don't think of private air travel as an option, but consider this ... aircraft charter can save your business time and, yes, even money.

Time. We all wish we had more of it and we want to make the most efficient use of it. More and more companies are realizing the value of their executives' time, and aircraft charter can help businesses made the best use of it.

It is no longer necessary to leave the night before to make a morning meeting--you determine your flight schedule with access to airplanes that often can depart outside the curfews reserved for commercial airlines. Private aircraft can reach airports that are not serviced by the commercial airlines so you can fly directly to where you need to be in a minimal amount of time. You can even travel to multiple destinations in one day, if necessary, arriving home in time to sleep in your own bed.

If you're running late, there's no anxiety over missing your flight; your aircraft will wait for you. And, you don't have to show up two hours early just to stand in the check-in line, the security line and even the line for that much-needed cup of coffee.

While you're in the air, you can make use of the actual travel time with strategy meetings. You can work privately on your computer or practice that important presentation. Luggage and critical meeting materials travel with you, too, and can't get lost in baggage handling or mangled in the security screening process.

A successful venture is assured because your team is well rested, well prepared, and operating at peak efficiency.

While evaluating the cost of a charter flight, consider not only the total expense, but the per-seat cost as well. Traveling with a group affords businesses the opportunity to make more efficient use of the available seating, reducing the per-seat cost. This can be of particular value if your team is traveling on short-notice and paying exorbitant prices for middle seats on a crowded airliner.

By controlling your own schedule, you can save the cost of hotels, rental cars and extra meal expenses for unnecessary overnight stays that would be required to accommodate airline scheduling limitations.

Even with rising fuel prices, private air travel is becoming the transportation of choice for executives and a host of business travelers further down the corporate ladder. Join the movement!

Barbara Hunt is with West Coast Charters. For more information, visit www.Westcoastcharters.com