倫敦奧運(yùn)會(huì)拉開(kāi)大幕,李先生早已和他的生意伙伴坐著自己租用的公務(wù)機(jī)抵達(dá)倫敦,在奧運(yùn)主會(huì)場(chǎng)“倫敦碗”的包廂里觀看了精彩的開(kāi)幕式并開(kāi)始在英國(guó)游玩。想起當(dāng)初租用公務(wù)機(jī)的情景,李先生覺(jué)得自己還算幸運(yùn)。臨近奧運(yùn)會(huì)開(kāi)幕只有一個(gè)多星期時(shí),他才決定利用這個(gè)契機(jī),包公務(wù)機(jī)邀請(qǐng)一些自己生意上的好伙伴去倫敦看看奧運(yùn)會(huì),順便利用這個(gè)暑期在英倫度假,既放松了身心,也和這些商務(wù)朋友們?cè)鲞M(jìn)了感情,同時(shí)也是對(duì)合作伙伴的一種體面的回饋。雖然很快搞定了8張開(kāi)幕式的包廂套票和部分比賽的門(mén)票,但行程卻還沒(méi)有搞定。
問(wèn)題就出在李先生確定行程距離奧運(yùn)開(kāi)幕式僅一個(gè)多星期的時(shí)間上,李先生在咨詢國(guó)內(nèi)的公務(wù)機(jī)公司安排包機(jī)時(shí)了解到,由于國(guó)內(nèi)公司的公務(wù)機(jī)都是“B”字頭注冊(cè)(航空器的國(guó)籍登記標(biāo)志(簡(jiǎn)稱注冊(cè)號(hào)),目前我國(guó)大陸地區(qū)航空器的注冊(cè)號(hào)為B-XXXX(四位數(shù)字編碼)),如果要跨境飛行,需要提前大約兩周時(shí)間向民航局報(bào)批,待航線審批完成后才能飛行,但李先生所剩的時(shí)間已經(jīng)無(wú)法報(bào)批了。
正當(dāng)李先生一籌莫展考慮買(mǎi)民航頭等艙機(jī)票時(shí),一位朋友向他建議不妨和香港當(dāng)?shù)氐墓珓?wù)機(jī)公司聯(lián)系一下看看能否有轉(zhuǎn)機(jī)。李先生立即與香港一家公務(wù)機(jī)公司咨詢包機(jī)事宜,令他驚喜的是與內(nèi)地情況不同。香港公務(wù)機(jī)公司提供的公務(wù)機(jī)是以“N”字頭注冊(cè)(美國(guó)國(guó)籍標(biāo)志),在境外飛行比“B”字頭注冊(cè)的公務(wù)機(jī)更有便捷優(yōu)勢(shì),向民航局報(bào)批的時(shí)間只需要5個(gè)工作日,比內(nèi)地公司的報(bào)批時(shí)間大大縮短,李先生一行甚至可以提前1-2天到達(dá)倫敦,李先生當(dāng)時(shí)就確定了訂單。
在詳細(xì)了解后,李先生也發(fā)現(xiàn),在價(jià)格上香港公司的報(bào)價(jià)也有一定優(yōu)勢(shì):他預(yù)訂的行程是北京-倫敦-北京,全程11天,啟用灣流550這款比較豪華舒適的公務(wù)機(jī),報(bào)價(jià)為28萬(wàn)~30萬(wàn)美元;而北京公司同款機(jī)型同樣行程的報(bào)價(jià)超過(guò)200萬(wàn)人民幣。公務(wù)機(jī)行業(yè)人士告訴李先生,目前市場(chǎng)情況下,國(guó)內(nèi)公務(wù)機(jī)公司運(yùn)營(yíng)成本要高于境外,管理成本也比較高,香港等地區(qū)的公務(wù)機(jī)運(yùn)營(yíng)環(huán)境已比較成熟。于是李先生毫不猶豫地簽訂了包機(jī)合同并支付了款項(xiàng)。
香港的公務(wù)機(jī)公司工作人員告訴李先生,其公務(wù)機(jī)的機(jī)組配置均為外籍人士,不過(guò)可以根據(jù)李先生的要求進(jìn)行調(diào)整,比如配備會(huì)中文的空姐或者配備一名翻譯,然后還需要了解此次行程中每位客人對(duì)旅行期間餐食、內(nèi)飾擺放、娛樂(lè)、休息等方面的細(xì)節(jié)要求。這些體貼入微的服務(wù)讓李先生更為放心滿意。
當(dāng)起飛的日子到來(lái),李先生和朋友們?cè)谑锥紮C(jī)場(chǎng)登上香港公司的公務(wù)機(jī)時(shí),發(fā)現(xiàn)在艙門(mén)迎接他們的是一名外籍飛行員和一位說(shuō)著流利中文的香港空姐;艙內(nèi)擺設(shè)也根據(jù)朋友們的偏愛(ài)進(jìn)行了調(diào)整和更換,幾束鮮花的裝點(diǎn)讓艙內(nèi)備感溫馨。旅途中,公務(wù)機(jī)內(nèi)幾個(gè)獨(dú)立空間可以讓朋友們彼此聊天、娛樂(lè)、休息互不干擾,機(jī)組為客人配置的餐食既照顧到各人的口味,又不乏驚喜,高檔紅酒的品酌更讓朋友們有了互動(dòng)的話題。十幾個(gè)小時(shí)的飛行就要結(jié)束,飛機(jī)即將降落時(shí),李先生也并未感到疲倦。
當(dāng)李先生和朋友們走出機(jī)艙時(shí),倫敦舒適的天氣讓他們感覺(jué)非常棒,而飛機(jī)下的豪華轎車已經(jīng)等候接機(jī)了。李先生笑著和朋友們說(shuō),這個(gè)季節(jié)也許應(yīng)該去冰島在午夜坐直升機(jī)領(lǐng)略一番極晝的美景。
A Beijing travel agency is enticing rich Olympic enthusiasts with a super-luxury package on a chartered Boeing BBJ to London, priced at Rmb 8.88million. The sophisticates cannot wait – Mr. Li and his business partners had chartered a private jet and watched the opening ceremony in the London Bowl. The group then stayed on for a holiday in the U.K.
Mr. Li didn’t realize how lucky he was until much later. He decided to charter a plane and treat his business pals with the London Games and holiday just one week before the opening ceremony. It was easy enough to get 8 tickets in the VIP box and tickets for some games, but much harder to fix the itinerary.
There was only a bit over one week left. Mr. Li learned from domestic operators that Chinese charter planes are registered under B-XXXX (four numbers), and it takes the operators approximately two weeks to apply to CAAC and get a cross-border route approved.
Mr. Li was disappointed and thought of booking first-class flights, until a friend suggested he contact Hong Kong operators. Mr. Li immediately called a Hong Kong operator and found to his happy surprise that Hong Kong airplanes are registered under N and it therefore takes only 5 working days to get the clearance from the CAAC. Mr. Li and his pals could even arrive at London a couple of days ahead of the opening ceremony. Mr. Li booked the jet on the spot.
Mr. Li found that he got a better deal from Hong Kong. He booked an 11-day round trip from Beijing to London on Gulfstream 550. Hong Kong quoted him $280,000-300,000, vs. Rmb 2million from Beijing. People in the industry told Mr. Li that domestic operators have higher operating and management costs, while things are more established in Hong Kong. Mr. Li didn’t hesitate in signing the contract and paying the bill.
The Hong Kong operator told Mr. Li that the cabin crew consisted of foreign nationals but it was okay to cater to his needs, for example, using a Chinese-speaking stewardess or engaging a translator. The operators then found out the preferences of every guest for food, accessories, entertainment and rest. Mr. Li was duly impressed.
Mr. Li and his friends boarded the jet in Beijing and were received by a foreign pilot and a Chinese-speaking Hong Kong stewardess. The cabin had been decorated as preferred by the group, with fresh flowers for a cozy atmosphere. The space had also been divided into a few separate zones for chatting, entertainment and rest, with enhanced privacy. Food had been carefully chosen for individual guests, and premium wine stimulated conversation. Mr. Li found himself not tired at all after more than ten flying hours.
London welcomed Mr. Li and his friends with beautiful weather. A luxury sedan had been waiting for them. Mr. Li said to his friends smilingly that they really should take a helicopter at midnight for the aurora light in Iceland.