[Blindtlk] Fwd: Announcing The NFB Travel and Tourism Division's January Board Meeting and SocialFlights.com

[David Andrews]

>
>Hello everyone,
>
>                 Anyone who flies knows all too 
> well that travel via the airlines can be one 
> big hassle. The lengthy time spent in airline 
> terminals, the security checks, missed and 
> canceled flights, and the demeaning and often 
> discriminatory treatment passengers such as the 
> blind receive from airline personnel. Don’t you 
> wish there was an alternative? What would it be 
> like to fly like the rich and famous? Would it 
> make it easier for your chapter or affiliate to 
> attend state and national events by leaving 
> from and returning to airports closer to home? 
> Would if you didn’t have to worry about lost 
> baggage, canceled or delayed flights, charges 
> for in-flight amenities once given free to passengers, the list goes on?
>
>                 On January 10, 2012 the 
> National Federation of the Blind Travel and 
> Tourism Division will hold its January Board 
> Meeting at 8:00 Eastern, 7:00 Central, 6:00 
> Mountain, and 5:00 Pacific Time. . We will have 
> as our special guest Matt Sloskey, Chief 
> Financial Officer of 
> <http://www.socialflights.com>http://www.socialflights.com. 
> This company is seeking to introduce business 
> and leisure travelers tired of scheduled air 
> travel to flying on private aircraft by 
> utilizing social media such as 
> facebook.com.  Matt will share with conference 
> participants information about the founding of 
> SocialFlights.com, how they are using social 
> media to enable individuals to fly on private 
> jets for roughly the cost of flying on an 
> airline, and will discuss with us how we can 
> use the Social Flights Model to help members 
> and other interested individuals attend NFB 
> state and national events such as the national convention.
>
>If you thought private air travel was just 
>something for the rich and famous Matt will do 
>his share of myth busting and will; explain how 
>the air charter industry is changing to create 
>flying opportunities for thos seeking an 
>alternative to the airlines.
>
>                 If you never thought that 
> private flying would be within the reach of 
> individuals of moderate financial means or 
> wondered what it would be like to fly on a 
> private aircraft a gentle introduction to 
> private air charter and information about 
> SocialFlights.com appears below. We encourage 
> you to read it over and formulate questions for 
> Matt to answer during the board meeting:
>WHY CHARTER AN AIRCRAFT?
>
>The major reasons customers decide on chartering 
>an aircraft as opposed to utilizing traditional scheduled services include:
>    * Cost Effective - Chartering an aircraft is 
> a cost-effective method to move a group of 
> people to more places in less time. The result 
> is that passengers and baggage can travel more 
> quickly and efficiently, often avoiding costly 
> overnight and additional transportation costs. 
> When the cost of the charter is considered 
> against the number of airline movements and 
> overnight costs, the real value of charter can be realized.
>    * Convenience – Leaving from a private ramp 
> or terminal will take the unpleasant 
> experiences you’ve had during airline travel a 
> thing of the past. Charter customers can also 
> direct which airports are to be used when more 
> than one choice is involved. Ground 
> transportation will be door to door, and 
> luggage is kept under your direct control at 
> all times. Often, your luggage may be accessible in flight.
>    * Flexibility – The aircraft is at the 
> disposal of the customer, which means last 
> minute changes are more easily accommodated. As 
> a charter customer, you get to set the 
> timetable. There are no penalties for changed itineraries.
>    * Increased Productivity- Passengers can 
> work in a secure, uninterrupted environment that will enhance productivity.
>    * Utilizing the enroute portion of your trip 
> for briefings and or business meetings will 
> greatly enhance the productivity of the time 
> spent traveling. Certain aircraft such as the 
> Global Express are equipped with High-speed Internet.
>
>About Social Flights
>
>
>Social Flights began its life in very different 
>places - on the back of a pancake house napkin 
>where social media and business experts were 
>having breakfast, in the economic observations 
>of an engineer, and in the back of an aviation 
>executive's mind over years of industry 
>experience. When the visionaries met, the ideas 
>merged, began to take shape and to grow.
>
>
>
>The idea of filling empty private aircraft, 
>whether positioning or at base, joined forces 
>with the power and potential of Social Media to 
>become a Revolution in Air Travel.
>
>
>
>We are business managers, economic visionaries, 
>aviation professionals, and entrepreneurs. We 
>have experience in airlines, travel and 
>government agencies, and think tanks. We are 
>bloggers, sports fans, environmentalists, and 
>parents. But mostly we are travelers who are 
>tired of the hassles and inefficiencies of the current airline system.
>
>Together, we see a better way. We see Social Flights.
>
>How Does it Work?
>
>Social Flights uses social technology in a whole 
>new way to allow like-minded travelers to find 
>each other efficiently and effectively. Social 
>Flights gives those travelers the means to share 
>and coordinate their travel plans and to secure 
>private aircraft for their trips. By allowing 
>these travelers to use collective buying power 
>to purchase On Demand Flights, the travelers are 
>able to complete their trips with less 
>frustration, more convenience, more comfort and 
>with trip costs that are comparable to what they 
>would have paid had they used scheduled airline service.
>Social Fliers form affinity groups called Travel 
>Circles. When Social Fliers initiate trips, 
>other members of their Circle may be notified, 
>allowing other Social Fliers to join the flight. 
>Once all seats are filled, Social Flights 
>verifies all details with the aircraft operator 
>and the Social Fliers, seats are purchased and 
>the flight is taken. Social Fliers enjoy the 
>unparalleled convenience and efficiency of 
>private aviation at costs that even a CFO can endorse.
>Social Flights provides travelers with an option 
>to the inadequate scheduled airline system, 
>allowing them to travel on their own schedule, 
>on budget, and with less wasted time and energy.
>
>TRAVEL IN A GROUP
>Description: Description: https://www.socialflights.com/images/
>
>Description: Description: https://www.socialflights.com/images/
>
>
>Description: Description: https://www.socialflights.com/images/
>
>Use the collective buying power of a group to 
>enjoy the convenience of private aviation.
>Social Flights give you the power to get out of 
>the security line and get on with your trip. 
>Whether you travel for business or pleasure, to 
>make a meeting or to hit the slopes, we make it 
>easy for you to find others whose interests 
>match your own. By defining your own travel 
>interests, you can find others who share them and for Travel circles.
>In this beta phase, there are Travel circles for 
>cities. As we move forward, enhancing 
>functionality, there will be Travel Circles for 
>companies, Travel circles for teams, Travel 
>circles for events - Travel Circles for anywhere 
>people want to go and for any reason they want to go there.
>By joining (or, in later phases, forming) Travel 
>circles, all members enjoy the benefits of 
>collective buying power when securing the use of 
>private aircraft for trips. You fly in comfort, 
>privacy and with efficiency while keeping your 
>total trip costs comparable to what they would 
>have been if you had flown on an airline.
>Join your local Travel circle and circles where 
>you fly frequently. And, as we develop, explore 
>other circles to find those that match your 
>interests. If you don't find one, you will be 
>able to create your own. For all circles you 
>join, Social Flights will notify you about flights as they form.
>Use your Travel Circle’s purchasing power to 
>enjoy the convenience and value of private aviation.
>
>
>REQUEST A FLIGHT
>
>Request a custom Flight on Demand and fly on your own schedule.
>By requesting your own On Demand Flight and 
>sharing that flight with friends, Travel circle 
>members or others within your region, you put 
>the power of collective buying to work for you. 
>When you find others to share the cost of your 
>flight on a private plane, you travel more 
>efficiently and less stressfully at a trip cost 
>that is comparable to what that same trip would 
>have cost had you flown on a commercial airline.
>Tell us where you are, where you want to go, and 
>when you want to go there. Social Flights gets 
>you options from leading private aviation 
>companies and helps you design and fill your own 
>On Demand Flight. Why fly on an airline's 
>schedule when you can request your own?
>Skip the hassles and inefficiencies. Fly the way you want to.
>
>Add to the above the many issues and demeaning 
>treatment blind persons have faced when flying 
>on the airlines over the years. We must continue 
>to improve access to scheduled air travel for 
>blind persons but let’s not ignore the 
>opportunity to create alternatives to scheduled 
>airline travel which could make it possible for 
>our members to attend state and national events in a more efficient manner.
>
>In the coming years as airlines pull out of 
>unprofitable markets, and as the airline system 
>continues to deteriorate blind air travelers 
>will need to have access to new air travel 
>models and the resources that make them work. More services like
>Social Flights will appear further opening up 
>travel on private aircraft to the masses 
>including the blind. Who better to spearhead 
>advocacy in the private air charter industry 
>than the National Federation of the Blind.
>
>                 Join us on Tuesday January 10 
> for the first NFB Travel and Tourism Board 
> meeting of 2012 and for an exciting 
> introduction to the next frontier in air 
> travel. The information for those wishing to participate is as follows:
>
>The call in number is 1-805-360-1000 this is not a toll free number
>
>once you get the recording you will be asked to 
>put in your participant access code which is 871517#.
>
>                 If you have questions about 
> private air charter in general, the utilization 
> of social media in the airline industry and how 
> blind persons can benefit by flying privately 
> join us on January 10, 2012 for this exciting 
> presentation or to learn about the activities 
> of the NFB Travel and Tourism Division. We look forward to your participation.
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