Thinking about an airport courtesy car...

As I've mentioned in previous posts, our home is close to a popular general aviation airfield where the majority of of private pilots fly into when coming for a weekend in the city or on business trips. The smaller airfields are easier to get into and out of without all the air traffic that the major airport has. The downside to the smaller airfields are that there are no car rental lots or shuttles to them on site. Some small airports have a courtesy car and in fact, private pilots sometimes look for an airfield to fly into that does have one to save on a taxi fee to get to the rent-a-car lot. But, to be able to nab the courtesy car before someone else does requires a good bit of luck.
Docbones and I are ready to start shopping for a new (to us) car. We are discussing whether or not to trade in our old car (and pretend we don't know they are jacking up the price of the new car to account for the trade-in) or keep it and park it at the airport as a courtesy car for reserved for our fly-in guests. The airfield is fine with us leaving a car there as it brings them more aviation fuel sales. It would have the added benefit of being an "extra" car for us if needed in an emergency without taking up driveway space at our house.
There are four rules that are well understood by the majority of the private pilot population regarding courtesy cars: You should keep it only an hour or two; you should fill it with gas before returning it; you should gas up your plane at that FBO to repay the kindness (in our case, of giving us a spot to park it); and you shouldn't get your expectations up. The may be humble. Very humble.
I know I would have to work out the liability issues with an attorney, but assuming we get the thumbs up from him, I'm thinking this would be a good business generator. I would also put flyers at the FBO advertizing our B&B.
Have any of you done anything like this and if so, how did it work out? If not, what are you thoughts on this avenue of guest service and advertising?

IF it passes the attorney AND insurance smell tests - it sounds like a winner. I tried a tip to the car rental employees for generating a rez - I think I may have had 1 so put it on the shelf. You have a different scenario. So if they are staying with you, they do not have car rental, they have the use of that car. Do I understand it correctly?

gillumhouse said:

IF it passes the attorney AND insurance smell tests - it sounds like a winner. I tried a tip to the car rental employees for generating a rez - I think I may have had 1 so put it on the shelf. You have a different scenario. So if they are staying with you, they do not have car rental, they have the use of that car. Do I understand it correctly?.

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My thought was they would just use it to go to the rental car lot to rent a car for the duration of the stay (the same way an airport courtesy car works). That would keep the mileage and associated risk down on the courtesy car and keep it available for other fly-in guests.

How do you keep it for only an hour or two?

Aspiring Martha said:

gillumhouse said:

IF it passes the attorney AND insurance smell tests - it sounds like a winner. I tried a tip to the car rental employees for generating a rez - I think I may have had 1 so put it on the shelf. You have a different scenario. So if they are staying with you, they do not have car rental, they have the use of that car. Do I understand it correctly?.

Click to expand...

My thought was they would just use it to go to the rental car lot to rent a car for the duration of the stay (the same way an airport courtesy car works). That would keep the mileage and associated risk down on the courtesy car and keep it available for other fly-in guests.
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But how do they go rent a car and return your car if they are alone? I thought this was going to be a guest option - only guests. If not guests, what does it benefit you other than parking not in your driveway - an expensive perk with insurance/license, etc?

gillumhouse said:

Aspiring Martha said:

gillumhouse said:

IF it passes the attorney AND insurance smell tests - it sounds like a winner. I tried a tip to the car rental employees for generating a rez - I think I may have had 1 so put it on the shelf. You have a different scenario. So if they are staying with you, they do not have car rental, they have the use of that car. Do I understand it correctly?.

Click to expand...

My thought was they would just use it to go to the rental car lot to rent a car for the duration of the stay (the same way an airport courtesy car works). That would keep the mileage and associated risk down on the courtesy car and keep it available for other fly-in guests.
.

Click to expand...

But how do they go rent a car and return your car if they are alone? I thought this was going to be a guest option - only guests. If not guests, what does it benefit you other than parking not in your driveway - an expensive perk with insurance/license, etc?
.

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Well, I would think that there would typically be at least two people flying in so there would be two drivers to return the car to the airport. But yes, it would be only for bed and breakfast guests.

As I Think it through though, it might be better to just let them keep the car for the duration of your stay and maybe put a mileage limit on it.

Martha, consider the work involved. (I know you've already considered liability and insurance.) Would you need to clean out and gas up the car every day? Would you need a reservations system? You would also need to keep the car in good condition, tires, oil, tune ups, etc.
To me, running the rooms is more than enough to do in a day. Driving to an airport daily or nearly daily would be a very huge use of time for us. We have trouble enough finding time to take the trash to the dump or buy groceries.
Of course that time and effort would have to be weighed against the income generated.

I think that sounds like a great added incentive to book with you. BUT. Is anyone really going to use the car only a few hours?
We just had a couple fly in and they rented a car because they had a lot of things they wanted to do. There's no way they would have just used the car for a couple of hours. It was parked here overnight.
Anyhoo, how about this - find out what the local taxi service charges and if it's low enough, comp the ride to the inn and back to the airport. (Here it's $50 each way so no can do.)
OR, we now have a car dealership that rents cars and they stopped by with all the info for us and it's a better price for rentals 'thru' the inn. ie - mention our name.
Plus all the other hoo ha about keeping the car 'ready' and the liability and all that with the insurance.

Aspiring Martha said:

gillumhouse said:

IF it passes the attorney AND insurance smell tests - it sounds like a winner. I tried a tip to the car rental employees for generating a rez - I think I may have had 1 so put it on the shelf. You have a different scenario. So if they are staying with you, they do not have car rental, they have the use of that car. Do I understand it correctly?.

Click to expand...

My thought was they would just use it to go to the rental car lot to rent a car for the duration of the stay (the same way an airport courtesy car works). That would keep the mileage and associated risk down on the courtesy car and keep it available for other fly-in guests.
.

Click to expand...

Aspiring Martha said:

My thought was they would just use it to go to the rental car lot to rent a car for the duration of the stay (the same way an airport courtesy car works). That would keep the mileage and associated risk down on the courtesy car and keep it available for other fly-in guests.

Click to expand...

Ah. That explains that part. Don't the car rental companies come to the airport to drop off cars for fly ins? BUT, how does your car get back to the spot in the lot? I'M not going to shuttle all over the place returning one car while having my spouse drive the other. Worse still, what if you just get a pilot, no co pilot?

I think you are thinking way too much Martha. You need to concentrate on your business and don't get side tracked with all this 'throw in extra' stuff. Get started first and see how things go. If needs arise, then consider options but for now...just get your website done, and get open.

Make your life easy. Buy the car you want and sort out the logistics of getting your guests to you once you actually have someone who needs a ride. It may well be the exception instead of the norm so don't spend too much time making your life more complicated. Where we are, Enterprise will pick you up at the ferry and bring you back to get your car. Perhaps they will do the same where you are?

I would not do it. Too much hassle, paperwork, etc.
We do pick ups at the bus station, train stations, and airports. We are in control of the vehicle, etc. We do not charge them anything but we have found money tucked away in their spot later on from some of them.

I appreciate everyone's input. We'll roll all the pros and cons around a bit.
We are a flying family. We have pilot friends and family in both OKC and Wichita that Docbones has been talking to and they are encouraging (inciting?) this. They thought putting flyers at aviation services (FBO's) in the surrounding cities could make us a popular fly-in destination as pilots are always looking for an excuse to take their planes up for a spin. We are about 30 mins by air from both cities. Also for stopovers on the way more exciting destinations. Pilots talk (endlessly) to each other on their pilot forums, often about good restaurants to fly over to or fun weekend outings or anniversary getaway. They think it would go viral among those that eat, drink and bleed 1000LL or JetA (aviation fuel). Docbones is all jazzed about flying around to different FBO's to put out flyers and write it off as a business expense. Flying is fun (but expensive), but to be able to write it off - now we're talkin'! Plus if it brings in other pilots, they can talk "flying". Not sure Docbones can be talked down from this one.
The car is a fun little car - sporty little white two seater 2005 BMW Z4 convertible, red leather interior. Looks new. Has decent trunk space. Not very high milage because we don't use it much. Coded door lock. Fuel efficient. Fun for date nights. We would not get much on it for trade-in becase of its age - worth more to keep it, Docbones says. It's just sitting in the garage taking up space. May as well put it to work. Program the GPS with our B&B and recommended restaurants and sights. Have them pay for their own insurance (like you do when you rent a car) and fill it back up when they return it. Local use only with a milage limit - say 35 miles/day. (Airport is 5 miles from us.) We record odometer reading on checkout - charge by the mile if they go over. Two night stay required - they use the car for the duration of their stay and return it to airfield when they leave.

Aspiring Martha said:

I appreciate everyone's input. We'll roll all the pros and cons around a bit.
We are a flying family. We have pilot friends and family in both OKC and Wichita that Docbones has been talking to and they are encouraging (inciting?) this. They thought putting flyers at aviation services (FBO's) in the surrounding cities could make us a popular fly-in destination as pilots are always looking for an excuse to take their planes up for a spin. We are about 30 mins by air from both cities. Also for stopovers on the way more exciting destinations. Pilots talk (endlessly) to each other on their pilot forums, often about good restaurants to fly over to or fun weekend outings or anniversary getaway. They think it would go viral among those that eat, drink and bleed 1000LL or JetA (aviation fuel). Docbones is all jazzed about flying around to different FBO's to put out flyers and write it off as a business expense. Flying is fun (but expensive), but to be able to write it off - now we're talkin'! Plus if it brings in other pilots, they can talk "flying". Not sure Docbones can be talked down from this one.
The car is a fun little car - sporty little white two seater 2005 BMW Z4 convertible, red leather interior. Looks new. Has decent trunk space. Not very high milage because we don't use it much. Coded door lock. Fuel efficient. Fun for date nights. We would not get much on it for trade-in becase of its age - worth more to keep it, Docbones says. It's just sitting in the garage taking up space. May as well put it to work. Program the GPS with our B&B and recommended restaurants and sights. Have them pay for their own insurance (like you do when you rent a car) and fill it back up when they return it. Local use only with a milage limit - say 35 miles/day. (Airport is 5 miles from us.) We record odometer reading on checkout - charge by the mile if they go over. Two night stay required - they use the car for the duration of their stay and return it to airfield when they leave..

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Obviously a specialized market. Sounds like, in your case, it is worth considering.

Aspiring Martha said:

I appreciate everyone's input. We'll roll all the pros and cons around a bit.
We are a flying family. We have pilot friends and family in both OKC and Wichita that Docbones has been talking to and they are encouraging (inciting?) this. They thought putting flyers at aviation services (FBO's) in the surrounding cities could make us a popular fly-in destination as pilots are always looking for an excuse to take their planes up for a spin. We are about 30 mins by air from both cities. Also for stopovers on the way more exciting destinations. Pilots talk (endlessly) to each other on their pilot forums, often about good restaurants to fly over to or fun weekend outings or anniversary getaway. They think it would go viral among those that eat, drink and bleed 1000LL or JetA (aviation fuel). Docbones is all jazzed about flying around to different FBO's to put out flyers and write it off as a business expense. Flying is fun (but expensive), but to be able to write it off - now we're talkin'! Plus if it brings in other pilots, they can talk "flying". Not sure Docbones can be talked down from this one.
The car is a fun little car - sporty little white two seater 2005 BMW Z4 convertible, red leather interior. Looks new. Has decent trunk space. Not very high milage because we don't use it much. Coded door lock. Fuel efficient. Fun for date nights. We would not get much on it for trade-in becase of its age - worth more to keep it, Docbones says. It's just sitting in the garage taking up space. May as well put it to work. Program the GPS with our B&B and recommended restaurants and sights. Have them pay for their own insurance (like you do when you rent a car) and fill it back up when they return it. Local use only with a milage limit - say 35 miles/day. (Airport is 5 miles from us.) We record odometer reading on checkout - charge by the mile if they go over. Two night stay required - they use the car for the duration of their stay and return it to airfield when they leave..

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Fly-ins sound great for you. I tried it here - I am 11 miles from the airport. BUT you just gave me another idea - the Stable is located at (do not laugh, it is on the maps) Ma ley International Airport. (my space in that name). I need to talk to Woody about planes landing there instead of the commercial airport 11 miles from me. I could pick them up and they could get Enter prise to bring the car if they rented one. The rail-trail (and bikes) are right here for that activity. I may revisit that one.

gillumhouse said:

Aspiring Martha said:

I appreciate everyone's input. We'll roll all the pros and cons around a bit.
We are a flying family. We have pilot friends and family in both OKC and Wichita that Docbones has been talking to and they are encouraging (inciting?) this. They thought putting flyers at aviation services (FBO's) in the surrounding cities could make us a popular fly-in destination as pilots are always looking for an excuse to take their planes up for a spin. We are about 30 mins by air from both cities. Also for stopovers on the way more exciting destinations. Pilots talk (endlessly) to each other on their pilot forums, often about good restaurants to fly over to or fun weekend outings or anniversary getaway. They think it would go viral among those that eat, drink and bleed 1000LL or JetA (aviation fuel). Docbones is all jazzed about flying around to different FBO's to put out flyers and write it off as a business expense. Flying is fun (but expensive), but to be able to write it off - now we're talkin'! Plus if it brings in other pilots, they can talk "flying". Not sure Docbones can be talked down from this one.
The car is a fun little car - sporty little white two seater 2005 BMW Z4 convertible, red leather interior. Looks new. Has decent trunk space. Not very high milage because we don't use it much. Coded door lock. Fuel efficient. Fun for date nights. We would not get much on it for trade-in becase of its age - worth more to keep it, Docbones says. It's just sitting in the garage taking up space. May as well put it to work. Program the GPS with our B&B and recommended restaurants and sights. Have them pay for their own insurance (like you do when you rent a car) and fill it back up when they return it. Local use only with a milage limit - say 35 miles/day. (Airport is 5 miles from us.) We record odometer reading on checkout - charge by the mile if they go over. Two night stay required - they use the car for the duration of their stay and return it to airfield when they leave..

Click to expand...

Fly-ins sound great for you. I tried it here - I am 11 miles from the airport. BUT you just gave me another idea - the Stable is located at (do not laugh, it is on the maps) Ma ley International Airport. (my space in that name). I need to talk to Woody about planes landing there instead of the commercial airport 11 miles from me. I could pick them up and they could get Enter prise to bring the car if they rented one. The rail-trail (and bikes) are right here for that activity. I may revisit that one.
.

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See this is what I am always on about - sometimes an idea is not for you - but you might add to it or subtract from it to make one that suits!

Aspiring Martha said:

I appreciate everyone's input. We'll roll all the pros and cons around a bit.
We are a flying family. We have pilot friends and family in both OKC and Wichita that Docbones has been talking to and they are encouraging (inciting?) this. They thought putting flyers at aviation services (FBO's) in the surrounding cities could make us a popular fly-in destination as pilots are always looking for an excuse to take their planes up for a spin. We are about 30 mins by air from both cities. Also for stopovers on the way more exciting destinations. Pilots talk (endlessly) to each other on their pilot forums, often about good restaurants to fly over to or fun weekend outings or anniversary getaway. They think it would go viral among those that eat, drink and bleed 1000LL or JetA (aviation fuel). Docbones is all jazzed about flying around to different FBO's to put out flyers and write it off as a business expense. Flying is fun (but expensive), but to be able to write it off - now we're talkin'! Plus if it brings in other pilots, they can talk "flying". Not sure Docbones can be talked down from this one.
The car is a fun little car - sporty little white two seater 2005 BMW Z4 convertible, red leather interior. Looks new. Has decent trunk space. Not very high milage because we don't use it much. Coded door lock. Fuel efficient. Fun for date nights. We would not get much on it for trade-in becase of its age - worth more to keep it, Docbones says. It's just sitting in the garage taking up space. May as well put it to work. Program the GPS with our B&B and recommended restaurants and sights. Have them pay for their own insurance (like you do when you rent a car) and fill it back up when they return it. Local use only with a milage limit - say 35 miles/day. (Airport is 5 miles from us.) We record odometer reading on checkout - charge by the mile if they go over. Two night stay required - they use the car for the duration of their stay and return it to airfield when they leave..

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Please keep this in your possibilities list. I once dated a fellow who had a small plane. when looking for a day or weekend trip - the availability of ground transport was a very important part of the decision making process for where to go.

gillumhouse said:

Aspiring Martha said:

I appreciate everyone's input. We'll roll all the pros and cons around a bit.
We are a flying family. We have pilot friends and family in both OKC and Wichita that Docbones has been talking to and they are encouraging (inciting?) this. They thought putting flyers at aviation services (FBO's) in the surrounding cities could make us a popular fly-in destination as pilots are always looking for an excuse to take their planes up for a spin. We are about 30 mins by air from both cities. Also for stopovers on the way more exciting destinations. Pilots talk (endlessly) to each other on their pilot forums, often about good restaurants to fly over to or fun weekend outings or anniversary getaway. They think it would go viral among those that eat, drink and bleed 1000LL or JetA (aviation fuel). Docbones is all jazzed about flying around to different FBO's to put out flyers and write it off as a business expense. Flying is fun (but expensive), but to be able to write it off - now we're talkin'! Plus if it brings in other pilots, they can talk "flying". Not sure Docbones can be talked down from this one.
The car is a fun little car - sporty little white two seater 2005 BMW Z4 convertible, red leather interior. Looks new. Has decent trunk space. Not very high milage because we don't use it much. Coded door lock. Fuel efficient. Fun for date nights. We would not get much on it for trade-in becase of its age - worth more to keep it, Docbones says. It's just sitting in the garage taking up space. May as well put it to work. Program the GPS with our B&B and recommended restaurants and sights. Have them pay for their own insurance (like you do when you rent a car) and fill it back up when they return it. Local use only with a milage limit - say 35 miles/day. (Airport is 5 miles from us.) We record odometer reading on checkout - charge by the mile if they go over. Two night stay required - they use the car for the duration of their stay and return it to airfield when they leave..

Click to expand...

Fly-ins sound great for you. I tried it here - I am 11 miles from the airport. BUT you just gave me another idea - the Stable is located at (do not laugh, it is on the maps) Ma ley International Airport. (my space in that name). I need to talk to Woody about planes landing there instead of the commercial airport 11 miles from me. I could pick them up and they could get Enter prise to bring the car if they rented one. The rail-trail (and bikes) are right here for that activity. I may revisit that one.
.

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I took a look at your landing strip. The length isn't too bad. Most 4-seater propeller planes could land and take off there easily. Some people do not like unpaved runways in case they get muddy or bumpy. A good pilot should land on unpaved strips from time to time to stay prepared for how things would feel for an off-airport landing in the event of an emergency. The biggest deterrent would be no fuel depending on how far they are flying. Of course, they can always land and fuel up at another airport.
You could certainly advertise your proximity to the airstrip and I'll bet you get some takers.

Skamokawa said:

Aspiring Martha said:

I appreciate everyone's input. We'll roll all the pros and cons around a bit.
We are a flying family. We have pilot friends and family in both OKC and Wichita that Docbones has been talking to and they are encouraging (inciting?) this. They thought putting flyers at aviation services (FBO's) in the surrounding cities could make us a popular fly-in destination as pilots are always looking for an excuse to take their planes up for a spin. We are about 30 mins by air from both cities. Also for stopovers on the way more exciting destinations. Pilots talk (endlessly) to each other on their pilot forums, often about good restaurants to fly over to or fun weekend outings or anniversary getaway. They think it would go viral among those that eat, drink and bleed 1000LL or JetA (aviation fuel). Docbones is all jazzed about flying around to different FBO's to put out flyers and write it off as a business expense. Flying is fun (but expensive), but to be able to write it off - now we're talkin'! Plus if it brings in other pilots, they can talk "flying". Not sure Docbones can be talked down from this one.
The car is a fun little car - sporty little white two seater 2005 BMW Z4 convertible, red leather interior. Looks new. Has decent trunk space. Not very high milage because we don't use it much. Coded door lock. Fuel efficient. Fun for date nights. We would not get much on it for trade-in becase of its age - worth more to keep it, Docbones says. It's just sitting in the garage taking up space. May as well put it to work. Program the GPS with our B&B and recommended restaurants and sights. Have them pay for their own insurance (like you do when you rent a car) and fill it back up when they return it. Local use only with a milage limit - say 35 miles/day. (Airport is 5 miles from us.) We record odometer reading on checkout - charge by the mile if they go over. Two night stay required - they use the car for the duration of their stay and return it to airfield when they leave..

Click to expand...

Please keep this in your possibilities list. I once dated a fellow who had a small plane. when looking for a day or weekend trip - the availability of ground transport was a very important part of the decision making process for where to go.
.

Click to expand...

That is exactly right.