courtesy fuel

[acat]

Hi,
My boss has recently requested that I start buying more fuel at my home base and just courtesy fuel on the road. What would be an appropriate courtesy purchase for a heavy piston twin? How about a twin turbine?
Thanks

 

[siucavflight]

Depends, signature will make you take 5000 gallons.

 

[PDH]

I worked on the gas pumping side of aviation for several years. Don't make a guy get out in 5 or 110 degree weather for 5 gallons a side in a BE-200. I always considered 30-40 gallons on a turbine twin an acceptable way of saying thanks. Oh yeah, and if you don't buy fuel, always tip the line guys. They will usually forget to tell anybody that you were there. A lot of places do not mind that you do not buy fuel, but don't ask for the following:
1. a vacuum service
2. windshield service
3. the front parking spot
4. the freshest pot of coffee
5. one of every newspaper
6. a crew car
7. a handful of fresh cookies
8. someone to walk you pax's poodle
9. 45 minutes of Internet access to check your MySpace account
10. 350 bucks worth of catering
11. Deice
12. GPU
13. Air conditioner
14. Hangar space

and finally
15. Don't ask me what the "other guy on the field" is charging for gas.

Most FBO's make their money selling fuel. Some are fortunate enough to have MX facilities, etc., but not all. I always try to put a little money into the local economy every where I go.

 

[zkmayo]

Just tip the line guys well. Keep the govt and the oil co's out of it. Linemen have always been the heart and soul of any fbo.

 

[pilothouston123]

Good Point, tip the line guys. and If you buy gas and don't tip the line guys, write 20 buks cash tip on your expenses anyhow.

Light twin, ask them to fill one of the tanks, like my 402, top the outboards for me

 

[pilotyip]

This is often defined by if you buy 50, 100, or some number of gallons there is no ramp fee. Look at the ramp fee, figure that as a discount on your fuel and then compare it to your home base price and decide.

 

[BenderGonzales]

Used to buy courteousy fuel when it was cheap. But if it's a $2 premium over home base -- sorry.

And if i'm at Signature and get charged some outrageous ramp-fee for sitting on their ramp long enough to drop off the folks and pick up a clearance...

... you can bet i'm gonna get my money's worth out of that ramp fee by requesting:

1. a vacuum service
2. windshield service
3. the front parking spot
4. the freshest pot of coffee
5. one of every newspaper
6. a handful of fresh cookies
7. Lav-service
8. GPU

 

[PDH]

Used to buy courteousy fuel when it was cheap. But if it's a $2 premium over home base -- sorry.

And if i'm at Signature and get charged some outrageous ramp-fee for sitting on their ramp long enough to drop off the folks and pick up a clearance...

... you can bet i'm gonna get my money's worth out of that ramp fee by requesting:

1. a vacuum service
2. windshield service
3. the front parking spot
4. the freshest pot of coffee
5. one of every newspaper
6. a handful of fresh cookies
7. Lav-service
8. GPU

Sorry, I forgot to exclude Signature. Take all their mints, toilet paper, paper towels, window cleaner, or whatever you can get out of the door under your shirt. You can ask for a reach around, but you may not get it.

 

[minitour]

I don't understand the complaints with signature.

I spent way too much time at the STL Signature and was pleased with their services. Was there a ramp fee? Yep...got it waived when I topped off. Their services were fantastic and they went above and beyond what was expected when I needed to get a hotel room for a few days. Rides to and from the FBO...several times.

I guess I can't complain at all.

Is there something they stick you guys with when you're flying bigger stuff or am I just missing something?

Doesn't the passenger pay the fees anyway?

-mini

 

[Metro752]

Sorry, I forgot to exclude Signature. Take all their mints, toilet paper, paper towels, window cleaner, or whatever you can get out of the door under your shirt. You can ask for a reach around, but you may not get it.

I think my gut is too big for a reach around