System and method for scheduling travel on a charter transport

Abstract

A method is disclosed for scheduling travel on a charter transport. The method can include obtaining from a traveler a passenger accommodation request identifying an origin-destination-pair. The method can also include automatically identifying one or more charter transports having an available passenger accommodation. Moreover, the method can include notifying the traveler of the available passenger accommodation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising one or more processors and a memory, the memory storing computer instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:
 identify information indicative of empty leg flights and/or shared ride flights associated with previously reserved private charter flights, the information indicative of one or more of: an aircraft specification, a departure location, a destination, and a departure time constraint;   make at least a portion of the availability information available via an on-line service;   receive, from a prospective passenger, via the on-line service, a reservation request identifying one or more seats on at least one of the flights; and   cause one or more seats on a flight corresponding to the reservation request to be reserved for the prospective passenger.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the availability information made available via the on-line service comprises a cost per seat. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the apparatus is configured to adjust the cost per seat in dependence on the number of seats reserved on a given flight. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to:
 receive, from a prospective passenger, a request identifying one or more of a departure location, a destination and a departure time constraint;   determine whether said information indicative of empty leg flights and/or shared ride flights corresponds to the received request; and   notify the prospective passenger of any empty leg flights and/or shared ride flights corresponding to the received request.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the request is received prior to the reservation of at least one of the private charter flights for which said information indicative of empty leg flights and/or shared ride flights is identified. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the request identifies a maximum price, and wherein the apparatus is configured to:
 adjust the cost per seat in dependence on the number of seats reserved on a given flight; and   notify the prospective passenger if the cost per seat is below the maximum price identified in the request.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the apparatus is configured to:
 identify a modification to a said empty leg flight and/or shared ride flight which causes the flight to correspond to the request; and   cause the modification to the previously reserved private charter flight.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to notify the passengers of one or more of:
 a final flight schedule for an aircraft;   a time and place of departure; and   a number of passengers.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to:
 select a plurality of requests; and   cause a private charter flight to be reserved such that any empty leg flights and/or shared ride flights associated with the said charter flight correspond to the plurality of requests.