FBO Atlantic vs Signature?

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SaratogaFlyer@reddit

Providing the aircraft type and the specific airport will help get better answers, because it really depends.

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Similar_Meet3352@reddit (OP)

I’ve updated the post to include the aircraft, it’s a Cirrus SR22T. 😊

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x4457@reddit

You're about to get some very judgmental comments. Your dad is living up to a reputation/stereotype that those owners have. Don't take it personally. :)

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Similar_Meet3352@reddit (OP)

He’s an older guy who doesn’t want to pull out his own aircraft. If they want to get upset about that then so be it 🤷🏼‍♀️

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aftcg@reddit

He can buy this: https://www.besttugs.com/a-3-info

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Nnumber@reddit

That thing is gonna get pulled in and out 10x per day every time a based jet comes in. You’re going to pay a premium for subpar service for an aircraft the FBOs could literally care less about.

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TxAggieMike@reddit

That convenience gets expensive. Just to save a few minutes.

I prefer pre-flighting in the shade of the hangar. That way if something is found that keeps flight from happening, airplane is still in hangar.

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MattL-PA@reddit

Citrus seat warmer... who needs a preflight when you have a parachute.

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TxAggieMike@reddit

Easily moving the plane around is solved by a powered tug solution.

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For less money he can get an electric remote control tug, private T hangar, espresso machine, couch, luxury lifestyle magazines and a cardboard standee of a well groomed young flight student and put any FBO uniform on it he wants.

As a bonus the fridge will always have his favorite snacks, he’ll never have to wait for the plane to be ready, nobody will bother it and he’ll even make friends to BBQ with at the airport on holidays.

The issue is your dad wants to feel fancy and the bigger problem with that is he’s going to pay to be disappointed and disrespected. Save his happiness and go with a mom and pop shop.

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minfremi@reddit

Former Signature guy at a busy class D airport here. I was a line guy not front desk or anything so idk about prices.

Your plane WILL be touched multiple times a day. In the hangar, out the hangar. They do have training to not damage the airplanes, but the chances of damage is never zero. There’s always wear and tear I feel with each tow.

This is my personal experience flying to Atlantic PNE one late not busy evening: I was almost treated like I didn’t exist (or front desk was busy on their phone).

I flew to my own workplace to work (I was night shift so it didn’t matter when I returned the rental plane). I requested fuel be added and I ended up fueling it myself after closing hours. Sorry that was irrelevant.

I personally like and understand Signature’s reward program better.

But anyways, those places cater to jets. Unless your dad tips a lot of money each time, the plane will be looked at by many employees as sort of a nuisance. Plus it will be a lot more money than a mom and pop, though probably if your dad can afford a Cirrus, that ain’t an issue.

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flyflyshoo@reddit

What airport? Atlantic or Signature are medium-amenity, high-cost services that cater to private jet clients. Most are open 24/7. They'll give you a ride to your hangar, pull the aircraft out on the ramp, the lobby is clean, and usually there are some free snacks. Their prices are high, the fuel costs will be some of the highest anywhere, and you'll discover all sorts of random fees you feel should be included.

If you're a little more DIY you should consider renting or buying a hangar if it's available on the field. Something like hangartrader.com is a good resource. You'll have to sweep out the hangar a couple of times a year, pull out the aircraft yourself, and buy your own snacks. However, it'll be 1/10th the price.

If you really want a no-hassle FBO experience, look for a smaller, more regional FBO. When I owned a SR22 I kept my aircraft at APP in Hayward while I was on the waiting list for a hangar. Their prices were ok. Never got hit with random fees. As a tenant, they gave me a discount on fuel. It was still more than owning my own hangar, and the fuel was slightly more than a contract rate, but for the short term, I felt it was fair.

I avoid Atlantic or Signature whenever possible. It seems they try to extract whatever money they can, their fee structure is not transparent, and their prices are always the highest anywhere.

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x4457@reddit

Both suck! Atlantic used to suck marginally less than Signature, now they're in a rapid race for the bottom.

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Similar_Meet3352@reddit (OP)

What happened? If you don’t mind explaining 😊

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x4457@reddit

KKR bought Atlantic and did what private equity does, then Apollo bought it from KKR and doubled down on the spiral.

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johnsourwine@reddit

I noticed they were going down hill. I didn’t realize that was the reason.

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johnsourwine@reddit

I stopped using Atlantic late last year when they started charging hourly instead of daily for their hangar.

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BeenThereDoneThat65@reddit

LOL, those are not the FBO's for you. Find a mom and pop operation

They are not going to do anything special for a Cirus driver; their focus is on the Jets, we pay more fees and we buy much more fuel

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dudeman1018@reddit

Atlantic once couldn't sell me two quarts of oil because I wasn't "in their system".

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x4457@reddit

That was almost certainly a CSR or line tech who wasn't properly trained and didn't want to admit they didn't know how to do it. They can make a customer account for you on the spot.

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dudeman1018@reddit

ok, and? Still shit service. I just drove over to Sheltair and got my oil no problem...

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x4457@reddit

Okay and that's a training and individual employee training problem, not indicative of an institutional failure or company-wide policy.

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dudeman1018@reddit

So the company didn't hire the idiot, and the company didn't fail to provide adequate training to the employee they hired? Literally everyone knows they sold out to PE and are complete and utter shit now yet you for some reason have decided to defend them.....odd.

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x4457@reddit

Might want to read the top comment in this comments section and see who that came from and what it says my man.

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pi_stuff@reddit

They’re different at every airport. Walk into each and check out the facilities.

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Similar_Meet3352@reddit (OP)

I like the Atlantic better because everyone is nicer but it’s smaller. Signature is bigger and the employees aren’t that nice. My dad likes signature so far because it’s the “fancier” option but I feel like they only would care about the money and not us.

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Bob_Ross3346@reddit

Check pricing. Verify that their opening hours match your schedule if they’re not 24 hours.

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rFlyingTower@reddit

This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:

My dad is looking to rent a hangar at either Atlantic or Signature. We’re going to tour both next week and I’m curious which one do you like better? We’ve flown into both before and personally I like Atlantic better but have only been as a guest. How is the customer service when you’re a tenant? Have any of the FBOs ever did anything special for you?

We choose these two because they’re the only two options in our town. There is one self service airport but my dad wants to pay for convenience and not pull the a/c out himself lol

Thank you in advance!

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