VFR Clearance took forever . . . KSAN

[rsleeds]

its the same manager - and same employees that I recognized from going in there last fall. Signature is doing ok - no services for us little guys - they just don't care really. Which is fine -that how you get the outrageous fees reduced.

Now, on to fees - and costs - and access

Getting into Lindbergh is dirt simple - they bring you down the coast from anywhere north of OCN, at 2500' Then you go direct MZB, enter a right downwind and bring it around to 27 - and you're generally off at Charlie 5.

My ops resulted in my purchase of 14 gallons of 100LL @ $6.80. Gibbs over at MYF was at $5.45. So I paid $18.90 more for fuel than if I purchased at MYF.

My hotel was in Gas Lamp - my meeting was close by. I met friends for dinner in Old Town - and did not use a car. My choices for a ride from Signature to my Hotel included:
a) The Trolley - a 7 min walk and $2.50 - dropped me off literally across the street from my hotel
b) Uber at $10
c) a cab at about $15.
d) A free ride from Signature in the van plus a $5 tip each way.

Choice? I asked Signature - despite having at least 6 ramp rats they were too busy. So I chose A. $2.50.

If I went to MYF - the UBER would have been about $16 each way. So I would have spent $32 on transport and saved $18.90 on fuel.

Signature waived the facility fee with a top - and only charged me $5 for an overnight ramp fee - and waived all other costs because they could not provide me any services because they were 'busy.'

So - in exchange for being literally 20 min from hotel - including the walk and the trolley ride - the total cost at Signature was $100.20, $5 for the Trolley. Total $105.20

Cost at Gibbs at MYF: $76.30. Plus $32 Uber. Total $108.30. Thus - It cost me $3.10 LESS to go to Lindergh. YMMV.

But I've also noted that same non-existent cost differential at Las Vegas and Oakland -

Sometimes - you need to do the math to discover that paying $1.25 more for fuel actually costs less -plus - the hassle factor alone of spending 30 min in the car from MYF downtown -

Damn - there you go blowing all the "big airports and Signature suck" crying with facts

 

[Z06_Mir]

Had the same issue at SAN. Clearance took forever! Almost filed an IFR to get it and get our but my vacuum pump wasn't working as advertised... Then we were like #8 for departure and got moved to #13 because I wouldn't takeoff in trail of a 757. On the way in thought we got a straight in (VFR) with no delays or issues.

That being said. Signature gave us a weekend discount on fuel, waived 2 nights of parking and gave us a ride to/from the hotel. Way worth it.

8/10 - recommended SAN

 

[3393RP]

You get into a lot of trouble when operating in Class B without a clearance. VFR or IFR.

"Dum dee dum..."