By Ofelia Saenz, Staff Writer
On Friday nights, Harry Huett is the star of the show. After 30 years, he still climbs into the driver’s seat of one of Complete Charter’s buses a few times a week to drive his passengers, many of whom he knows by name, to one of the several Indian Casinos in Southern California. He tells jokes, he tells stories, he laughs–and he’s the shy one.
“We like what we do,” said Huett’s wife, Barbara. She and her husband have owned and run Complete Charter Lines since 1974, and she credits their commitment friendly and personal customer service as the reason for the company’s longevity. “I love to talk to the people and it really makes them feel comfortable when you recognize them.”
Originally called Sari’s Inflation Fighters, the Huett’s started the business, along with former partner Sari Mitchell, as a plan to help seniors save money. Every day, Harry Huett picked up passengers from various senior centers in Los Angeles county and took them on free day trips to do grocery shopping at an open-air farmer’s market in Oxnard, as well as to other destinations such as a dairy and an egg farm.
Although the format enjoyed some popularity for a while, patrons eventually lost interest and Inflation Fighters was restructured into a charter company with a focus on trips to Las Vegas.
Today Complete Charter’s tour buses make day trips to various Indian Casinos in Southern California including Pechanga, Spotlight 29, San Manuel, Pala and Harrah’s in San Diego. Although boarding prices vary from free to $30 per person, the casinos offer free cash coupons to the passengers upon arrival to make up the cost of the fare. The company also does occasional overnight trips to Las Vegas for less than the cost of a tank of gas.
For organizations such as senior groups or church groups looking for a hassle-free way of fundraising, Complete Charter provides private charter services as well. The group can designate a pick-up and drop-off location anywhere in Southern California, or simply meet and park at the company’s bus terminal in Gardena.
Barbara Huett has organized all sorts of private excursions and can arrange anything from a tour of Hollywood for out-of-town wedding guests to a cross-country family reunion trip, all under the guidance of “some of the nicest drivers you’ve ever driven with,” Huett said.
The Complete Charter offices are located in the Gardena Bus Depot, located at 13610 South Western Avenue in Gardena. All casino trips start and end at the Gardena Bus Depot. Plenty of secure parking is available on site. The buses also make scheduled pick-ups and drop-offs in the parking lots of the Carson Winchell’s located at Carson Avenue and Main Street, the Lakewood Granny’s Donuts located at the 91 Freeway and Lakewood Boulevard, and the Covina Denny’s located at Azusa and Puente avenues.
For more information, for schedules and destinations or to make a reservation, call (310) 538-4211.
