Why fly private jet charter?

What are the different aircraft categories?

Where do I board the aircraft?

Are private jets as safe as commercial jets?

What are the security provisions?

Why fly private jet charter?   It seems that most individuals, who fly private jet charter, use the aircraft as a tool to enhance their productivity.  Most trips are flown for people who value convenience, want privacy, or want to develop a travel itinerary that commercial airlines cannot fulfill.  Parking, check-in, delays, missed flights and crowded terminals are eliminated.  There are no schedules to meet, nor connections to make.  In addition to the substantial time savings realized by flying a private jet charter, passengers can work or rest comfortably in a quiet and secure environment.  Perhaps most importantly, people who charter are able to travel to many more airports than the relatively few served by commercial airlines.

What are the different aircraft categories?   There are four categories of business jets available for private charter - turboprops, light, mid, or large jets.  Your choice of an aircraft will likely depend on a combination of factors such as price, travel distance and comfort.

Turboprops - These are smaller jet aircraft whose engines turn propellers.  They travel at slower speeds and lower altitudes.  Service amenities feature limited interior luggage space, however they do not have any lavatory facilities on board.  These aircraft are economical to charter, can accommodate 6 to 8 passengers and are best suited for shorter range trips. 

Light Jets - Fan jet engines power these jets at speeds of 400 to 500 miles per hour and are typically suitable for trips of a 1,000 miles or so.  Most must stop for fuel if they are traveling cross country.  The cabin is small, with less than 5 feet of headroom, with a limited galley and a "potty seat" with a rigid curtain.  These aircraft can accommodate between 4 and 8 people and are best suited for short to mid length trips.

Mid Jets - This group of aircraft features a "stand up" cabin, a full galley, and an enclosed and fully appointed lavatory.  With seating for up to eight passengers, this class of aircraft offers comfort and speed for longer trips.  Speeds range from 400 to 500 miles per hour and several models are able to travel cross country without a fuel stop.

Large Jets - These aircraft are larger and are able to fly longer distances.  These are truly living rooms or offices in the sky with comfort and conveniences for 8 to 18 passengers.  All have transcontinental range and some have transoceanic range.

All of our jets generally have comfortable leather or fabric seating and many have seats that can be arranged for face-to-face meetings.  Amenities vary in each of our aircraft, but most have flight phones and midsize and large jets jets are very nicely appointed - - with large jets typically providing a conference area, a kitchen, full bathroom and a sleeping area. See our aircraft photo library and click on a link to view an aircraft's amenities.

Why does the price vary for the aircraft?   Our trips are calculated using patent pending technology developed by eCharterConnect™.  This allows your requests to be priced based on the availability of the aircraft and the specific itinerary requested.  Just like airline pricing, our pricing varies based on the region, time of year, and demand level.  Therefore there might be times when certain larger aircraft might be less expensive than a smaller aircraft.

Are flight attendants included in the price?   A flight attendant is part of the standard crew for large jet trips.  Flight attendants for small and midsize aircraft are not standard but can be requested on mid jets. If the trip is long and a meal is planned, the most comfortable option may be to charter a large jet.

Are there any baggage restrictions?   We do not set any limitations on how much baggage you can bring aboard.  However, our aircraft do have certain constraints in their baggage capacity.  Our booking engine provides intelligence to determine the most suitable aircraft for you with respect to your baggage requirements.  If you have odd sized baggage, other than skis or golf clubs, check the cargo size opening for the aircraft to make sure it can fit your specific needs. Baggage capacities can be seen by accessing our aircraft photo library and clicking on an aircraft detail link.

Many of our customers who are traveling with their pet dogs and cats may have them in the main cabin in a pet carrier.  Please advise our customer service center of your needs. Customer Service can be reached at 866-FLY-CHTR.

Where do I board the aircraft?   Unlike commercial jets, boarding of private jet charters are done at Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) facilities.  In major airports these are found in the general aviation terminal.  They are essentially small, private terminals or waiting rooms available specifically for your trip.  Your trip confirmation will provide you with all the details for these facilities.  Parking is typically right outside or very close to the terminal.

What are the security provisions?  The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires that all jet charter operators conduct background checks on all crewmembers; perform mandatory ID checks on all adult passengers prior to boarding; receive and screen a complete passenger list 24 hours before departure; and make any firearms inaccessible from the cabin during the flight.  Additionally, standard procedure for all flights is to match all baggage with passengers and to conduct a thorough inspection of the aircraft prior to departure.  REMINDER - ALL PASSENGERS 18 YEARS OR OLDER, REQUIRE A VALID, GOVERNMENT-ISSUED PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION, IN ORDER TO BOARD THE AIRCRAFT.  In addition, when providing a passenger list to the jet charter operator 24 hours prior to departure, be sure to include even tentative passengers since every actual passenger name needs to be checked against a TSA-issued "No Fly" list.  Adding or changing passengers just prior to departure may cause delays.