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Air travel is the quickest method of getting from point-A to point-B, but it doesn’t have to be a purely functional experience. Choosing to travel by private jet offers a wide spectrum of benefits. In short, a trip taken with a private jet can be enjoyable, relaxing, comfortable, and efficient. By flying on a private jet, you are ensuring your travel needs will be met at every turn. You will not need to navigate commercial airport traffic or hassle with security, and private jet services can also be personalized for your individual requirements.
The option of owning your own plane is certainly appealing and there are a few different ways you can pursue ownership. Fractional ownership, for example, is buying a share of a plane and does not require as much of a commitment as full ownership.
Chartering a plane is a great alternative to purchasing; it is simply making a reservation to use a jet for your private use. All of the same benefits of flying privately apply to private chartered flights and are quite attractive, but if you have never chartered your own jet before, it can seem a bit daunting. We will review here, in four steps, how to charter a private jet, hopefully simplifying the process for you.
01. DETERMINE YOUR NEEDS FOR FLYING
Determining your needs for flying is the first step. This will help to determine what type of company to reach out to, what type of plane you need, and the way you will want to charter (this is addressed in Step 03). Clarifying your private jet needs is easily accomplished by asking yourself a series of questions. You can then relay your specific travel needs to the charter company.
- Are you going to be traveling frequently for business, and will your destinations often change, or will you be consistently flying to the same few places?
- Are you looking for a last-minute flight?
- Are you looking for an international flight?
- How many people are you flying with?
- How much luggage will you be bringing and will you have specialty luggage such as skis or golf clubs? (Keep in mind that the range is shortened with more weight, so it may be advantageous to ship larger luggage items to your destination ahead of time.)
- Do you need a bed to rest in, Wi-Fi, or a larger cabin to fully stand up in?
After you have determined your needs for flying, ask for a detailed quote that includes additional fees (cancellation, overnight, de-icing, taxes, etc.).
02. UNDERSTAND THE LINGO
If you have never flown private before, it helps to know the lingo/keywords the industry frequently uses. Some general keywords to become familiar with are “prop planes,” “turboprop planes,” and “light jets.” Turboprop planes are roomy with seats arranged like commercial business class, while turbojets will be six to eight seaters, fly faster than prop planes, and feel more like a jet. Light jets are sleeker, more streamlined, and better for slightly longer trips.
Some more details to be aware of as you search for the charter jet that meets your needs will be the number of seats and the travel range. Now, instead of learning every single manufacturer and aircraft type out there, you can simply learn the different sizes of aircraft to get a good idea of what you’ll need. Important terms to learn are the frequently used aircraft categories:
- Turboprop
- Light
- Midsize
- Super-Midsize
- Heavy
Latitude 33 Aviation offers a wide variety of aircraft located throughout the nation. It is important to remember, though, that each jet can be decorated and set up to its owner’s specifications, so you should expect some variety as you do your research.
03. CHOOSE YOUR COMPANY
Once you’ve determined your needs for flying and understand a little more about the industry, you can start looking into different companies that specialize in various types of private jet charters. Here are five different ways you can charter a private jet:
Private jet brokers have a great understanding of the industry and can use their connections to outsource the right plane to fit your needs. Brokers reach out to charter operators and do most of the work for you, in regard to finding an aircraft and arranging the contract details for your trip. (It should be noted that brokers are not required to hold any formal licenses, so it is important to ask about their background and ensure they have qualified knowledge of the industry. Many do belong to professional organizations; however, such as the Baltic Air Charter Association (BACA) or the Air Charter Association of North America (ACANA), all of which act to elevate professional standards.) Once hired, a broker is able to walk you through the process and tell you what to expect while booking your chartered flight. Brokers do not own or operate any aircraft; they are essentially just a middleman resource who locate aircraft from operators all over the country or globe.
Like Latitude 33 Aviation, many companies are fixed-fleet operators, which means that the company either owns or manages/operates a fleet of planes that they charter out to people. Charter operators have full control over the aircraft and are the ones that will actually fly the passengers. You can reach out directly to the company and they will help you schedule your flight from their own fleet of planes. The personalized service will often include help scheduling your transportation to and from the airport, as well as any catering or special requests you have while onboard. This is when familiarity with the lingo of the industry comes in handy. Chartering a jet through a fixed-fleet operator is a great option for getaway weekends to exotic locations for the family and won’t tie up any capital or leave you to fret over logistics. In that way, it is very much like renting a car. There may be a repositioning charge, though, which is the cost of paying for the jet to return to its home base. The price you pay will be to charter the entire aircraft, not per passenger, and charged hourly. Ask plenty of questions to ascertain the fees involved, such as daily minimums and taxi fees. Don’t forget to ask about safety: any reputable private jet operator will have safety information readily available (perhaps even featured on their website), and they can also tell you about the possible incident history of their jets and experience of their pilots.
Jet cards are great for high-volume flyers who have repetitive traveling needs. This option allows you to buy a set number of hours (generally starting at 25 hours) from a company and then use those hours towards a specified selection of planes. Essentially, this is similar to receiving a “bulk” discount – purchasing a large number of flight hours upfront in exchange for slightly lower rates. If you travel often for business and need consistent flights, having a jet card would be great for you. Often, you don’t get to choose from a large variety of aircraft, so jet cards work better for consistently similar trips using the same aircraft type. This option for chartering can be a great way to “test run” a few different types of jets, though, to help you discern which you prefer and can be valuable if you are considering private jet ownership.
Another option for those who travel by air regularly is a flight membership. This opportunity will require an initiation fee along with annual dues. Membership benefits range widely by company and program, with some providing access to book aircraft at reduced rates and other memberships providing an unlimited number of flights on pre-determined routes and schedules. A wonderful benefit of having a membership is that you are guaranteed access to a certain fleet of aircraft. Flight memberships, like jet cards, are best for frequent flyers who usually have consistently similar traveling needs.
If you are looking for a last-minute flight, you can check to see if any company has an empty leg/one-way flight for you. One-way flights occur when an aircraft needs to be repositioned, which means they plan to fly empty to a certain location. Most companies will sell these flights at a discount and, although these flights are pre-determined on set days, there could be a flight that works perfectly for your schedule. Some companies offer email notification lists, which you can join to be notified about their upcoming one-way flights. These flights can provide significant discounts when compared to traditional charter flights. For those who are pre-existing members, some companies will even offer unlimited, free access to their empty-leg repositioning flights once you’ve paid your initiation and annual membership fees. One significant drawback to this option is that, if the trip is canceled or changed, you no longer have a way to get to your destination; but if your schedule allows for last-minute flexibility then this is a great bargain, with the bonus of lessening your carbon footprint!
04. SAFETY RATINGS
A key differentiator between charter companies is their safety rating. Wyvern Consulting and Aviation Research Group International, Inc. (ARGUS) are two independent aviation safety organizations. The more reliable charter operators hold the Wyvern Wingman and ARGUS Platinum certifications. Latitude 33 Aviation is part of the top five percent of U.S. private jet charter operators, and the only one in San Diego, to achieve the stringent ARGUS Platinum safety rating. To view the operator registry and their safety ratings, please visit the ARGUS website.
All private jets are regulated by the FAA, which sets minimum standards for maintenance as well as pilots’ experience and training. The best charter operators go above and beyond to exceed those minimum standards. As you are narrowing your search, ask for the operator’s FAA Air Carrier Certificate and D085. A current Air Carrier Certificate proves the company is authorized by the FAA to offer private jets for charter to the public. If they cannot provide this certificate, they are either an illegal charter company or a broker working as a middleman – as a travel agent does with an airline. The D085 is a page from the company’s FAA-approved scope of operations. It lists each aircraft the company operates, with registration (tail) number and serial number. If they quote an aircraft not listed on their D085, they are acting as a broker and another company operates that aircraft. This is normal within industry practice but should be disclosed with the client so the client is able to view the certificate holder.
CHARTER A PRIVATE JET WITH LATITUDE 33 AVIATION
Overall, chartering a private jet for pleasure or corporate travel can be a gratifying experience! Your enjoyment of air travel will certainly increase and through chartering a jet you have the opportunity to try various aircraft models, increasing both your familiarity with your preferences, as well as your confidence for future charter bookings. Latitude 33 Aviation’s charter department is available 24/7 for your custom flights and trips. Contact our concierge charter department at 1-800-840-0310 or email Charter@L33Jets.com.
