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Booking a private jet is not like buying a commercial ticket. There is no fixed schedule to browse, no seat map to choose from, and no instant confirmation at checkout. It is a bespoke, quote-based process — and understanding how it works makes everything from the first enquiry to the moment you step off the aircraft significantly smoother.
This guide walks through every stage in order, written for someone doing it for the first time.
Before anything else, understand who you are talking to. There are two distinct types of company in private aviation and the distinction matters.
A charter operator holds an FAA Part 135 certificate, owns or directly manages aircraft, and has operational control of your flight — the crew, the maintenance, the safety. When you fly with an operator directly, there is one company responsible for everything.
A charter broker does not own aircraft or hold a Part 135 certificate. They source aircraft from operators on your behalf, handling the comparison and logistics. A good broker gives you access to a wider market than any single operator can offer — particularly useful when you need specific aircraft availability, airport access, or pricing options across multiple operators simultaneously.
Both models are legitimate. The key rule regardless of which you use: always confirm the identity of the operating carrier — the actual Part 135 holder conducting your flight. This is the company ultimately responsible for your safety.
A charter quote requires specific information before it can be generated. The more accurate your details, the closer the quote will be to the final invoice. You will need to provide departure and arrival airports, travel date and preferred departure time, number of passengers, approximate total luggage, and any special requirements — pets, specific catering, ground transport, onboard Wi-Fi needs.
For international flights, you will also need full legal names and passport details for every passenger. Operators are required to file these with customs authorities in advance, and missing or incorrect passenger information can delay or ground your flight.
For a straightforward domestic trip, a quote typically comes back within 15 to 30 minutes. Complex international itineraries may take a few hours. The quote will show you aircraft options — usually two or three — with the aircraft type, cabin specifications, hourly rate, and total estimated cost.
The quoted price is not always the final price. Always check whether it includes Federal Excise Tax (7.5% on US domestic flights), FBO handling fees, positioning costs, and crew overnight expenses for multi-day trips. A reputable broker or operator will itemise these. If the quote is a single lump sum, ask for the breakdown before proceeding.
Read our guide to what your quote doesn't include before accepting any figure.
Once you select an aircraft and accept the quote, you will receive a charter agreement — the legal contract between you and the operating carrier. Read it before signing. The key clauses to check are the cancellation policy (what you forfeit if you cancel, and at what notice periods), the aircraft substitution clause (what happens if the assigned aircraft becomes unavailable before your flight), insurance and indemnification terms, and the passenger manifest requirements.
The passenger manifest is a legal requirement, not a formality. Operators are required to have accurate weights, names, and identification details for all passengers. Significant discrepancies between the manifest and actual passenger details can affect aircraft performance calculations and regulatory compliance.
Most charter operators require payment before the aircraft is confirmed. Common arrangements are 50% on signing with the balance due before the aircraft departs its base, or full payment at signing. Payment is typically by bank wire transfer — the most secure method for large transactions — or credit card, which usually carries a 3–5% surcharge.
Your flight is not confirmed until payment is received and acknowledged. Do not assume confirmation from a signed agreement alone.
In the 24–48 hours before departure, your broker or operator will send a pre-flight itinerary confirming the FBO address, exact departure time, contact details for the crew or handling agent, and any last-minute details such as catering confirmation or ground transport arrangements.
Note the FBO address carefully. The Fixed Base Operator is a separate private terminal — often at a different entrance, a different part of the airport, or a different airport entirely from the commercial terminal. Do not navigate to the main terminal.
Arrive at the FBO 15–30 minutes before departure for domestic flights. You will be greeted by the handling agent or crew. Security screening is brief and private — no queues, no public screening lanes. Your luggage goes directly to the aircraft. The aircraft waits for you, not the other way around.
For international arrivals, a customs officer will meet the aircraft on landing. Have passports ready. The process is significantly faster than commercial customs, but it still happens.
Aircraft selection is driven by three factors: how many passengers you have, how far you are flying, and what your budget is. Your broker will recommend options, but understanding the basic categories helps you evaluate whether the recommendations are appropriate.
Two things frequently catch first-time bookers off guard. First, runway length: some smaller aircraft have shorter runway requirements and can access airports that larger jets cannot. If your destination has a short runway, your broker should flag this and recommend accordingly. Second, baggage: private jet baggage holds are smaller than most people expect. Always confirm total luggage capacity against your actual bags before the aircraft is confirmed.
The charter agreement is the document that matters. Most people sign it too quickly. The clauses that affect you most are:
Ready to start — get a live quote with no commitment
Get a Quote via Villiers →Contact a broker or operator with your departure and arrival airports, travel date and time, passenger count, and requirements. A broker returns options — typically within 15–30 minutes for domestic trips. The quote is not a booking until you sign a charter agreement and pay.
Departure and arrival airports, date and preferred time, number of passengers, total luggage, and any special requirements. For international flights, full legal names, passport numbers, expiry dates, and nationalities for every passenger. Your operator uses this to file the required eAPIS manifest with US Customs and Border Protection.
The legal contract between you and the operating carrier. It contains flight details, aircraft assigned, total price, payment terms, passenger manifest requirements, cancellation policy, substitution clauses, insurance details, and Federal Excise Tax obligations. Read the cancellation and substitution clauses carefully before signing.
15–30 minutes before departure at the FBO (Fixed Base Operator) for domestic flights. No check-in queues or boarding gates — you go directly from your vehicle to the aircraft. For international flights, allow 30–45 minutes for customs processing at the FBO.
An FBO is the private terminal where your charter departs and arrives — a separate facility from the commercial terminal, often at a different entrance or a different airport. Your broker will confirm the specific FBO address. Do not navigate to the commercial terminal.
Yes. Passports and visas are mandatory for international travel regardless of whether you fly commercially or privately. For US arrivals and departures, the operator must file an eAPIS manifest at least 60 minutes before departure. You provide your details — the operator files.
A charter operator holds an FAA Part 135 certificate and has direct operational control of the flight. A charter broker sources aircraft from operators on your behalf and does not own or operate aircraft. Always confirm the identity of the operating carrier regardless of who you book through.
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