Private Jet Charter - TOP 10 TIPS

Whether you are looking at chartering a Private Jet for the 1st time or the 50th, here are some top tips when you are researching your next trip:

1.)   Are certain days of the week better to fly than others? Generally speaking, Private Jet availability is generally better on Tuesdays – Thursdays. Travelling on weekends, especially over holidays, may be more expensive due to peak demand.

2.)   Does the time you fly affect the cost? Yes, Private Airlines will charge more for early and late arrivals - the best price practice is to allow time for the aircraft to position on the day of the flight. Even moving the schedule by 30 minutes can make considerable savings.

3.)   How much notice should you give? If we exclude peak periods (eg. Monaco Grand Prix, start & end of holidays), the best time to book a Private Charter is statistically 14 to 7 days before the flight. This should give you a wide choice of aircraft, including potential transient availability options.

4.)   Is buying a block of hours at a fixed price cheaper? Fixed hourly rate programs in Europe are generally more expensive than market pricing if your flight time is more than 2 hours. Short notice & short legs may be better on a fixed hourly tariff, pending terms and conditions of course.

5.)   Taking guests - is there a magic number? If you are travelling as a group, try to keep the party below 8 - the cost per person will be the best rate.

6.) There is a lot of choice and variance in the market. Private Charter is tailored to your needs, which means the market can be complex; with over 40+ private jet models, hundreds of operators, and thousands of airports, we recommend always speaking to one of our advisors who can guide you on the cabin, luggage allowances, airport opening times and restrictions.

7.)   Online prices may not always be as they seem. Automated platforms have limitations when searching for options; discussing your requirements with an Account Manager will always give you a more accurate overview.

8.) When researching flight options, how many companies should you approach? From experience, using more than 3 independent brokers can solidify the market price and create a race to offer the cheapest offer, which may not be a suitable option at all.  

9.)   Empty Legs - Good, the bad and the ugly. An ‘Empty Leg’ can reduce the cost of a charter flight but check restrictions and validity. Be cautious of the fact that not all Empty Legs may perform, or may be advertised to create enquiries within themselves. In a study undertaken by Jet Members in 2024, nearly 40% of advertised Empty Legs either had no significant discount or had substantial restrictions.

10.) Like any service or industry, if the offer seems too good to be true – it probably is. Offers made substantially below market averages can come with nasty surprises.