Pro tips
So you’re chartering a jet… here’s some tips or things to keep in mind to make sure it goes smoothly from a pilots perspective.
Luggage: Weights are important, pack light if you can, just because a jet can hold 700lbs in the cargo area doesn’t mean it can for your flight. Tons of factors influence performance including temperature, elevation, terrain, and weight. Weight is most often the biggest limiting factor. Do you really need your bronze statue or 14 cases of wine?
Departure time: 10:00am departure requires you to arrive before that, it takes 15-20 minutes to load luggage, start engines and taxi at MINIMUM. You need to realize the jet you chartered probably has other flights that day, don’t be that guy.
Delays: delays are common when weather is bad, or during peak times/days/seasons. Understand that an ATC delay is beyond our control. If you absolutely have to be some place by a certain day, go a day early. Delays can extend beyond duty limitations for pilots leaving you stuck. An EDCT or estimated departure clearance time is for high volume to popular locations. They can’t squeeze all the people into these places at the same time so you basically draw a number with a “slot” time to depart. If you are late for this, the delays could be significantly worse, show up early!
Weather: certain areas have predictable patterns, Florida for example in summer has thunderstorms that start building as soon as the sun is shining, and they grow FAST. If you expect to arrive in Florida in the afternoon, expect a delay. If you plan to leave during that time most places won’t fuel aircraft if lighting is within 5 miles of the airport!
Tipping: if you add a tip to whatever you paid the broker I assure you the pilot will never receive it. Tips are not expected but if you’d like to tip, cash is King.
Trust us: when there is an issue with maintenance or weather it bothers us too, we want to get the trip done, but understand that nothing is more important to a pilot than firstly their own safety, and secondly yours. We are trained to mitigate risk.