PJReviews online guide
The Ultimate Private Jet Charter Guide
Everything a private flyer should know, one short page at a time: who really flies you, what a quote hides, how to vet an operator, and how to arrive with no surprises.
- chapters + intro
- 13 chapters + intro
- short pages
- 143 short pages
- of reading
- ~4 hrs of reading
- interactive tools
- 4 interactive tools
Your flight plan
Contents
Read in order or jump to the topic you need before your next trip. Progress is saved on this device.
- 00
IntroductionFree
How to Use This Guide
Who this guide is for, how it is organized, and the five ideas that will save you the most money and trouble.
6 pages · 6 min - 01
Chapter 1
How Private Charter Works
Who the players are in a charter trip, what "operational control" means and why it decides who is legally responsible for your flight, and how the main rule sets work in the US, the UK, the EU, Canada and elsewhere. By the end you will be able to tell a legal charter offer from one that only looks like one.
10 pages · 18 min - 02
Chapter 2
Aircraft Categories and How to Choose
The main charter aircraft categories, from turboprops to ultra-long-range jets, with typical models, seats, range, cabin and baggage for each. Then a step-by-step way to pick the right size for your trip, and why two quotes for "the same category" can look so different.
8 pages · 17 min - 03
Chapter 3
What Charter Really Costs
How a charter quote is built, line by line, from the hourly rate to taxes, fees and crew expenses. A worked example (with invented figures) shows why a one-way trip can cost far more than its flight time suggests, and the last section covers legitimate ways to pay less.
9 pages · 15 min - 04
Chapter 4
How to Request and Compare Quotes
What to send when you ask for a quote, who to ask and how many quotes make sense, and what a good quote should show. You also get a side-by-side comparison template, the questions worth asking, and how to negotiate without burning goodwill.
10 pages · 13 min - 05
Chapter 5
Safety and Vetting
What third-party safety audits do and do not tell you, how to check an operator's certificate and aircraft yourself, what to ask about insurance and crew, and how to spot and report illegal charter. It ends with a question list you can send to any operator or broker.
13 pages · 17 min - 06
Chapter 6
Contracts, Payment and Cancellation
What a charter agreement should contain, how broker agreements differ from operator agreements, and what US rules require brokers to tell you. We also cover how to pay safely, how cancellation and refunds usually work, and a checklist to run before you sign.
9 pages · 21 min - 07
Chapter 7
Jet Cards, Memberships, Fractional Ownership and On-Demand Charter Compared
The main ways to buy private flying, from booking one trip at a time to owning an aircraft outright. We explain how each model works, what the fine print usually covers, and which rules apply. We also show how to work out which model costs least for the way you actually fly.
12 pages · 18 min - 08
Chapter 8
Empty Legs and One-Way Options
What empty legs are, why they are cheap, and the catches that come with them. We cover how to find and use them well, how per-seat "shared charter" works and what to check before you buy a seat, and practical ways to lower the cost of one-way trips.
10 pages · 14 min - 09
Chapter 9
International Travel, Customs and Immigration
What changes when your charter crosses a border, which paperwork is yours and which is the operator's, and why the details matter more on a private jet than on an airline. Border rules change often, so treat this chapter as a map of what to ask, then confirm specifics with your operator and the official sources listed at the end.
14 pages · 18 min - 10
Chapter 10
Flying with Pets
Why many pet owners choose private charter, what to ask an operator about its pet policy, and the import rules that apply when your pet crosses a border. Animal import rules are detailed and change often, so use this chapter to plan, then confirm every requirement with the official sources at the end.
12 pages · 15 min - 11
Chapter 11
Luggage, Special Items, Catering and On-Board Service
Why the operator asks about your weight and your bags, how to pack for a small aircraft, what you cannot bring, and how catering and cabin service really work on a charter. Most surprises on the day of travel come from things that were never discussed at booking, so this chapter is mostly a list of things to tell the operator early.
11 pages · 15 min - 12
Chapter 12
The Day of Travel
What actually happens on the day, from finding the right terminal to stepping off at the other end. It covers timing, security, meeting the crew, the delays that can still happen on a private flight, and how to handle them calmly.
12 pages · 14 min - 13
Chapter 13
Checklists and Glossary
The checklists from this guide in one place, ready to tick, print or copy, plus a glossary of the terms you will meet in quotes, contracts and conversations with operators.
7 pages · 10 min
Tools you can use
Size an aircraft, rebuild a quote, compare offers side by side and find your break-even.
Checklists that tick
Every checklist is interactive and remembers what you have done.
Quick checks
Four scenario questions at the end of each chapter show what stuck.
Five-minute pages
Short pages with a clear next step. Arrow keys work too.