Are Client Services and Dispatch representatives available 24 hours-a-day, Seven days-a-week?
Yes! For your convenience, our Client Services Representatives are available 24/7/365 to assist you in your travel needs. There’s no such thing as “after business hours”. Simply call the main number, 214.654.1500, to reach a charter representative anytime, day or night.
Where in the world may I travel?
Chartering a private aircraft grants you access to thousands of General Aviation airports located throughout the United States and Worldwide. We require a runway length minimum of at least *5,000 feet for all jet aircraft and 3,500 feet for turboprops. *Weather conditions may require a longer runway.
How far in advance do I need to make a reservation?
The sooner the better, but If you have last minute plans that arise, do not let that keep you from calling us! If we do not have availability within our fleet, we can still assist with your travel needs through our Preferred Partner Network.
What type of catering is provided for private aircraft charters?
All charter aircraft are stocked with standard onboard snacks and beverages such as soft drinks, liquors & mixers, pretzels, chips, assorted candy bars, and chewing gum. We will also make every effort to obtain any specific item or meals that you would like. Additional catering requests will be billed upon completion of the trip.
Do you own the aircraft?
Aircraft are owned by individual owners who hire Business Jet Services to manage the aircraft for them. We are responsible for FAA Compliance, crew training, maintenance, and administrative functions for all of the aircraft in our fleet.
What if Business Jet Services does not have an aircraft available for me to charter?
If we do not have an aircraft available that satisfies your travel requirements, we will use our list of Preferred Partners, a network of vetted charter operators, to obtain what you are looking for. We only use operators that have successfully obtained a Wyvern® or ARG/US® Gold/ Platinum rating for your safety.
Do I need ID to board the aircraft?
Yes, the crew will check valid government issued identification against their passenger manifest before allowing you to board the aircraft.
What is “Minimum Use Hours” and how is it billed?
Minimum Use Hours are the billable cost for the downtime of the aircraft on a trip. Trips are generally quoted based on a 2-hour minimum per day usage. For example:
- A 4-day trip only has an actual flight time of 6.2 hours
- 4 day trip = 8 hour minimum
- 8 hour minimum – 6.2 actual flight hours = 1.8 hours of Minimum Use Hours
- Minimum Use Hours X hourly cost of the aircraft = Minimum Use Hours fee
Are there any cancellation fees?
All trips cancelled within 48 hours of a the departure time set forth in the Quoted Itinerary are subject to a cancellation fee equal to 50% of the charge for the cancelled itinerary. All trips cancelled within 24 hours of a the departure time set forth in the Quoted Itinerary are subject to a cancellation fee equal to 100% of the charge for the cancelled itinerary.On Business Jet Services Peak Demand Days and International trips cancelled within 72 hours of the departure time set forth in the Quoted Itinerary are subject to cancellation fee equal to the full charge for the cancelled itinerary.
What fees are not included in the quote that I may be responsible for paying?
Our quote includes all of the fixed costs associated with your trip such as flight time, fuel, and crew costs, but there are some things we cannot anticipate. Catering, ground transportation, deicing, etc. These are charged back to you after we receive a bill from the third party provider.
Can I bring golf bags and luggage?
The amount of luggage you can bring with you depends on the capacity and performance of the aircraft you book for your trip. Please contact your Charter Advisor for more information.
Can I bring the family pet?
Of course! We do have certain aircraft with pet restrictions, so just let your Charter Advisor know that your pet will be traveling so we can ensure you are on the right aircraft.
Why am I charged Minimums?
Minimum Use Fees or “Minimums” are charged to compensated for the aircraft being taken off the charter market for the duration of your trip. The rate is two (2) hours per day. In some cases it may be more cost-effective for us to quote you two round trips instead of leaving the aircraft at your destination. Your Charter Advisor will explain this in further detail based on the specific trip that you chose.
How long is a crew duty day?
A crew duty day is 14 hours long, and includes the time it takes for the crew to get the aircraft ready before your flight and put the aircraft away after you land. This is a regulatory requirement, and therefore we cannot schedule a trip where the crew remains on duty for longer than 14 hours at a time. If your trip will be longer than 14 hours, we will need to schedule a rest period of at least 10 hours for the crew to satisfy the regulatory requirements.
Can I bring guns on board?
Yes, however we do have restrictions on how they are stored on board the aircraft, so make your Charter Advisor aware when you book your trip.
What happens in the event of maintenance or bad weather?
Unfortunately, there are times when the weather does not cooperate, or an unscheduled maintenance issue arises. In these cases, we will give you options to make sure your travel experience with us is as effortless as possible. In the event of weather, you will be notified as soon as we have information that it may cause an issue for departure or arrival. At that point we can discuss adjusting departure or arrival times or airports to avoid the weather issue. In the event of a maintenance issue, you will be given an estimate of time we will need to troubleshoot and resolve the issue. At that point, you can advise our team if you would prefer to wait on your aircraft, or if you would like us to work on a recovery option for you.
Is a Cabin Service Representative/Flight Attendant required for each jet charter?
On Midsize jets and Super-Midsize, Cabin Service Representatives/Flight Attendants are optional. On our large cabin aircraft, however, company policy may require a cabin service representative and/or a flight attendant for your safety and that of the aircraft.
What happens if I spill my food/drink on the floor?
Our cleaning crew will take care of the spill and we will pass the invoice along to you after the flight. We do request that you refrain from drinking red wine on board our aircraft because those spills are much harder to clean and can generate very pricey invoices.
Will I have a flight attendant?
On several of our Large Cabin aircraft you will have a flight attendant onboard, but any smaller aircraft are by request only.
