Traveling private is hands down the superior travel experience. You have flexibility, privacy, no waits or layovers, and no hassles. Booking your private flight sure can be exciting.
Though it’s exciting to be traveling private, before booking your very first – or any – charter flight for that matter, it’s important to make sure you’ve done your research. Whether you’re flying for leisure to a weekend getaway or on a business trip with your company, we expect that you’ll have questions and we’ll be ready to answer them!
We suggest preparing your questions ahead of time and having them ready at the time of your consult.
These are the top 3 Questions most important questions to ask before booking a charter flight:
What is your safety record?
Once you get over the initial excitement of booking your private charter – the next likely emotion you might have is curiosity. You will undoubtedly want to keep your family, friends, or colleagues safe while traveling, so it is important to know about your charter company’s past.
It is not unusual for safety to be the number one concern among customers. Your charter company should expect and be prepared to answer all of the following questions regarding safety.
About the Charter Company:
● How long has the company been in operation?
● How is the company’s safety track record?
● Has the company had aircrafts involved in accidents?
● Is the aircraft or company insured?
● How often and what kinds of trainings are provided to the crew and staff?
About the Pilot:
● Who will pilot the flight?
● How much experience does the pilot have?
● What is the pilot’s experience with this particular model of aircraft?
● Does the pilot have an FAA commercial pilot’s license?
● Has the pilot had any accidents or violations in the past 5 years?
Inquiring about the company’s and the pilot’s safety record will likely require follow-up and potentially some research, as well. Don’t be afraid to ask your charter company to provide an ARG/US or Wyvern PASS ratings report that shows they meet industry standards. You can also find important safety information through the National Business Aviation Association.
Here at Executive Air Transport, we pride ourselves on our stellar and award winning safety record. In 2012 our team was honored by the National Business Aviation Association with a Commercial Business Flying Safety Award for 48 years and over 30,000 hours of safe flying in commercial aviation.
Additionally, our pilots are checked, at minimum, every six months to ensure they are maintaining standards set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). They are sent to simulator training to maintain a superior level of proficiency. All of our pilots hold either a Commercial Pilot Certificate or an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate issued by the FAA, just as the major airline pilots do. Every six months our pilots undergo a mandatory proficiency check ride with an FAA inspector or designated examiner, who also verifies the pilot’s knowledge of specified routes and the aircraft being flown.
What types of charter planes do you have available?
You will want to inquire about the available options for charter planes and how many seats each option offers. It’s likely that not every plane in the fleet will meet your unique needs and you will want assistance in finding the most optimal charter for your travels.
After selecting the model that best suits your needs, you may want to follow up with these important questions:
● When was the plane manufactured?
● How often does the fleet receive maintenance, upgrades, and refurbishments?
● How many flight hours has the jet clocked?
Don’t be afraid to get to know your plane. Your safety, comfort, and peace of mind are of the utmost importance.
Executive Air Transport offers a wide variety of high-quality aircrafts. Our fleet ranges in size from 5 to 9 passenger aircrafts. Some of our most popular options are Lear, Cessna, and King Air.
Are there any additional fees or costs included in the quote?
No one likes to be quoted one price and then receive a bill with loads of fees, taxes, and upcharges. To avoid this, ask for confirmation that your quote includes all additional fees. Unexpected charges can add up quickly.
Here are some additional charges to specifically ask for in your quote:
● Fuel
● Catering
● Ground handling
● Parking
● Permit
Ensuring that your quote includes all possible additional charges will make it easier for you when comparing quotes from competing charter companies.
Other questions you may want to consider asking:
● How flexible is scheduling?
● Is there a refund or reschedule policy?
● Are pets allowed?
● Does the company make efforts to offset the flight’s carbon impact?