Luxury gets a bad rep for being about champagne and leather, but some of the best-kept secrets are surprisingly, well, reasonable. For many people, this starts with the idea of private jet travel: How to book a private jet, when to book, and what to expect. Spoiler alert: When it comes to preparing for private jet travel, it’s much easier to get access than you might expect (even with its reputation for efficiency).
Fly Private for the First Time
Whether you’re booking a milestone celebration, a work trip, or simply when you’ve had enough of delayed, jostled travel, here’s how to book a private jet and what to expect for the first time in the sky.
Step One: Figure out How to Book a Private Jet
The big question when first trying to figure out how to book a private jet is no longer, “Who do I know who knows someone?” The industry, still small but growing, now has easy-access tech tools and brokers aplenty. Companies such as Platinum Jets have dramatically streamlined the process of searching aircraft type, departure time, and pick-up location, and have made it as easy to book a private jet as booking a regular one through one of the major travel brokers. Charter a jet one time on-demand, save up flight hours with a jet card (basically prepaid flight time), or just for fun, see what fractional ownership would be like if you’re a serial private flier.
The strategy comes in narrowing what you need: speed and efficiency, room to stretch and high-end luxury, convenience, location, or, ideally, all the above. If you have a broker, it’s also helpful to figure out what kind of aircraft best suits the trip. Charter companies have a range of options from speedy turboprops for short hops to long-range intercontinental Gulfstreams engineered for maximum comfort. Private jet brokers will also be able to take that info and find a range of jet options to choose from.
Step Two: There’s Always a Surprise (the Good Kind)
The booking process may be easier than ever before, but the actual travel portion is truly what is a pleasant surprise when you first book a private jet. When private jet travel was only done by the rich, famous, and powerful, starting at a terminal in an airport didn’t make much sense. Most private jet trips start at an FBO, which stands for fixed-base operator, or a private terminal. You arrive a few minutes before departure time; staff welcome you by name, process paperwork, and cart your bags out to the plane.
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