Private jet charter terms explained
- Home
- Private jet charter terms explained
What our charter service does
We are a charter broker. When you ask us to arrange a private jet charter, we act as your agent to find a suitable aircraft and operator, negotiate the quote and coordinate the booking. We do not own or operate aircraft, and we do not provide air transportation ourselves. The flight is provided by an independent air carrier that holds its own FAA operating certificate and retains full operational control of the aircraft, crew and flight.
That distinction matters. The operator, not us, is responsible for the safety, scheduling and conduct of the flight. We handle the sourcing and the paperwork side: comparing options from different operators, confirming availability and passing along the terms that come with each aircraft.
Quotes are estimates until confirmed
Prices shown on this site and quoted during initial conversations are estimates, not binding offers. They reflect typical market rates for the aircraft class and route, based on factors such as distance, flight time, aircraft category and the season. For example, light jet pricing on westbound Hawaii routes generally falls in a range rather than a fixed number.
A quote becomes a confirmed booking only after the specific operator accepts the trip, the aircraft and crew are assigned and the operator's contract is signed. Fuel surcharges, crew overnights, landing and handling fees, deicing and repositioning can change the final figure. We will tell you when a number is still an estimate and when it has been confirmed.
Who operates your flight
Every flight we arrange is flown by a certificated air carrier that holds operational control. That phrase means the operator's pilots and dispatchers make the go/no-go decision, manage the flight plan, comply with maintenance and crew rest rules, and carry the operating certificate under which the flight is conducted. We do not direct the crew and cannot override the operator's decisions.
We select operators based on their certificates, insurance and reputation, but the operator remains the party legally responsible for the flight. If you have questions about a specific aircraft or operator, ask us and we will share what we have on file.
Payment, cancellation and changes
Payment terms, deposits, cancellation windows and refund policies are set by the operator and appear in the operator's charter contract. We will send you that contract before you commit. Cancellation close to departure typically carries a higher cost because the aircraft and crew have been reserved for your trip, and some operators charge the full amount inside a set window.
Changes to dates, routing or passenger counts may trigger a new quote or additional fees. We will confirm any change in writing with the operator before it takes effect. Federal excise tax and segment fees apply to charter flights and are generally itemized on the operator's invoice.
Taxes and government fees
Charter flights in the United States are subject to federal excise tax and per-passenger segment fees, which are collected by the operator and passed through. International legs may carry additional customs, immigration and overflight charges. These amounts are set by law or by the relevant authority and are not negotiable by us.
Airport-specific fees, such as landing and handling charges at the FBO, vary by location and are included in the operator's quote where known. We will flag any fee that is estimated rather than fixed.
Limitation of liability
We arrange transportation; we do not provide it. To the extent permitted by law, our liability for any claim arising from a charter is limited to the fees we earned on that booking. We are not liable for delays, diversions, cancellations or injuries caused by the operator, weather, air traffic control or other circumstances outside our control.
The operator's contract governs the flight itself, including its own liability limits and insurance. We recommend reading that contract carefully and asking questions before you sign. Nothing in these terms removes rights you have under applicable law.