As a savvy traveler, you must consider all of your options, and weigh them for each trip by your own set of priorities. Are you looking to go for less money, or the highest level of luxury, or something that splits the difference. One option available of course is to rent a private jet, and even among the wealthiest of travelers the choice to fly private is not a flippant decision. Often times in the media, we see jet setting portrayed as just tell someone to “have the jet ready”, but in the real world, is this how it works? Let’s break down renting a private jet and see what it takes and what the best methods are.
Each and every trip starts with point A to point B. Maybe there are more points than that, but the idea is, you are here, and you need to go there at some point. Now let’s ask ourselves some questions. Are we coming back? If so when? If your flight is a one way, point a to b flight, then a private jet one-way price may be a good option for you. You will need to be flexible on date, time and private jet size to get that one-way flight pricing, if not you will pay for a same day round trip price, which isn’t so bad if you aren’t looking for the best bargain. If you are looking to return home a few days later, then you fit right into the main bulk of private jet users, the round trip private jet flight option. But if you’re looking to stay for a week or two, you may be looking at the multiple round trip prices, which can be hefty.
You have planned your trip, you have the dates you want to fly, and you are certain you will fly private on this trip, or at least you want to get a good idea of the price, so you can make that final decision. There are several options before you as to who to contact, a broker, an operator, or a friend with a jet. If you don’t have the last, then you will be paying one of the other two for the flight. An operator is one of several types of companies that either own a private jet or fleet of jets, or they manage jets for the aircraft owners, chartering them out when they are not being used. If you live in a major hub like New York or LA, then you have a large number of operators to contact. If you live in Birmingham, Alabama, you may have only 2 or 3 options, and your aircraft choice is limited. An operator will be able to give you a quote on the aircraft in their fleet at a retail price, and if you are planning to fly out of their airport, you may be able to do fairly well. But if their aircraft is not available, you have to keep searching, and if it is available, how do you know you’re getting the best deal?
At the simplest point, a private jet charter broker is a professional that matches clients to the aircraft they need. But bottom line is there is, or should, be much more to your broker than that. Your broker should be as good as the sales staff, the dispatchers, and the pilots of the operator of the aircraft combined. Booking your trip goes so far beyond point A to B and finding the cheapest jet. What aircraft is right for your trip, and why? Are there any major issues, permits, customs problems with your trip that need to be dealt with ahead of time? If an operator has a fleet of 3 light jets, and two midsize jets, will they try to squeeze your group of 8 into that midsize for a 4 hour flight, even though your budget allows for a super mid? A broker will start off with looking at every angle to find the right fit of aircraft and price. Is there a transient aircraft in the area that would do this trip without minimums? Is there a nearby operator they know gives great pricing, discounting the positioning legs? Hand in hand with knowing the operators is aircraft selection. Your broker will be able to walk you through the steps of choosing the right aircraft for you trip. How many passengers do you have? How far are you traveling? What is your budget? You don’t want to pack to many people into the wrong size aircraft, making for an experience that was not worth the money you paid. A rule of thumb is that as motion picture plays for about 2 hours, that’s about how long people will sit in the same seat. If you are in the air for more than 2.5 hours, you might want to make sure there at least two more seats than passengers, so that your guests can move around a little.
Each trip is going to be a unique situation with a unique set of solutions. If you are using an operator, even one with a large fleet of jets, it does not mean they are used to out of the ordinary situation. A large jet operator isn’t used to short light jet flights. Or an operator in Houston may be focused on trips to Mexico, but not trips to Europe. If your broker has experience, then that means they have seen it all, and if they haven’t seen it yet, they won’t be flustered. They will help you through each situation with a cool head. So when you have figured out what sort of aircraft fits your trip, your broker can present you with three or four aircraft options to choose from. Get pictures, and the year of make of the aircraft and make sure your broker does a background check on the operator. Once you have picked your aircraft, you will make payment by a wire transfer or credit card (cc is always the more expensive option, so try to get things rolling at least a day or two before the flight so you can wire). Your broker will walk you through documents and passenger information you need to present, ordering catering, booking a car at your destination and any other concierge services you need to make your trip as special as it should be.
Renting a private jet can be a complicated and time consuming task, but it does not have to be. With the right team on your side, you will find that it can be a fun and rewarding. Many clients enjoy the planning process and enjoy being involved in the details of how to rent a private jet. What you do not want is to spend weeks of hassle and running around, only to end up paying too much for the wrong aircraft. You should feel like your money is well spent, and that you have made the right decisions and received the best price and value. When you land at your destination you should be looking forward to sending an email your broker, letting them know how great your trip was. Flying privately should be the great lead into every successful business trip or vacation. Have fun, and be successful!
Contact Paramount Business Jets to rent a private jet today at +1-877-727-2538.
