First-Time Flying Private? Here’s Everything You Need to Know

This guide is designed to walk you through everything you need to know before chartering a private jet for the first time. Here's what you'll take away:

• Why People Choose to Fly Private: It isn’t just about luxury — flying private saves you time, gets you closer to your destination, keeps your pets by your side, and gives you total control over your schedule.
• How the Booking Process Works: You’ll learn how to charter your first jet in four clear steps: define your needs, review aircraft options, customize your experience, and confirm your flight with peace of mind.
• What Kind of Jet You Should Choose: You’ll understand the differences between light, midsize, and heavy jets so you can pick the best aircraft for your trip, whether you're flying short hops or crossing oceans.
• What to Expect at the Airport and Onboard: From arriving at a private terminal to receiving a personalized welcome onboard, you’ll get a preview of the seamless, crowd-free, individualized experience that makes private jet travel so refreshing.
• Helpful Travel Tips Just for First Timers: You’ll know how to pack smarter, what type of luggage fits best, and how to avoid the most common mistakes new flyers make — all before you even step onboard.
• Why the Experience Feels so Personal: You’ll discover how private aviation makes you feel seen, with crew greeting you by name, advisors anticipating your needs, and every part of the journey designed around you.
• How Your Advisor Supports You: When you choose Paramount Business Jets, you’ll get access to a dedicated expert working on your behalf — someone who handles everything from aircraft selection to catering to recovering funds if plans change.
• What Makes Paramount Different: You’ll learn why so many VIPs trust Paramount Business Jets: from our transparent pricing to our world-class safety practices, our mission is to protect your time, your investment, and your peace of mind.

It’s My First Time Flying a Private Jet: What Should I Expect?

Chartering a private jet for the first time is probably both exciting and overwhelming. With luxury, speed, and flexibility at your fingertips, flying private offers an experience unlike any other. However, if you're new to the process, it can be hard to know where to begin or what’s normal.

What type of aircraft do you need? What information should you have ready before you book? What should you expect when you fly on a private jet? How does the booking process work? You probably have a lot of questions. Thankfully, at Paramount Business Jets, we’ve been involved in the private aviation industry for over two decades, so we’ve got answers!

This guide is designed to address the most common questions first-time flyers ask while walking beginners through each step of booking a private jet, from collecting trip details to understanding how chartering works. It’s also designed to provide helpful private jet travel tips for beginners.

It’s our genuine hope that the information provided helps ensure a smooth, comfortable, and stress-free first private trip for you!

Why Do People Fly Private?: 5+ Reasons

There are several good reasons why travelers choose private aviation over commercial aviation. When most people think about private jets, mental images of luxury and excess come to mind. From 007 to Gordon Gekko, many of TV and movies’ most famous (and infamous) characters fly privately, popping champagne, eating caviar, liaising with the world’s rich and famous, and generally indulging in the finer things in life.

While private jet travel is certainly a privilege, is it a luxury? The reality is much more nuanced.

Today’s private jets are as technologically advanced and feature-packed as ever. Models from every nameplate from Gulfstream to Bombardier offer everything from premium leather seats that fully recline to televisions with surround sound for unwinding to full office suites for conference calls.

Many planes even offer private sleeping quarters and bathrooms with showers for longer journeys. On medium to large jets, flight attendants and even private chefs aren’t uncommon.

Flying privately is certainly an enjoyable – some might even say indulgent – experience compared to the cramped quarters you experience in economy seats on commercial airliners. Flying privately is, as the name implies, also more exclusive than flying business class or first class commercially.

But, dig a little deeper into who’s flying and why, and you’ll note that there are a variety of valid reasons for flying privately aside from the opulence often associated with doing so, including:

• Convenience: No need to wade through crowds. No need to wait in long security lines. No need to get to the airport 2-3 hours early or more. Flying privately offers an abundance of convenience, whether flying for business or pleasure.
• Pet Travel: A SherpaReport survey indicated that many families with pets – especially larger dogs – choose to fly privately to bring them along on trips.
• Safety: High-profile business executives, government officials, celebrities, and anyone else who requires a safe and private means of getting from point A to point B often skip commercial flights.
• Scheduling: People who need the freedom to fly on their schedule instead of an airline’s often fly privately.
• Access: When flying privately, you can often reach destinations or airports you wouldn’t otherwise be able to. In the U.S., for instance, there are about 5,000 regional and private airports and about 500 commercial ones.

The Bottom Line: According to a 2020 Statista survey, saving time (convenience) is the top reason people choose to fly privately, and the ability to use airports that commercial airlines don’t serve is the second most important reason.

How to Charter a Private Jet for the First Time

Every private jet broker or operator’s booking process is a little different, so you might want to reach out to confirm the process with any you’re interested in working with.

Generally speaking, however, chartering a private jet involves the following steps.

1. Initiate Contact & Define Needs

Reach out to any private aviation provider you’re interested in working with. Explain your travel requirements to them, including:

• Party size/passenger count
• Any aircraft size preferences or questions (i.e., “What size aircraft do I need to have a flight attendant?”, or “What size aircraft do I need to take a transatlantic flight?”).
• Desired departure and arrival cities
• Desired travel dates and times
• Luggage needs

Note: Before reaching out, we recommend brushing up on private aviation etiquette norms for things like booking, dress code, making changes, and more.

2. Evaluate Aircraft Options

Most private jet operators will provide you with a selection of aircraft that meet your criteria. You should compare these choices based on factors like safety records, aircraft age or refurbishment status, and passenger reviews.

Not sure which aircraft will be best?: Just ask! A reputable operator will be able to assist you while keeping your best interests in mind. (This is especially true for brokers who work for you as opposed to owner-operators).

3. Customize Your Journey

Want in-flight catering? Travelling with pets? Looking for ground transportation arrangements? How about personal security? All of the above – and more – is available when flying privately.

Did You Know? At Paramount Business Jets, in particular, we have an entire Trip Support department dedicated solely to helping you customize your flight experience.  

4. Confirm & Enjoy Your Flight

Finalize your details, get a quote (at Paramount, our quotes are all-inclusive), pay for your flight, receive confirmation, and get ready to jet!

Which Type of Jet Should You Choose?

There’s no right or wrong answer to this question. Your needs and preferences will ultimately determine the best jet for your next trip. That being said, the following generalizations typically apply when choosing between different sizes of private planes:

• Light Jets: Best for 2-7 passengers and short-range flights.
• Midsize Jets: Best for coast-to-coast U.S. trips and around 7-9 passengers.
• Heavy Jets: Best for larger groups, international flights, and luxury travel.

Not Sure Where to Start?:

• Read more information about aircraft sizes and seating capacities now.
• Or, compare specific aircraft using our aircraft comparison tool.

What to Expect When You Fly on a Private Jet

The overall experience of flying privately differs significantly from the overall experience of flying commercially. We’ve already covered how booking works and touched on the luxurious quality of the in-flight experience. But what about the departure and boarding experiences?

When you get to your departing airport, you’ll arrive at a Fixed Base Operator (FBO) in a private terminal. You should plan to arrive 15-30 minutes before your flight is scheduled to depart and be prepared to present your ID (as of May 7, 2025, it must be a REAL ID). Not long afterward, you should be escorted to your aircraft.

Once you get into your aircraft, you’ll receive a personalized welcome and an in-flight experience catered to your needs and customization requests.

Helpful Private Jet Travel Tips for First Timers (Plus 7 Mistakes to Avoid)

Baggage Tip: Many newcomers to private jet travel think they can take as much luggage with them as they want. But this is not true. Even on large jets, there is a limit to the baggage that can be accommodated. Whether you’re taking skis, golf clubs, or medical equipment with you, be sure to talk to your private jet charter company about baggage capacity maximums.

Packing Tip: Keep essentials in a carry-on just like you would when flying commercially. You still want access to personal effects such as your ID, valuables, and medications. Use soft-sided luggage to maximize space, especially if flying in a smaller plane (some aircraft, like the Hawker 800, do not have exterior cargo holds).

The top 7 mistakes we see new private jet travelers make are:

• Booking the wrong jet for your trip
• Choosing inefficient airports or FBOs
• Overlooking essential onboard amenities
• Ignoring baggage limitations
• Booking too early or too late
• Misunderstanding private boarding procedures
• Working with an unvetted or inexperienced charter provider

Get the details here.

The Human Touch: What Makes Private Jet Travel Truly Different

Even after reading all of the above, if you’re accustomed to flying commercially, you might be surprised at just how different it feels to fly privately.

One comment we get from first-time private jet passengers often is that the experience feels deeply personal.

• You’re More Than Just Another Traveler in Line: Both when you arrive at the FBO, and when you get onboard your aircraft, it’s not uncommon to be greeted by your first name. There’s no confusion, no gate changes, and little to no hassle.
• You’re in Command: The in-flight experience is centered around your unique needs and desires as opposed to the corporate agenda of a commercial airline and its bottom line. From your choice of sparkling wine to the cabin temperature, you exert influence over every detail.
• The Experience is Less Emotionally Charged: There’s no rush, no crowds, and no overhead announcements. Just white-glove service.

Your Advisor is Your Advocate

At Paramount Business Jets, we aim to be your partner in flight. We match you with a flight advisor who takes care of every detail of your booking while also:

• Reviewing safety audits and operator history
• Helping recover funds if/when plans change
• Coordinating special needs/preferences
• Providing 24/7 support

That’s right – not only will FBO staff and in-flight crew be trained to cater to your every need, but you’ll also have access to a dedicated advisor acting as your advocate, adding yet another layer of personalization and convenience to the experience of flying privately.

Experience the Paramount Business Jets Difference

Whether you are flying privately for the first time or just flying privately with Paramount Business Jets for the first time, we invite you to experience the difference that booking private air travel with us can make.

We believe that every private jet experience should feel effortless, exciting, and centered around you.

At Paramount Business Jets, we cater to many lifelong private travelers by offering an experience rooted in trust, safety, and impeccable service. Ready to join the leagues of others who know what it means to fly privately from firsthand experience?

We’re here to help! Get your customized private charter quote now.