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Planning guide

What to ask
before you book

The right questions before you book protect your safety, your budget, and your time. This guide sets out what to ask the party arranging your flight and why each answer matters.

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Safety first

Confirm who operates the aircraft

Every charter flight is flown by an operator who holds the air operator certificate, employs or contracts the crew, and is responsible for the aircraft. Ask who that operator is, what certificate they hold, and where it is issued. If you are speaking with a broker, a professional will name the operator without hesitation.

Once you know the operator, ask about their safety record, any independent safety ratings they hold, and the insurance carried for your trip. The operator is the party whose credentials matter most, so this is the first thing to confirm.

The aircraft

Match the aircraft to the trip

Ask which aircraft category is proposed and why it suits your route, your passenger count, and your luggage. The right answer connects the distance you are flying and the number of seats you need to a sensible aircraft choice rather than simply offering whatever is free.

Confirm the specific aircraft, its cabin layout, and its age at the quote stage. A good advisor will be precise about what you are getting rather than describing a category in the abstract.

The price

Understand what the quote includes

A charter price can be quoted as a single all in figure or as a base price with extras added later. Ask what is included and what is not. Common additions are landing and handling fees, catering, taxes, repositioning, de icing in winter, and overnight crew costs on multi day trips.

Ask whether the figure is indicative or firm, and what could move it before you confirm. Prices vary with aircraft, availability, and routing, so an honest advisor will explain the range rather than promise a number that later changes.

The crew

Ask about the crew and experience

Charter aircraft are flown by professional crews, typically two pilots, with cabin crew on larger aircraft. Ask whether the pilots are current and experienced on the specific aircraft type you will fly, since type currency matters more than total hours alone.

If you have specific service needs, ask whether cabin crew are included on your aircraft and what they can provide. Clear answers here help set expectations for the day of travel.

The contract

Read the terms before you sign

Before you commit, read the cancellation and change terms, and understand what happens if weather or a technical issue affects your flight. Ask who your point of contact is on the day and how recovery is handled if an aircraft becomes unavailable.

When you are ready, send your route and dates and we will route your enquiry to vetted charter partners and return an indicative price band, so you can compare answers on equal terms.

Request a charter quote

Tell us your route and dates and we will route your enquiry to vetted charter partners and return an indicative price band.

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