(content by Muhammed H)
Taking a ride on a private jet is the luxury travel experience of a lifetime. There is nothing in the world that’s quite the same or as comfortable as a flight in your own private aircraft! Once you board that jet, you know that your safety and comfort will be looked after by the best possible cabin crew and the most well-trained pilots. With the cabin all to yourself, you’ll sip on delicious drinks and nibble on heavenly meals while you watch the world slip past underneath you.
Instead of the stress of flying on a commercial airline and battling crowds in your checking line, you’re about to experience just how smooth and wonderful a flying experience can be. If this is your first time, we’ve got all the tips on what you can expect and the etiquette expected from you to make it even more magical.
What To Expect
Flying on your first charter plane is so vastly different from any commercial flight experience that you’re likely to feel a bit uncertain and slightly overwhelmed. Fear not! That’s where we come in. This is what you can expect to be different on your private flight.
- Flexibility. A private flight sets its takeoff time according to your needs or wishes, not to a schedule dictated by the airline. This means you can schedule your takeoff to ensure you land at a time that works best for you, rather than arriving at your destination at some awful hour in the morning and struggling to find a taxi.
- Convenience. No long lines or sharing a plane with strangers for you! The amount of time wasted and stress you avoid by choosing to fly private cannot be understated. Only share your space with the cabin crew or your party, stretch out as much as you like and have the luxury of extra luggage allowance.
- Luxury. Private aircraft these days are really like flying hotels. If you book one of the smaller jets, you’ll get plush, comfy seating that expands into a bed for naps or overnight flights. You’ll also get a far wider variety and better quality of meals and snacks. If you book one of the bigger jets, you might be treated to a full bed, a shower, a seating area that has a couch as well as seats, and a small galley for freshly prepared meals. You’ll have access to wifi so you can stay in touch with people on the ground, research your destination, or get a few last-minute bits of work out of the way. You’ll also get better screens and accessories for entertainment so that you enjoy every second of your time in the air.
Private Jet Etiquette
Etiquette is always important, whether you’re on a private aircraft or not. There are a few things you should remember when you embark on your first private jet flight.
1. Arrive Early, But Not Too Early
If you’re flying on a commercial airline, you’ll need to arrive at the airport two to three hours before your flight, depending on your destination. With private aviation, that’s not the case, but that doesn’t mean you can be late. We recommend arriving about 30 minutes before your scheduled flight time to get through the checkout process, hand over your luggage, board, and be seated in time for takeoff. The plane will wait for you if you’re late, of course, but it’s bad manners to keep an entire crew waiting.
2. Remember All Your Documents
ID, travel documents, and passport are all essentials that you cannot, under any circumstances, leave at home. This would likely mean a seriously delayed flight as you’d have to head home to retrieve them, and possibly penalties depending on the company that you’ve booked with.
3. Consider Tipping the Crew
This may not be an option depending on your circumstances, but if they allow, we encourage you to consider tipping your crew. Yes, they are paid very well as private flight attendants, but showing your appreciation for top-notch service with a little something extra is good etiquette. At the very least, be polite and say a big thank you for all their hard work after the flight.
4. Ask Questions With Time To Spare
If you have any questions or concerns, try to address them as far in advance as you can. This will ease your mind and make the experience as pleasant as possible for you, but it’ll also allow all staff and crew to provide information, support, or reassurance before you’re down to the wire and it’s time to take off. Naturally, there will be last-minute exceptions to this rule that are unavoidable, but try your best.
5. Dress Appropriately
Since the private jet is all yours for the duration of the flight, you can dress any way you want, but a certain level of sophistication is usually expected. Dressing appropriately means neat, clean, and well-fitting attire. We’re not talking tuxedos and evening gowns; jeans and sweaters are perfectly acceptable, but pick items without stains and holes. Find your middle ground of comfortable travel clothes and a tidy appearance.
6.Be The Kind Of Guest You’d Like To Serve
Your crew is paid to do the job of looking after your wants, needs, and safety, true. But it costs you nothing to be kind and polite to them. Be the kind of guest you would like to serve if the roles were reversed. This includes not being horrifically messy and having basic consideration for others.
Get Ready To Fly
Now that you’re prepped and ready for your first private jet experience, you’re going to have the trip of a lifetime. Once you fly private, you’ll never want to fly any other way.
