Whether you have chartered for years or you’re looking at your first private flight to Orlando, bring us your questions. We’ve pulled together the ones we get asked most often below.
If yours isn’t here, just call or email us and we’ll answer it.
General Questions
When can I reach you?
Anytime. Whatever time zone you’re in or heading to, someone is available to help with your trip. We work day and night, 24/7/365.
Do you offer supplemental lift for aircraft owners?
Yes! We’ve worked with corporate flight departments to fill the gap when a replacement aircraft is needed, whether that’s a second jet for overlapping trips or something with more range than the in-house fleet can manage. It’s also useful when an aircraft goes unexpectedly unavailable. Fractional owners use supplemental lift too, chartering outside their plan so they can spend their program hours where those hours go furthest.
How do you protect my privacy?
Your privacy matters to us. Passenger details and flight itineraries are treated as confidential, and information is shared strictly on a need-to-know basis with the people who need it to run your trip.
What are airport slots?
A slot is prior permission from the airport and Air Traffic Control to land at a particular airport during a busy period, usually a major event when ramp space and parking are expected to be tight. In plain terms, it’s a reserved arrival window. Orlando sees this around large conventions and event weekends. If your trip needs one, your advisor will talk you through it. You can read more about how airport slots work.
What's the benefit of having a dedicated advisor?
You deal with one person rather than whoever picks up. Your advisor knows your trip, your preferences, and what you asked for last time, and stays with you from the first quote through to arrival.
Why should I work with you?
Because the work happens before you ever see an option. By the time a quote reaches you, we’ve already checked the operator’s certificate, read its safety record, and looked at whether the crew have genuine time on that aircraft type. We also hold a broker-level safety credential that very few brokers worldwide carry. Our safety and vetting page explains what that involves.
Do you have an office in Orlando?
We’re a US-based charter broker headquartered in the Philadelphia region, with team members and affiliates around the world. We arrange flights through the Orlando-area airports regularly, and we coordinate your trip from your home airport through our operator network wherever you’re departing from. Call us for your next flight and we’ll put together a no-obligation quote.
Who are your clients?
All sorts, with very different needs. We arrange private jets for leisure and corporate travel, air cargo charter, celebrity and professional sports team transportation, relocation and evacuation assistance, and non-emergency medical charter flights. There’s more we can help with, so just ask.
Do you offer shared flights?
Not in the sense of selling you a seat next to a stranger. We arrange completely private flights under FAR Part 135 rules, the FAA’s standard for on-demand, for-hire charter, or the foreign equivalent. By law we can only sell a flight to one entity. So if you want to put a group together and split the cost among yourselves, you can absolutely do that, but we contract with one person, and that person is our single point of contact and carries the financial and legal responsibility for the flight. This is separate from FAR Part 380, which covers public charters where individual seats are sold.
Booking and Pre-Flight Questions
Are there luggage limits I should know about?
Every aircraft has a different baggage compartment size and weight limit, so tell us what you’re bringing when you request the quote. Baggage is generally stowed in the aft compartment or the nose. Soft-sided bags travel better if you’re trying to maximize what fits. If you’ve got fragile or oversized items, golf clubs, skis, or mobility equipment, give us a call and we’ll walk through the options.
Can you arrange my transportation to and from the airport?
Yes. With enough notice before your flight, we can do the legwork to help you locate and arrange ground transportation through a third-party vendor, whether that’s a luxury chauffeured sedan, a stretch limousine, a Sprinter-style van, or even an armored vehicle, to and from Orlando Executive, Orlando International, or wherever your trip starts and ends.
Do you arrange tours, hotels, or concierge services?
Not directly. We put our attention into arranging your flight properly. That said, we’ve built relationships with a number of organizations over the years, so if you need something beyond the flight, ask your advisor and we’ll point you in the right direction.
Which airports can I fly into and out of?
Far more than the commercial airlines serve. Around Orlando you have Orlando Executive (KORL) closest to downtown, Orlando International (KMCO) for the largest aircraft, Kissimmee Gateway (KISM) nearest the theme park corridor, and Orlando Sanford (KSFB) on the north side in Sanford. Each airport and each aircraft comes with its own requirements, and runway length is one of the things that decides what can operate where. International trips need to route through a customs airport. We’ll get you as close to your final destination as the aircraft and the airport allow, and we’ll explain the trade-offs when we quote.
How do I pay for my charter flight?
Most clients choose to pay via wire transfer in order to accommodate a 5 percent cash payment discount. If you choose to pay via credit card, the 5 percent cash payment discount will be forfeited. We accept American Express, Visa, and Mastercard. Payment is required in full at the time of booking, and we hold a credit card on file as a guarantee for incidentals. Please see our Charter Broker Agreement Standard Terms and Conditions for current payment terms, which are subject to change.
How do I decide which aircraft is right for me?
We will help you decide which aircraft to use for your flight. The variables that help determine the best fit will be based on the trip distance, the number of passengers, volume of your baggage, and aircraft/runway performance. Our goal is to narrow the options down and send you a list to choose from. You can also browse our aircraft categories to get a feel for the differences first.
How far in advance should I book?
Sooner is better for availability, but we’d rather not give you a firm quote too far out. Aircraft availability shifts, so the further ahead you are, the less a quote tells you. We usually suggest reaching out closer to your trip date for firmer numbers. Short notice is often workable too, sometimes the same day, depending on your routing and what’s available.
What documentation do I need?
The type of ID required will depend on if your trip is 100 percent domestic, or if it is international. International trips require a valid passport and in some cases a Visa. While domestic travel may only require a compliant identification such as a REAL ID driver license. Documents required for international travel must be presented to the flight crew before boarding, and boarding will be denied without the documentation the law or customs requires.
What happens after I book?
You’ll get your charter itinerary by email. It confirms your reservation and sets out the travel dates and estimated departure times, the flight segments we’ve arranged, the aircraft type, and anything else you asked for when booking.
What happens if there's bad weather?
Mother Nature throws the occasional curveball, and around here that usually arrives as an afternoon thunderstorm in the summer months. Before departure your advisor watches for any weather advisory that might affect your schedule, and you’ll hear from us rather than finding out at the airport. The operator and the pilot in command hold the final say on takeoff and landing, and they’ll work to avoid weather where they can, though delays do sometimes happen.
In-Flight Questions
Can I smoke on my flight?
Some people fly private for exactly this reason. If smoking matters to you, tell us before we quote, because not every aircraft owner permits it and it needs arranging in advance rather than on the day.
Do the aircraft have bathrooms?
It depends on the size of the aircraft. Charter aircraft run from two-seat pistons up to airliners, and as a rule the smaller the aircraft, the fewer amenities fit on board. You may hear the bathroom called the lav or lavatory. On larger aircraft it’s a fully enclosed space with a toilet, a sink, and room to change. On the smallest aircraft it may be a curtained seat or nothing at all. Ask when you’re choosing and we’ll tell you exactly what’s on the one you’re looking at.
Can I fly with my pets? Horses, dogs, cats and birds, oh my!
We are very pet friendly, but not all aircraft owners are. Make sure to let us know about your pet prior to contracting. We will need to know the type of pet, your pet weight, and breed. With that, we’ll find an aircraft and an operator happy to carry them.
What is a qualified flight crew?
It means the pilots flying you meet the FAA’s FAR Part 135 requirements for on-demand, for-hire charter, and that we’ve confirmed they have real experience and are current on the specific aircraft type you’ll be a passenger on. The total flight experience a pilot may have is a good indicator of general experience – but the hours a pilot has in the particular aircraft you will be a passenger on matters – and sometimes more.
Which terminal do I use at the airport?
Usually a private terminal called an FBO, short for fixed-base operator. It’s the private-passenger equivalent of a commercial terminal, and it’s where private aircraft park and refuel. Most FBOs at the airports we use offer a lounge area, restrooms, and complimentary refreshments. Smaller airports may use a general aviation building or have minimal facilities, and a few have no terminal at all. Your advisor will confirm what to expect at your specific airport before you travel.
Who operates the aircraft?
A certificated air carrier, not us. We search for aircraft with minimal repositioning fees and competitive pricing wherever your trip starts, then present you with options. Once you’ve selected one, we secure it, and your itinerary tells you the operator and the tail number before you fly. We act as an agent in arranging charter flights for our customers, and the carrier flying you keeps full operational control throughout.
Is there Wi-Fi, entertainment, and phone on board?
The entertainment tech on aircraft has slowly become more and more accessible. Many aircraft have Wi-Fi, televisions, satellite phones, music and entertainment systems, device connectivity. Availability varies by aircraft and additional charges may apply, so ask when you’re choosing between options. See the Charter Broker Agreement Standard Terms and Conditions for details.
Will there be a flight attendant on board?
Some aircraft require a cabin attendant and some don’t. Upon booking your flight, please let us know prior to the quoting process if this is something you require on your trip.
Have Another Question?
Ask us. Call +1 (888) 987-5387 or send us a message, and one of our Orlando advisors will get back to you. Don’t hesitate to reach out.