While private jet charters can fly to a major airport if that’s the best airport for your destination, they don’t have to. Private jet charters can fly to many regional and smaller airports that may be closer to your destination instead. An exception may be if you’re flying internationally and a major airport is the only one with customs officials available. If that’s the case, your aircraft would have to make a customs stop, but then could continue on to your final destination at the airport of your choice.

The range of a private jet depends on its size. Smaller jets are ideal for short flights, while larger aircraft are better suited for long flights. While it’s possible for a smaller jet to make fuel stops in order to make a longer flight, this lengthens the duration of the flight and may not be possible for a long-haul international flight that crosses an ocean.

Unlike a commercial flight, a private jet charter doesn’t have to stop for layovers. Typically, you can fly directly to your destination without stopping. However, there are exceptions. If your flight is long and the aircraft is not large enough to carry enough fuel for the duration of the flight, fuel stops may be necessary. In addition, if you’re flying internationally, you may need to make a customs stop when you enter the country.

If you are flying internationally, you will have to go through customs, whether you’re flying on a private jet charter or on a commercial flight. Depending on the country, you may have to stop at a specific airport to go through customs before continuing on to your final destination. In some cases, the private jet operator may be able to obtain a permit to bypass that first port of entry and go through customs at your final destination instead.

Wherever you go through customs, you’ll need to declare anything of value that you’re bringing into the country, including cash. There are very few exceptions, such as medical emergencies, that would allow a flight to bypass customs entirely upon arrival. Fortunately, when you fly private, customs is quick and takes typically fifteen minutes or less. In addition, the customs officials will come to you, rather than you having to go to them.

The number of passengers you can have on a private jet charter depends on the size of the aircraft. A light jet, for example, may be able to carry up to 7 passengers, depending on the seat configuration. A mid-size jet can carry up to 9 passengers and a heavy jet can carry up to 18 passengers.

Flying on a private jet charter is faster than flying commercially for multiple reasons. First, when you fly via private jet charter, you don’t have to arrive hours ahead of time at the airport. While there are security checks, there’s no line for it. Additionally, private jet passengers don’t need to arrive hours ahead of time to check in and wait at the gate. With fewer passengers, a private flight boards more quickly as well.

On top of that, once you’re in the air, a private jet charter can fly directly to your destination instead of stopping at an airport that may be in the opposite direction for a layover. Plus, private jets are often able to climb faster than commercial jets and also fly faster, shaving precious time off of your journey.

A benefit of flying on a private jet charter is that you’re flying on your own schedule rather than that of an airline. This means there can be some flexibility with your departure time, even if you’ve booked a charter for a specific time. Typically, there’s a departure window of around two hours. It may be possible to request a longer window if you need it, but only if it won’t interfere with regular operations of the private jet operator.

Many private jet brokers, West Palm Jet Charter included, offer 24/7 concierge services. It’s through the concierge that all details of your flight are managed, from in-flight requests to ground transportation. We pride ourselves on offering the best possible customer service to our clients and will do our best to ensure that their every need is taken care of.

Unlike commercial flights, where your carry-on bags are limited in both size and number and where you may have to pay for checked bags, the only limitation to what you can take with you on a private jet is the luggage capacity of the aircraft. Larger aircraft can hold more bags than smaller aircraft can. For example, a light jet might hold between 5 and 6 pieces of luggage, while a mid-size jet could hold up to 8. The only real restrictions are based on what can fit on the aircraft.