10 Questions You Should Ask Before Booking a Private Jet And How Do You Get One?

By Paulette Salisbury, Founder & CEO — LuxJet Group

Most people spend more time researching a hotel room than they do vetting a private jet charter. I understand why — the process can feel opaque, the terminology is unfamiliar, and frankly, once you’re excited about a trip, the last thing you want to do is slow down and ask hard questions.

But this is aviation. The details matter.

I’ve been placing clients on private aircraft for years. I’ve seen bookings go flawlessly and I’ve seen them fall apart — and almost every bad experience could have been avoided if someone had asked the right questions upfront. These are the ten I tell every client to ask before they hand over a deposit.

1. Who actually operates this aircraft?

This one surprises people. When you book through a broker — and most people do — you’re not necessarily booking directly with the company that owns and flies the plane. There’s often an operator behind the scenes. That’s completely normal. But you should know who they are.

Ask for the operator’s name and look them up. Check their safety ratings. In the US, you can verify any Part 135 operator through the FAA. A reputable broker will give you this information without hesitation. If they’re evasive about it, that tells you something.

2. What are the aircraft’s safety certifications?

Every legitimate charter operator in the US flies under FAA Part 135 certification. In Europe, that equivalent is an AOC — Air Operator Certificate. This isn’t optional. It’s the legal baseline for commercial charter operations.

Beyond the regulatory minimum, ask whether the operator holds a WYVERN Wingman or ARG/US rating. These are third-party safety audits that go above and beyond what regulators require. The best operators pursue them voluntarily. It’s a signal worth paying attention to.

3. How old is the aircraft, and when was it last serviced?

Age alone isn’t a deal-breaker. A well-maintained 15-year-old aircraft can be safer than a newer one with a spotty maintenance record. What you want to know is when the plane last underwent its scheduled maintenance checks and whether there are any open items.

Ask for the tail number — the aircraft’s unique identifier — and you can look up its maintenance and incident history through the FAA registry. Most clients never do this. The ones who do are the ones I respect most.

4. Who are the pilots, and what’s their experience on this specific aircraft?

You wouldn’t hand your car keys to someone who’d never driven that model before. The same logic applies here. Ask about the pilots’ total flight hours and specifically their hours on the aircraft type you’re booking.

For transatlantic or complex international routes, experience matters even more. A great crew on a short domestic hop is table stakes. For anything longer or more complicated, I want to know those pilots have done it many times before.

5. What happens if something goes wrong before my flight?

Mechanical issues happen. Weather happens. The question is: what’s the plan when they do?

Ask your broker or operator directly: if this aircraft goes out of service 12 hours before my departure, what are my options? Do you have access to a replacement aircraft? Who covers the cost? Is there a guaranteed backup written into the contract?

The answer to this question separates professional operators from everyone else.

6. What exactly is included in the price?

Private jet pricing can be surprisingly variable. The base quote often covers the flight itself — but there are legitimate additional costs that can catch first-timers off guard. Landing fees. Overnight crew expenses if you’re keeping the plane. De-icing. Catering beyond the standard offering. International handling fees.

None of these are hidden in a dishonest sense — they’re real costs. But you want them spelled out before you sign anything, not itemized on an invoice after the trip. Ask for a full cost breakdown in writing.

7. What are the cancellation and change terms?

Life changes. Trips get moved. This is one of the most important questions you can ask and one of the most commonly skipped.

Cancellation policies vary significantly across operators and booking types. Some are flexible, especially on longer lead times. Others — particularly empty legs or heavily discounted charters — can be fully non-refundable. Know exactly what you’re agreeing to before you commit.

8. Is this route safe to fly right now?

I’ll be direct about this one because I’ve lived it. Sometimes a route isn’t advisable — weather, airspace restrictions, conditions at a destination airport. When a broker or operator tells you that, the answer isn’t to negotiate or push back. That’s a professional assessment, not an opening bid.

The clients who’ve had the worst experiences are the ones who pressured operators to fly when they shouldn’t have, or who shopped around until they found someone willing to say yes. Don’t be that client. Trust the people who do this every day.

9. What are the baggage and passenger rules?

Private jets are not commercial aircraft. Weight and balance matter differently. Some light jets have strict baggage limits. Some aircraft have specific rules about what can and cannot be brought on board.

If you’re traveling with unusual equipment — sports gear, instruments, medical devices, pets — raise it upfront. Don’t assume it’s fine because you’re on a private plane. The operator needs to plan for it, and you need to know if there are extra costs or limitations involved.

10. Can I see the contract before I commit?

This should go without saying, but read the contract. All of it.

A professional charter agreement will clearly outline the aircraft, the route, the schedule, the pricing, the cancellation terms, and the liability provisions. If something is vague, ask for clarification. If something doesn’t match what you were told verbally, flag it immediately.

The contract is your protection. Treat it like one.

The Bottom Line

Private aviation is one of the most efficient, comfortable, and genuinely impressive ways to travel. Done right, it’s seamless. Done carelessly, it’s expensive and stressful.

The clients who have the best experiences are the ones who ask good questions upfront and trust the professionals they’re working with. That’s not complicated — it’s just the right approach to any serious decision.

If you’re thinking about booking your first charter — or your fifteenth — and you want someone to walk you through it properly, that’s exactly what I’m here for.

 
What will de-icing cost — and what if we need it twice?

This is the question almost nobody thinks to ask, and it’s the one that can quietly add thousands of dollars to your trip.

If you’re flying in winter — heading to Chicago, New Hampshire, Aspen, or somewhere like the Swiss Alps for ski season — de-icing isn’t a maybe. It’s a reality you need to budget for. And here’s the part that catches people off guard: depending on how long you’re waiting on the runway for your takeoff slot, the aircraft may need to be de-iced a second time. The treatment has a limited window before it stops being effective. If you sit in a queue long enough, you go back to the start.

That second de-icing isn’t covered in your original quote. It’s an additional charge, billed on the spot, and it’s not negotiable — nor should it be. It’s a safety requirement.

At busy winter airports, queues for departure can run 45 minutes to over an hour. At ski destinations in peak season, it’s even longer. This isn’t the operator padding the bill. It’s just how winter aviation works.

Ask upfront. Get an estimate for a single de-icing and ask what a second one would cost if needed. A good broker will factor this into your planning so it doesn’t blindside you on travel day.

Have a trip in mind? Get in touch and let’s talk through it.

Paulette Salisbury is the Founder and CEO of LuxJet Group, a private aviation brokerage serving Fortune 500 executives, high profile families, and discerning travelers worldwide. With 25 years in commercial and private aviation, Paulette brings a personal standard to every booking that no algorithm can replicate.

Ready to get your custom quote?Call or message Paulette directly at +1 (646) 944-0299, email contact@theluxjetgroup.com, or visit www.theluxjetgroup.com.