7 factors to consider before renting a private jet
Chartering a plane for personal use is a big deal. Unsurprisingly, there are many steps associated with the entire process of renting an entire jet to oneself. Knowing certain consideration factors is critical, as overlooking even a single aspect of the process, be it hidden costs or the plane’s flying history, can slow down or derail one’s chances. So, here are some other factors one must check before committing to renting a private jet.
Information about the chartering company/owner
Individuals can rent a private jet from an owner or a charter business for a specific amount of time. An essential part of preparing to charter a jet is to delve deep into the history and working operations of the business or owner of the jet. Ideally, booking a jet through a legitimate business, as opposed to an owner, ensures a better quality of service. Research about the business can be done in various ways: visiting the website of the business, asking for client references, and reading customer testimonies, among others. Checking these details lets individuals know everything about the business that rents them the flight. More importantly, it brings a sense of predictability to the steps ahead. Trust, dependability, and predictability are vital to ensuring that the persons using the jet are well looked after.
Proximity to the airport
A common mistake people make when it comes to the private jet rental process is to focus too much on the plane itself without thinking about external factors. One such external factor is how close the departure and arrival airports are to the place from where the persons flying will be picked up and dropped off. If this distance is too great, then everyone involved will need to adjust their work schedules and the daily agenda for meetings based on the ETAs (and other aspects like traffic and weather conditions). Therefore, before renting a jet, one must know which airport the plane flies out of and how far away it is from one’s current location.
Baggage requirements
Ideally, the baggage requirement must not have any limitations on a private jet. However, in many instances, when there are several passengers on board, the aircraft provider may issue certain limitations on the luggage space. Also, different planes have varying degrees of cargo capacity. Individuals can choose planes that have walk-in access to cargo areas so that they can carry everything they need for long-distance travel. Convenience is key when it comes to renting private jets, so individuals who are tasked with selecting service providers must prioritize maximum cargo space and access to give their clients a convenient flying experience.
Online reviews of the jet provider
Like every other service, one can find online reviews of plane-renting businesses on specific portals. Taking advantage of that, people looking to rent a plane must check if previous users of a service are satisfied with it or not. This becomes a part of the overall research of the renting business or owner. If the ratings on search engines or service websites are negative, then one can be certain that the service provider does not have a good reputation when it comes to offering private jet renting services. Positive reviews and ratings, on the other hand, reflect a degree of customer care and reliability on the end of service providers.
Renting costs
Renting costs for private jets depend on what the users plan to do with the plane. One charge that makes up part of the renting expenses is the hourly rate. This cost depends on the size and novelty of the jet in question. Newer planes tend to be costlier than older ones, and bigger ones hold more passengers, meaning that they draw a higher hourly rate than smaller jets. The second charge to note is the flight distance rates. Essentially, the longer and farther a plane flies, the more the rent will be due to the increased fuel consumption. Additionally, businesses that give planes on rent also factor in the duration their client will use their jet. Rental costs go up significantly if the duration of the plane usage is a day or two instead of just a few hours.
Background information on the aircraft
Safety is a critical aspect of all air travel. Therefore, individuals must research a given plane’s performance and accident history before investing in it. If a private jet has had a few accidents recently, one should inquire about it with the owners and find out the exact cause. Safety is always the number one priority when renting a chartered plane. The passenger capacity of a plane is a key aspect of its safety. A six- to ten-passenger jet is typically the right choice for a small business contingent. Also, one must select a rental company that knows the exact nitty-gritty details about international private jet laws so that there are few to no disruptions when the flight is used.
Destination expenses
These costs are different from standard rent expenses. Flights to and from different destinations come with different costs. If a plane is leaving from where the jet is originally based, then the operator does not have to ferry it to a faraway departure airport. This saves valuable dollars. Also, certain high-traffic destinations come with huge landing and handling fees, so that will add to the total bill. Knowing all these costs before the trip makes the flying experience less of a shock for first-timers looking to rent a private jet.
Apart from these, some of the other factors to consider are the audit report of the aircraft provider, the international trip service experience of the business, travel insurance options, and the various terms and conditions of the aircraft provider.