Private jet charter, explained
A charter quote is a number with a lot behind it. This page covers where that number comes from, who flies the aircraft, what gets checked before a flight leaves, and how we get paid. No sales pitch.
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How a private jet charter quote is built
You tell us the city pair, the date, the passenger count and how much luggage is coming. We match that to aircraft that can actually do the trip, then price it. Hourly rates run from $2,200 to $3,500 for a turboprop, $3,800 to $5,800 for a light jet, $5,200 to $7,800 for a midsize, $7,200 to $10,000 for a super-midsize, and $9,500 to $14,500 for a heavy. A short hop like Los Angeles to Las Vegas, 199 nautical miles, usually lands at $4,000 to $6,000 in a light jet. New York to Los Angeles, 2,129 miles, runs $23,500 to $36,000.
Those are planning numbers, not a rate card. Every quote is an estimate until an operator confirms an aircraft for your date. Empty legs, repositioning, crew overnight fees, airport fees and fuel surcharges move the final figure. We show you the breakdown so you can see what changed.
Who flies and who arranges
We are a broker. We do not own aircraft and we do not fly them. The flight is operated by an FAA Part 135 operator that holds operational control: their certificate, their crew, their maintenance program, their responsibility. The quote you get from us is for a flight they operate.
That split matters when something goes wrong. The operator answers to the FAA for how the flight is run. We answer for the arrangement: getting you the right aircraft, the right quote, and a clear record of what was booked. If a schedule changes, you deal with us and we deal with them.
What we check before a flight goes out
Every operator we quote has to clear four checks. First, a current FAA Part 135 certificate with the right aircraft listed. Second, liability insurance at the levels the trip requires, with the certificate holder named correctly. Third, third-party safety audit reports where they exist, so you are not relying on our word alone. Fourth, crew duty limits, because a cheap quote on a long day is not cheap if the crew runs out of legal hours.
We also look at the airports on the route, not just the airplane. A summer departure from Centennial Airport near Denver at 5,885 feet of elevation with a density altitude near 9,000 feet in July changes what an aircraft can carry. Runway length matters too: 6,004 feet at Orlando Executive rules out some heavier aircraft that would fly fine from Tampa's 11,002-foot runway.
How we get paid
We are paid by the operator, not by you. The price we quote includes our arrangement fee, and the operator pays it out of the charter price. You see one number for the flight. We do not add a separate line for our services, and we do not mark up fuel or crew costs behind your back.
That means the quote is the quote. If the operator changes the aircraft or the date, we tell you what moved and why before you commit. For a 161-mile Miami to Nassau run at $4,000 to $6,000 in a light jet, the difference between one operator and another is usually the aircraft, not our fee.
Questions
Do you own the aircraft?
No. We arrange flights. The aircraft is provided and flown by an FAA Part 135 operator that holds operational control of the flight, including the crew and maintenance. We match your trip to operators with the right aircraft and the right certificate, and we handle the quote and the booking. If you want to know who is flying, we tell you before you commit.
Why do quotes change between operators for the same route?
Aircraft type, crew positioning, airport fees and fuel are the big movers. A light jet on Los Angeles to San Francisco, 279 miles, is usually $4,000 to $6,000, but one operator may have the aircraft already nearby and another may need a repositioning leg. We show you which is which so you can compare like with like rather than chasing the lowest number.
What happens if the flight is cancelled or delayed?
The operator's terms control the flight, and we tell you those terms before you book. Weather, mechanical issues and air traffic can all move a departure. Because the operator holds operational control, they make the call on whether a flight goes. We stay on it with you and work through the rebooking or refund path that applies to your specific charter agreement.