Regardless you’re a first-time flyer or not, it’s always good to inquire about certain things in advance when booking charter flights. This way you’ll know what stuff you can pack. So, for your convenience, we’ve jotted down some of the imperative queries you should make before booking a charter flight. And they are:
Who’s the Owner of the Aircraft?
Inquiring about the aircraft’s owner is essential. Therefore, before booking a plane, you have to ensure that it comes from a legitimate source. Aircrafts are usually owned by individuals or companies. Even the operating company that is managing the aircraft needs to have an FAA 135 Operating Certificate. So, before booking the plane, ask to see their certificates.
Is the Aircraft Registered under Operator’s Control?
Any aircraft that is available for charter has to be registered by the FAA under the operator’s control. So, it’s important to check whether it is registered or not. You should ask the aircraft operator to show you the D-085 that contains the aircraft’s tail number which you can check on the FAA site. If the operator is legit, they won’t have any issue in showing it to you.
Is it Insured?
This is one of the essential questions that no one can ever miss. If the aircraft isn’t insured, don’t book it because it can get you in trouble if anything goes wrong. Remember that fixing an aircraft isn’t cheap, so you should never take the risk of travelling on an uninsured aircraft.
However, if the aircraft is insured, ask the operator for the certificate to check the tail number and ensure that the aircraft you’re booking is insured.
Do they Provide Travellers Insurance?
After making sure that the selected aircraft is insured, you should also ask the operator if they can add you and your fellow passengers to the list. Normally, the operators can easily add you and other passengers in the list as additionally insured. Obviously, they’ll ask you for the insurance fee but the whole process is quite straightforward, you won’t face any issues.
Is There Any Luggage Limitation?
Although there isn’t any luggage limitation on a private plane. However, some service providers have weight limitations due to limited storage compartments but it only applies when there are a lot of passengers. If you’re flying solo or with your partner, then you won’t have to face such an issue. Still, it’s better to inquire about your service provider regarding luggage limitations beforehand to avoid any inconvenience.
Is there any Beverage Limitation?
You don’t have to wait for beverages on a chartered flight to be served, unlike commercial ones, as the passengers can bring their own wines. Still, some companies have a policy of no red wine to avoid staining of their inner cabins because of wine spills. Therefore, it’s always advised to inquire about the company if they have any policy regarding beverages or not.
In short, there are several things that you’ve to ask before booking a charter flight but these are some of the most basic ones that you shouldn’t miss out on enquiring. However, if you don’t want to go through the hassle of booking charter flights every time you’ve to travel, consider buying a private jet. You can ask your service provider to inform you if there’s any good aircraft for sale. Doing this will ensure that the plane you’re buying is in a good condition.
Apart from that, if you are interested to know about Outdoor and Travel Adventures then visit our Travel category.
