When flying privately, it’s possible to have a flexible departure. Operators usually offer a two-hour window for departure, but you can ask for a longer window as long as it doesn’t affect the crew’s maximum duty day or their next flight schedule.
Private charter aircraft are typically ready at least one hour before the scheduled departure and will wait up to two hours after the scheduled time. If you’re late, the aircraft and pilots will wait for you. For instance, if you’re attending a meeting and returning the same day but are unsure when the meeting will end, the pilots will wait at the airport for your return.
Often, pilots provide the lead passenger with their phone number, allowing the client to inform them when the meeting has concluded and they are heading to the airport. This ensures the aircraft is ready upon the passengers’ arrival.
What if the private jet clients arrive late or later than two hours after the expected departure time?
Ideally, private jet clients should inform the operator or their broker if they are running late. It is possible to depart later as long as the delay does not impact another flight the operator has scheduled later in the day. In such cases, the operator needs to depart by a certain time to ensure the next flight is on time.
There are exceptions. Some operators, like JetSuite, allow only a 20-minute window before taking off without passengers, although the industry standard is for the aircraft to wait up to two hours if the client is running late.
If clients are delayed beyond the agreed-upon window for departure, it is considered a no-show, and they will have to pay cancellation fees.
When there is a private jet charter restriction on the departure time, does the operator or the broker let the client know in advance?
The broker or operator should inform the client if there are any restrictions on the departure time. Various factors could affect the flexibility of departure time, including:
- Airport operational hours
- Availability of slots
- The operator’s next scheduled trip
- Delays causing pilots to exceed the maximum allowable crew duty day