When booking a private flight, it’s generally best to give as much notice as you can. More notice means more options, better value, and lower-priced aircraft. Despite this, 75% of private flights are booked within two weeks of departure, which often limits available choices for clients.
Occasionally, clients need a flight on very short notice. This is known as an ASAP (As Soon As Possible) situation. In these cases, we aim for a four-hour turnaround to locate an aircraft, get the crew ready, inform the operator of all trip requirements, and ensure client approval. Pilots also need a two-hour call-out to reach the airport, conduct pre-flight inspections, fuel the aircraft, and prepare for departure.
For InsiJets card members, we strive for an hour response time and a contractually guaranteed option with as little as 24 hours of notice for EU members, and USA and Middle-east 48 hours of notice. While regarding the last-minute request with the on-demand charter service Accommodating the request may require selecting a higher-priced or older aircraft that other customers did not choose Accommodating last-minute requests may require selecting a higher-priced or older aircraft that other customers did not choose.
Is chartering reliable for last-minute bookings?
Chartering is reliable even with limited time. There’s almost always an aircraft available. If there’s no suitable plane at your nearest airport, a broker can find one nearby or reposition an aircraft closer to you.
While fixed-rate jet cards and fractional models need at least 12 hours’ notice, chartering is much faster. If an aircraft is ready at a nearby airport, jet card clients can be airborne in three hours, and on-demand charter clients within four hours. Repositioning generally needs six hours’ notice.
For example, InsiJets once arranged a flight in just 42 minutes, though this was an exceptional case with favorable conditions.
How much notice should you give when booking in advance?
More notice is always better. However, if you ask too far in advance, owners might not have their schedules ready and could be hesitant to provide quotes.
The ideal notice period is 1-3 months. Booking within this window offers the best selection in terms of value, pricing, and options. As the departure date approaches, options decrease.
Operators prefer having their aircraft booked a week in advance. Availability narrows in the final days before a trip. If an empty leg becomes available two days before the flight, you might secure a competitive rate, but booking earlier is typically cheaper.
How early should you book an empty leg flight?
There are two ways to book a one-way flight:
- Using a floating fleet. These large fleets allow scheduling far in advance. For instance, you could book a one-way flight one month before departure.
- Booking an empty leg. These become available about two weeks before departure. At this point, the original flyer is likely to confirm their trip, making the empty leg safer to sell.
Operators might reduce prices as departure time nears. However, if you need a guaranteed flight, empty legs aren’t reliable. If no empty leg becomes available, you might end up paying for a round trip to fly one-way.
