Private jet clients often have the luxury of being driven directly to their aircraft by a limo or even driving their own car to the plane. However, access policies vary by airport, and not all allow ramp access.
Generally, regional airports permit ramp access, while larger, high-density airports do not. For instance, at White Plains Airport in New York, you can have ramp access. However, at Teterboro and JFK, this is not permitted. JFK requires passengers to go through the FBO due to stringent security, and Teterboro is classified as a high-density airport.
At smaller regional airports, which typically have less traffic and fewer security measures, passengers can often drive up to the gate, where an FBO employee on a golf cart may escort their car to the plane. In some cases, a police escort is necessary. For example, in Las Vegas, the Metropolitan Police Department provides this service for a $50 fee.
When you get out of the car, can you take your bags out and give them to the pilot? How does that work?
It’s even simpler than that. By the time you step out of the car, approach the plane, and greet the pilots, the limo driver will have opened the trunk, and the line crew will have already loaded your bags onto the plane. Often, you won’t need to handle your bags; just walk onto the plane.
Is it more convenient to arrive in a limo rather than driving your car when using ramp access, as the limo driver can leave after dropping you off?
Driving yourself is not inconvenient. If you bring your own car with ramp access, you can usually hand the keys to the FBO’s line crew. They will park your car and keep your keys until you return. You can even request to have your car washed while you’re away.