The journal
Charter guides and insight
Straight answers on what private aviation costs, how it works and where it can take you.
Planning · November 4, 2026
Flying Private With Kids: Car Seats, Safety and Tips
How to fly a private jet charter with children, from FAA car seat rules and lap infants to choosing the aircraft, packing, food and keeping kids comfortable.
Planning · 7 min read
TSA and Private Jets: What Screening Applies to Charter?
Most private charter passengers skip TSA checkpoints, but the rules still apply. When screening is required, what TSA programs cover and what you can bring.
Planning · 8 min read
Private Jet Airports Near San Francisco: SFO, Oakland, San Jose
Bay Area private jet airports compared, from SFO, Oakland and San Jose to Hayward, Concord, Napa and Santa Rosa, with runways, FBOs, customs and routes.
Planning · 10 min read
Private Jet Airports Near Houston: Hobby, Sugar Land, Conroe
Houston private jet airports compared, from Hobby and Sugar Land to Conroe, Hooks, Ellington and IAH, with runways, FBOs, customs and routes.
Planning · 7 min read
What ID Do You Need to Fly Private in the US?
For a US charter flight, bring a valid government photo ID that matches your booking. International trips need a passport. The rules, REAL ID and kids.
Planning · 7 min read
Can You Smoke on a Private Jet? Cabin Rules Explained
Federal law lets charter operators allow smoking on some private flights, but most do not, and vapes are banned in flight. The cabin rules that apply.
Safety · 8 min read
Illegal Charter Warning Signs: How to Spot a Rogue Flight
The FAA's warning signs of an illegal charter flight, from missing excise tax to being coached on what to say, plus common schemes and how to report them.
Planning · 9 min read
Private Jet Airports Near Dallas: Love Field, Addison, Alliance
Dallas-Fort Worth private jet airports compared, from Love Field and Addison to Alliance, Meacham and McKinney, with runways, FBOs, customs and routes.
Planning · 7 min read
Private Jet Wi-Fi: Starlink, Gogo and What to Expect
Private jet Wi-Fi ranges from basic air-to-ground to Starlink satellite service. How each system works, where it covers, what it costs and what to ask.
Planning · 7 min read
Private Jet Catering: What to Order and How It Works
How private jet catering works, what to order for each jet size, what it costs, the rules on alcohol, and how to handle allergies and international flights.
Aircraft · 7 min read
How Fast Do Private Jets Fly? Cruise Speeds and Flight Times
Private jets cruise at about 390 to 490 knots, and the fastest reach Mach 0.935. Speeds by class, why bigger jets are barely faster, and real flight times.
Planning · 7 min read
Private Jet Airports Near Chicago: Midway, Executive, DuPage
Chicago's private jet airports compared, from Midway and Chicago Executive to DuPage, Gary and Waukegan, with runways, customs, distances and routes.
Costs · 7 min read
Repositioning Fees, Overnight Fees and Other Charter Costs
What repositioning fees, daily minimums, crew overnights, landing fees and taxes add to a private jet quote, and how to read a charter quote line by line.
Aircraft · 7 min read
How Far Can a Private Jet Fly? Range by Class With Real Routes
Private jets fly from about 1,100 nm (turboprops) to 7,700 nm (ultra long range). Range by class, what reduces it, and which jets fly real routes nonstop.
Aircraft · 7 min read
Private Jet to Europe From the US: Nonstop Range by Jet Class
Which private jets fly nonstop from the US to London, Paris, Geneva, Nice and Rome, with distances, flight times, cost estimates and EU entry rules for 2026.
Safety · 9 min read
How to Verify a Part 135 Charter Operator: A 7-Step Check
Verify a charter operator in minutes with the FAA's Part 135 list, the aircraft registry, the pilot lookup and audit registries. What to check and why.
Costs · 7 min read
Private Jet Charter Los Angeles: Costs, Routes and Airports
What a private jet charter from Los Angeles costs, with estimates for Las Vegas, Cabo, Aspen, New York and Maui, plus which LA airport to fly from.
Destinations · 11 min read
Private Aviation Hubs in the US Northeast: Airports Compared
Teterboro and Westchester serve New York, Hanscom serves Boston, Dulles serves Washington and Northeast Philadelphia serves Philly. Each hub compared.
Planning · 10 min read
Event and Group Aircraft Charters: Teams, Weddings and Tours
Heavy jets seat about 10 to 16 people, so larger groups split across several jets or move up to an airliner. How to size, price and plan a group charter.
Safety · 11 min read
Private Jet Charter Contract Red Flags to Check Before Signing
A charter contract should name the Part 135 operator, the aircraft, the total price and refund terms. The red flags to check in any charter agreement.
Costs · 10 min read
One-Way Private Jet Charter: How to Save on One-Way Trips
A one-way private jet charter often costs close to a round trip because you pay for the empty return. When one-ways are good value and how to pay less.
Planning · 10 min read
Executive Jet Charter: How Business Travel by Private Jet Works
Executive jet charter typically costs $4,000 to $9,800 per flight hour for light to super midsize jets, plus 7.5% tax. How companies choose, vet and book.
Destinations · 7 min read
Private Jet to London: Farnborough, Biggin Hill, Luton and More
Farnborough, Biggin Hill and Luton are London's main private jet airports. How they compare, plus UK entry rules, ETAs and the 2027 private jet tax change.
Destinations · 8 min read
Private Jets to the Caribbean: Islands, Runways and Customs
Most Caribbean islands take private jets, but St. Barts allows only small turboprops. Runways, distances, customs and the right jet for each island.
Planning · 9 min read
Los Angeles Private Jet Airports: Van Nuys, Burbank and More
Van Nuys is LA's main private jet airport, with a landing fee since March 2026. How it compares with Burbank, LAX, Long Beach, John Wayne and Santa Monica.
Planning · 11 min read
New York Private Jet Airports: Teterboro, Westchester and More
Teterboro is the main private jet airport for Manhattan, but Westchester, Republic, Morristown and Stewart can be better. How to choose, with rules and customs.
Destinations · 8 min read
Private Jet to Miami: OPF, TMB, FXE, FLL and MIA Compared
Most private flights to Miami land at Opa-locka Executive (OPF). How OPF compares with Miami Executive, Fort Lauderdale Executive, FLL and MIA.
Destinations · 10 min read
Private Jet Charter to Aspen: Airports, Rules and Timing
Aspen's airport has a 95-foot wingspan limit, an 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew and a 2027 closure. How to plan a charter to ASE, Eagle or Rifle.
Costs · 9 min read
Federal Excise Tax on Private Jet Charter: 2026 Guide
US charter flights pay a 7.5% excise tax plus $5.30 per passenger per segment in 2026, or $23.40 per passenger on international trips. How it works.
Planning · 8 min read
Flying a Private Jet Internationally: Customs, Permits, Taxes
International charter needs passports, a CBP eAPIS manifest, a customs airport for re-entry and, in 2026, a $23.40 US tax per passenger each way.
Aircraft · 9 min read
How Much Luggage Fits on a Private Jet? Baggage by Class
Private jet baggage space runs from about 40 cu ft in a turboprop to over 280 cu ft in a heavy jet. See bag counts, weight limits and rules by class.
Aircraft · 9 min read
Private Jet Sizes Compared: Turboprop to Ultra Long Range
How to choose a private jet size, from turboprops to ultra long range jets, by seats, range, cabin height, baggage and typical hourly charter cost.
Planning · 9 min read
Flying Private With Pets: Rules, Documents and Tips
Many charter operators let dogs and cats fly in the cabin with you. Operator policies, US and international pet documents, CDC dog rules and calm-flight tips.
Planning · 8 min read
What Is an FBO? How Private Jet Terminals Work
An FBO is the private terminal where charter flights depart. What FBOs offer, when to arrive, ramp-side car access, customs and how FBO fees show up on quotes.
Costs · 11 min read
Empty Leg Flights: Pricing, Risks and How to Find Them
Empty leg flights are repositioning trips sold below normal charter rates, often 15–20% less, but they can move or cancel if the original trip changes.
Planning · 9 min read
Private Jet Charter for Major Events: Slots, Parking, Timing
For the Super Bowl, the Masters or an F1 race, the FAA often requires airport reservations, ramps fill up and prices peak. Here is how to plan the flight.
Aircraft · 10 min read
Helicopter Charter vs Private Jet: When Does a Helicopter Win?
A helicopter usually beats a private jet on trips under about 150 miles, where it lands close to the door. Here is how to choose, with types, limits and costs.
Costs · 11 min read
How Much Does It Cost to Charter a Private Jet in 2026?
Private jet charter typically costs $2,000 to $17,500 per flight hour in 2026, before taxes and fees. Rates by class, every fee, and worked example trips.
Costs · 11 min read
Jet Card vs On-Demand Charter vs Fractional Ownership
Charter usually fits under 25 flight hours a year, jet cards 25 to 50, fractional shares 50 or more and whole ownership 250 or more. How each one compares.
Costs · 9 min read
Private Jet vs First Class: Time, Cost and Comfort Compared
A private jet saves about two hours of airport time each way, and filling the cabin cuts the cost per seat sharply. Worked examples, time maths and a table.
Safety · 8 min read
Is Private Jet Charter Safe? Rules, Audits and Red Flags
Private jet charter is safe when flown by a certificated FAA Part 135 operator. How the rules, pilot standards, audits and NTSB data compare, and what to check.
Planning · 9 min read
What Does a Private Jet Charter Broker Do? Broker vs Operator
A charter broker arranges your flight; a Part 135 operator flies it and holds operational control. How brokers work, what DOT rules require, and what to ask.
Planning · 7 min read
How to Charter a Private Jet: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to charter a private jet in 9 steps, from sizing the aircraft and reading quotes to vetting the operator, paying and arriving at the FBO on the day.
Destinations · 8 min read
Top Private Jet Airports in the United States, Ranked
Teterboro was the busiest US private jet airport in 2025, ahead of Dallas Love Field and Westchester. The top 10 by departures, and how to pick yours.
Destinations · 4 min read
What Are the Most Common Private Jet Charter Routes in the US?
The busiest private jet routes in the United States, typical flight times, the airports to use and the aircraft that fly them best.
Guides · 2 min read
How to Find the Best Private Jet Charter Provider
On-demand charter, jet cards, memberships or fractional ownership? How the options compare, what they cost, and the questions to ask before you buy.
Guides · 2 min read
Easily Avoidable Mistakes When Booking a Private Charter Flight
The most common mistakes first-time and experienced charter clients make, from choosing the wrong aircraft to forgetting ID, and how to avoid them.
Costs · 9 min read
How to Save Money When Chartering a Private Jet
The strategies that reduce private jet charter costs most are right-sizing the aircraft, flexible timing, smarter one-way trips, empty legs and shared seats.
Destinations · 2 min read
Top 10 Private Jet Destinations In and From the U.S.
The ten most popular US private jet destinations, from Aspen and Nantucket to Naples and Jackson Hole, with the best airports and aircraft for each.
Costs · 2 min read
How to Estimate a Charter Flight Cost, Step by Step
How a charter flight cost estimate is built, what is included, and how to price any trip in seconds with the free private jet charter cost calculator.
Industry · 2 min read
The Truth About Kylie Jenner's 12-Minute Private Jet Flights
What the 2022 headlines about Kylie Jenner's very short private jet flights got right, what they missed, and what they mean for charter customers.
Guides · 2 min read
The Benefits of Flying by Private Jet
Time, privacy, flexibility and comfort: what you really get when you fly private instead of commercial, and when it is worth the extra cost.
Destinations · 2 min read
Popular Private Jet Destinations Around the World
Ten remarkable private jet destinations, from St. Moritz and St. Barts to Bhutan, Easter Island and the Faroe Islands, and what it takes to fly there.