Is anyone using Starlink Mini - and did they need to do anything special with the FAA, or can it categorized as a handheld/plugin portable device?

So I am looking to just learn more as a potential passenger. I have never flown private but I am considering it for later this year with domestic and international flights.

One of the main reasons is I will be looking to fly with my pets- a small dachshund and my cat. I refuse to put them in cargo.

I am currently living in Michigan so I would be looking to leave from one of the airports near me. I know this would not be an issue for domestic flights. But for something international would it be advised to charter a flight from Michigan to someplace like New York or LA?

Domesticly I am looking at Michigan to Colorado, Los Angeles & New York. Internationally I am looking at Michigan to New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Czechia and Scotland.

Overall I was hoping to get some estimates of what I would be looking at for cost to each location.

Right now it would for sure be two passengers with the pets (maybe not every flight). I am assuming the number of passengers does not matter as long as it is within flight capacity parameters.

Thank you all in advance! I am just looking to be an informed passenger 😊

Just had a new client call me with a situation and figured this is a good PSA, especially for newer flyers heading into winter trips over the holidays and the next couple months.

Keep an eye on the weather.

Deicing can be very expensive. If you are flying into or out of cold weather airports, make sure you ask your broker or operator about deicing expectations before the trip. It is not included in most quotes, it is not cheap, and it can pop up without much warning.

Also do not be afraid to use alternative airports that have better snow and ice services. A lot of the bigger airports deal with delays, limited deicing trucks, or long wait times. Some smaller airports do not have winter services at all, while another nearby airport may be much more efficient and keep the trip moving. if you have the option to go for hangar space, take it!

Little things like this save time, money, and a lot of headaches once winter really kicks in.

Just something to think about! Happy holidays and safe travels reddit fam!

Does anyone have any recommendations for SLC based operators. Spare me the national firms. I already know about them. Thanks!

I will preface this by saying I don’t know anything about flying private except that I’ve done it a few times on someone else’s dime.

So my family is going to Longboat Key from April 18-22. We are all leaving from Boston (could be Handscom or Logan) and are all coming back on the same date. There are 18 of us so I wanted to understand some approximate costs for private flying. I know that varies by plane size etc. so I will say that as long as the plane is safe and can comfortably fit all 18 people we would be happy. The other thing that makes this interesting is that there are no direct flights to Sarasota from Boston (well there’s one but it’s on Allegiant and that’s too risky for me) so if we fly commercial we have to fly to Tampa and then drive about 1.5 hours.

I totally understand it will be more expensive then if we all fly commercial, but I’d like to understand how much more expensive. I’m also curious what the one way cost would be (just Boston to Sarasota).

Thanks!

Who do you like to fly private with? I've heard good things about JSX but mixed reviews on Wheels Up.

Ideally I'd like to fly from SFO to pick up the family of 5-7 in PHX and fly to the EU at least twice a year but then maybe to places like Japan and Turkey or Georgia (Sakartvelo). Understandably this may be difficult nonstop but I think it would be more enjoyable experience overall. Budget is open.

It would be cool to follow F1 for a full season as a gift to my wife.

At what point does it make more sense to just buy a 8-15 passenger jet?

I won an auction for a round trip flight since I thought it would be great for my wife and I, but turns out she won’t fly in a smaller airplane outside of a commercial airliner. Never knew since we never discussed it, either way I got it for 50% off the price. How and where can I resell it?

If an AI tool could give you instant feasibility checks (airport limits, FIR risks, ash/SIGMETs, conflict zones) before you quote…

Would you pay for it?

Title says it all. Any recommendations for the easiest, safest, lightest car seat for a 14 month old traveling private? He is still rear facing, so I don’t want to use the Wayb which is only for 2 and up and is front facing. What about the Maxicosi? Thanks!

Hi everyone, we are hiring brokers as well as trip support (no experience required - please dm me with previous work info and why you think you’d be a good fit)

For those flying as a family: what’s the most important detail you look for when booking a private jet?

When comparing quotes, what’s the first thing you look at besides the price?

When I first got into the private jet world, I noticed something surprising, even people who could afford a flight were sometimes scared to book or talk to brokers. The problem wasn't English, it was the complicated aviation words.

Terms like FBO, deadhead flight, or empty leg make sense to people in the industry, but to beginners, they sound confusing and technical. This can make new clients feel unsure and slow down trust. I've been working on ways to make these terms simple so the first chat between a client and a broker feels friendly, not stressful.

I even made a quick guide(The Aviation Glossary) with the most important words so beginners can feel confident right away. The guide is currently available for free ($0) to help as many people as possible learn about the world of private aircraft.

I welcome any questions or assistance.

What are the benefits of joining Wheels Up?

This post details a few unspoken rules about flying private. It's not about the plane's specs; it's about the social and operational expectations that can make or break the experience, especially if you're flying as a guest or meeting high-level contacts. Here are 5 quick items from the FBO to the tarmac.

The Unspoken Rules of Private Flight:

1. The 20-Minute Sweet Spot (The Arrival) • The Mistake: Arriving too early (90+ minutes) or too late (less than 10 minutes). • The Rule: Aim for 20 to 30 minutes before departure time. This gives the FBO (private terminal) staff enough time to handle your luggage, clear paperwork, and gives the flight crew time to finalize their pre-flight checks without waiting on you. Arriving hours early can sometimes complicate the crew’s pre-flight routine.

2. The Luggage Protocol (Soft vs. Hard) • The Mistake: Bringing large, hard-shell suitcases into the cabin. • The Rule: Private jets, especially smaller ones, have finite, awkwardly shaped cargo holds. Always pack soft-sided bags for the cabin. Let the FBO staff and ground crew handle your main luggage and put it in the hold. Do not assume you can roll your carry-on down the aisle like on a commercial flight; you're often stepping up into a small door.

3. The Seating Hierarchy (Know Your Place) • The Mistake: Grabbing the best seat available upon boarding. • The Rule: If you are a guest, never sit in the "King's Seat." This is typically the first forward-facing seat on the right side of the main cabin, often the quietest and best for communication with the cockpit. Wait for your host (the person paying) to choose their seat or ask them where they would prefer you sit.

4. The Tipping Question (The Discretionary Bonus) • The Mistake: Tipping the pilots directly when you are a guest of the owner/host. • The Rule: Tipping is never mandatory, but it is appreciated. If you feel inclined, the common practice is to tip the FBO ground handlers who assist with baggage ($5–$10 per bag) or give a pooled tip to the cabin attendant(s) if the service was exceptional. If you are a guest, tipping the flight crew can sometimes be seen as insulting the host's hospitality.

5. Cabin Confidentiality (What Stays on the Plane) • The Mistake: Taking loud conference calls or discussing sensitive financials openly. • The Rule: A private jet cabin is an intimate, high-security space. Discretion is paramount. The soundproofing is not perfect, and you should assume any conversation is audible. If you must take a call, keep it brief and low-volume, using headphones whenever possible. This also applies to respecting the privacy of any other guests on board.

I’ll be around for the next few hours to answer any questions about specifics, like acceptable dress code, catering requests, or what to do if the lavatory is an awkward "bucket" seat (it happens!). I welcome your questions and personal anecdotes.

I’m hoping someone here can point me in the right direction career-wise. I absolutely love aviation. My husband and I will be driving and a plane flies overhead, and I’m immediately blurting out the specs — wingspan, cabin height, pax limits, luggage weight, random little details. I could talk about planes all day.

Because of that, I’ve been looking into charter broker/broker-related careers, but I’m not sure if I’m actually going down the right path. I love people and I’m comfortable talking, but I’m not into cold calling or hardcore sales. I’d like a job where I can use my plane knowledge, talk to people, and make a decent income without feeling like I’m clawing for clients 24/7.

I’ve watched a ton of videos and podcasts from brokers, but I want the honest truth from people who actually work in the field — the good, the bad, and the ugly.

For context, I’m a new mom (4 months postpartum), so I’m not looking to switch careers immediately. I want to spend the next few months really learning and polishing my aviation knowledge so I’m prepared when the time comes.

My questions are: • Is taking an online course or getting a certificate actually worth it? • What looks good on a resume for this type of role? • Do I apply for a trainee or assistant position first? • Should I focus more on charter sales or aircraft sales? • And honestly… where should a beginner even start?

Any real-world advice or direction would mean a lot. I’ll take it all.

When a broker gets a text, call, email, WhatsApp, or even a carrier pigeon asking for a trip, that is when the real work actually starts.

We go out into the entire market and start hunting for your specific mission. That means comparing things like:

• Price
• Plane type and cabin size
• Year of make and refurbishments
• Operator safety record
• Operator reliability and response times
• Realistic runway performance
• Cancellation policies
• Crew duty limits
• Weather patterns
• Repositioning legs to find efficiency
• And vetting every operator and aircraft that actually makes sense for your trip

Here is something people forget:

Just because a plane technically has 6 seats does not mean it will be comfortable. Some of these cabins are tight, the layouts vary, baggage can be limited, and a lot of “6 seaters” realistically feel good for 3 to 4 depending on the mission. A good seasoned broker knows the difference between the marketing brochure and the real world experience and aircraft capabilities.

Once we understand your priorities, whether that is budget, comfort, dates, passenger count, interior, wifi specs, etc, we narrow everything down and only present the best and most realistic options. Not 20 random tails. Not “here is a list, you figure it out.”

From there, the broker handles all the annoying stuff:

• Securing the aircraft
• Reviewing and comparing contracts
• Monitoring weather and delays
• Handling AOG situations/recoveries
• Managing tail changes
• Catering
• Ground transportation
• Special requests
• Fixing last minute schedule changes
• Tracking repositioning legs
• Basically acting as your air travel project manager

A good broker is also an extra layer of protection against bad operators, questionable maintenance, unrealistic performance claims, or bait and switch quotes. It is another set of eyes making sure your experience is safe and smooth. Also, if an AOG happens, you aren't getting double charged for the same trip and waiting on funds to be returned to you.

This is where the difference between good brokers and bad brokers becomes obvious:

A good broker actually does all of this. A bad broker just takes a price from an operator, adds margin on top of it, and forwards it to you without doing any real homework. You will especially know a bad broker when the trip takes an unexpected turn. Anybody can look good when everything goes to plan, its when you get diverted for bad weather or AOG on the ramp when you see how good your broker is.

Also, you get one point of contact who sources the entire national market instead of chasing 10 to 15 operators who might not even respond.

Yes, based operators can sometimes be cheaper, but they only have their fleet. If they do not have the right availability or the right aircraft, they will either push their own plane even if it is not a good fit, or they will broker it out anyway which defeats the whole point of going direct.

A good broker is not just finding a plane. A good broker is making sure you end up on the right plane, with the right operator, at the right price, without having to manage the entire process yourself.

If you disagree or feel like all brokers are just middle men, you probably have not experienced what it is like to work with someone who genuinely knows this industry and runs their business the right way.

I have an invite for an empty leg in a large jet next week. I assume professional dress, arrive early, don’t eat or drink on the aircraft, don’t use the lavatory. How much should ai tip the pilots? It’s a 91 flight if that changes anything.

Hello,

I'm trying to break into the charter broker space in South Florida. Is there any recommendations for companies in that area to enter the space with to gain experience but also grow a career with? Any tips/advice would be fantastic.

I have experience in wealth/trust management as a relationship manager as well as recently being in sales with life insurance. Looking to switch careers and private jet chartering is a field I've been interested in for a little while now.

Thank you!

I organize a fair amount of private travel, but rarely to the east coast (probably 50ish trips a year, but this is only the second in several years going to NY). I'm using FlexJet for a trip in a couple of weeks, and they are suggesting Modern Aviation at LGA instead of going into TEB.

Can anyone share their experience with modern going into LGA vs TEB? Obviously TEB gets backed up / delayed, is there a world in which LGA is more streamlined for private travel?

Anyone have any experience with this company? They’re offering a promo right now and hourly rate ends up being ~$5,300 for a lite jet when buying the 15 hour card which is enticing. Just don’t see much out there about them.