- What you need to start
- Route, dates, times and passenger numbers
- Who operates the flight
- An operator holding an Air Operator Certificate (AOC)
- Voluntary safety audits and standards
- ARGUS, Wyvern Wingman, IS-BAO
- International flights from the UK
- Passenger travel document details required in advance
Last reviewed
Step by step: from enquiry to wheels-up
Most charters follow the same sequence, whether you book weeks ahead or on the day.
- Enquire: send the route, dates, preferred times and number of passengers, plus anything unusual such as pets, large luggage or sports equipment.
- Compare options: you receive aircraft options with the operator, aircraft type, timings and price for each.
- Choose and confirm: you select an aircraft and receive a charter agreement setting out the price, terms and cancellation schedule.
- Pay: payment is made on the terms in the agreement, which must be met before the flight can be confirmed.
- Send passenger details: names and passport details for every passenger, needed for border reporting on international flights.
- Final arrangements: catering, ground transport and any special requests are confirmed, and you receive the departure details.
- Fly: arrive at the private terminal or handling agent shortly before departure, clear security and passport checks, and board.
What information to have ready
The more precise the brief, the more accurate the first quote. Exact passenger numbers matter because the aircraft must have a seat for everyone, and luggage matters because smaller jets have limited hold space. If you have a preferred airport, say so, but stay open to alternatives: a nearby airfield can be cheaper or closer to where you are going.
Tell us early about anything that affects the aircraft choice or the paperwork, such as travelling with a pet, an unaccompanied minor, a passenger who needs assistance, firearms for a sporting trip, or a medical requirement on board.
What a quote includes
A clear quote names the operator and the aircraft type, states the flight times for each sector, and shows a total price with what it does and does not include. With Oryx, a quote covers flight time, positioning, handling, airport fees and standard catering. Items that cannot be known in advance, such as de-icing on a cold morning or extra waiting time, are normally charged at cost afterwards, and the quote should say so.
Check how taxes are shown. On departures from UK airports, Air Passenger Duty applies to aircraft of 5.7 tonnes or more and is usually included by the operator, and VAT depends on the aircraft and the journey.
Contracts and payment terms
Charter agreements differ between operators and brokers, but they normally cover the same ground: the agreed price, payment timing, the cancellation schedule, what happens if the aircraft becomes unserviceable, and the conditions of carriage. Read the cancellation terms before you sign, because charges usually rise as the departure date approaches.
Check who the contract is with and who will operate the flight. A broker arranges the flight; the operator named in the agreement holds the AOC and has operational control. You should always know the operator's name before you pay.
How to check an operator is legitimate
A commercial passenger flight must be flown by an operator holding an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) issued by its national aviation authority. The UK Civil Aviation Authority says that by law you must be told the name of the operator, that you can check a UK operator against its list of UK AOC holders, and that you should never assume a flight is legal or accept one on trust. It also suggests asking for the name and qualifications of the pilot. The operator should also hold current insurance.
Voluntary safety audits and standards run by outside organisations give a second layer of assurance. The descriptions below summarise what each organisation publishes about its programme. They are voluntary and not a substitute for an AOC, but they show an operator has opened its operation to outside scrutiny.
| Standard | Who runs it | What it indicates |
|---|---|---|
| ARGUS ratings (Gold, Gold Plus, Platinum, Platinum Elite) | ARGUS, an aviation auditing and data company | Gold is based on a review of the operator's safety history, pilot background checks and operational control; Gold Plus adds an on-site audit; Platinum requires an on-site audit with findings corrected, an emergency response plan and a functioning safety management system; Platinum Elite adds regular follow-up reviews |
| Wyvern Wingman | Wyvern | An on-site audit of a charter operator against the Wyvern Standard, covering safety records, operating procedures, pilot experience, training, the safety management system and the emergency response plan |
| IS-BAO (Stages 1 to 3) | International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) | A voluntary international standard for business aircraft operations built around a safety management system; Stage 1 shows the system is in place, Stage 2 that safety risks are being managed, and Stage 3 that safety management is fully embedded in the operation |
Illegal and grey charter
Illegal charter, sometimes called grey charter, is when a flight is sold for payment by someone without the right approvals, for example a privately registered aircraft flown for hire without an AOC. The UK CAA warns that if you pay for an unlicensed flight there could be serious consequences for your safety and you may not be insured, that knowingly using an illegal operator may itself break the law, and it asks the public to report suspected illegal flights. Industry bodies including the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA), the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) and The Air Charter Association have also campaigned against it.
Warning signs include a price far below the market, reluctance to name the operator, an offer to treat the trip as a private flight shared among friends, and pressure to pay before you have seen the paperwork.
Passports and travel documents
Every passenger needs the same travel documents and visas they would need on an airline. For international flights into or out of the UK, including within the Common Travel Area, a General Aviation Report must be submitted in advance with details of the flight and everyone on board, including travel document information, so passport details are needed before departure. Under current GOV.UK guidance most reports are due between 48 hours and 2 hours before departure. Flights within Great Britain, and between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, do not need a General Aviation Report to Border Force, although police notification may be needed at some airfields, and the operator may still ask for identification. Check entry rules for the destination, including any rules on pets.