Using a Charter Broker? How to Get the Best Flight

Whether you’re looking for supplemental lift when your own aircraft is out of action or otherwise engaged, you charter business jets frequently, or only require charter occasionally, the likelihood is that you’ll use a charter broker to simplify the process of finding an operator who can fulfil your travel requirements.

But having delegated the task to a broker, is it a good idea to simply assume they will find you the cheapest flight with an operator who provides the levels of safety and service you would expect?

According to several industry experts, it’s vital to ask the right questions of the charter broker and to provide as much information as possible.

Do Due Diligence Around the Charter Broker

Julie Black is Manager, Executive Aviation at Hunt & Palmer, a charter brokerage specialist based in the UK with a focus on private jets, commercial aircraft and more. She said many individuals do not do much due diligence around their aircraft charter broker.

“Individuals tend to be far more price-driven and looking for the most cost-effective solution, especially at the entry level,” she explains.

However, more established charter end-users and corporate suppliers tend to ask more pertinent questions – for example, how long the firm has been trading, how it selects flights, and how it vets its operating partners.

“It’s a very big market with a widely varied gene pool so if I were an end-user, I would want to know if they were members of the Air Charter Association, for example, because I know that adherence to the Association’s Code of Conduct for operators and brokers means that already I would be almost guaranteed a level of quality in-service provision,” Black suggests.

Be Prepared to Share Information with your Charter Broker

Charter customers should never assume that the broker will pick the right charter operator for them without providing all of the required information. They should provide as much as they can, including route, date, time, passengers, location and more.

“A good broker should ask all of the above to ascertain why the passengers are travelling and work out their budget,” Black notes. “Good pre-qualification at this stage will avoid wasting anyone’s time in terms of providing suitably calibrated options, price wise.”

The precise nature of the charter – for example, whether for business or personal use – will make a difference in terms of budget, but also requirements around experience, she adds. “It’s really helpful when clients give us as much information as possible about a trip so we can provide a more tailored experience.

“If you’re celebrating a special occasion, we can ensure that’s recognized in the onboard service or the catering, for example,” Black says. “On the flip side, if it’s an important business trip and the aircraft is being used as a flying boardroom, then we can also brief the crew to leave the passengers in peace for confidentiality.”

It is also vital for all parties to establish the level of support if anything goes wrong, Black highlights. “If an aircraft breaks down, does your provider have the knowledge, network, and financial muscle to get a replacement at short notice?

“In our world, everyone expects excellence, but the real proof of quality is the service provision when things don’t go as planned.”

What are some key questions for private jet charter customers to ask charter brokers? To continue reading this article in the AvBuyer August Digital Edition, click the button below…