TipsMost first-time charter flyers feel nervous, and most have no reason to. Once someone spells out the rules, you'll see there are few of them, and each one is ordinary courtesy in better shoes.
Private aviation runs on ease. Crews want you comfortable, hosts want you relaxed, and operators design the experience to remove formality. The handful of conventions that follow exist so everyone can stop thinking about them.
Read them once and then stop worrying, which is the right attitude to bring aboard.
01 Timing Works in Reverse
The jet leaves when you're aboard, so lateness costs you and no one else. Crew duty limits are legal limits, and a very late passenger can cost the day's slot. Arrive fifteen minutes early and the day runs to plan.
If you're the host, board last so your guests settle first. If you're a guest, wait until the host waves you aboard. The convention takes two seconds and shows polish.
02 Aboard, Simply
The in-cabin rulebook is short:
- Greet the crew by name; they'll know yours
- The forward-facing rear seat belongs to the host by tradition; guests wait to be shown a seat
- Shoes stay on unless the host takes theirs off first
- Smoke only if the operator allows it (most don't)
- Photos of the cabin are fine. Ask before photographing other guests
- Treat the crew as the professionals they are, colleagues of the pilots; it reflects well on you
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