When thinking about private jets, what comes to mind are suits and ties and glasses of champaign. It is because private flights are generally attributed to the extremely wealthy. Once, the luxury of riding a private jet can only be experienced by an average man in his dreams. However, current circumstances have proven that this is a false assumption. Private aviation is not exclusive to billionaires and celebrities. It is accessible for people in the middle class too. All it takes is a little bit more savings and convincing to forgo thriftiness for convenience and comfort.
Private jet flights are very different from commercial ones so newcomers may get a little “culture shock.” They might not know how to act or what to expect. Fortunately, there are guides found on the internet that sheds light on the matter and you happen to come across one.
Here are the things that you should know and remember:
How Should You Behave?
The people on board a private jet will expect you to behave properly. Remember, they are used to having the upper echelons of society as their passenger. Try to emulate what you think those professionals would do.
For instance, private flights will allow you to be as late as thirty minutes. Do not use that maximum amount of time. Try to arrive at least minutes before your scheduled departure. If you are going to be late, do your best to be late for only a couple of minutes. Do not arrive there drunk or disheveled either.
Furthermore, while on the plane, do not overindulge in the food and drinks that they offer, no matter how irresistible they are. Eat and enjoy yourself, but do not make the crew wonder if the money you spent on the flight was stolen.
Speaking of stealing, do not steal small samples of soap and shampoo from the bathrooms. You might get away doing that on hotels, but these planes only have you and your company or family in them. There is no one else to blame for the missing items, and so they will quickly identify the culprit as you. The impression they will have on you will not be pleasant.
How Should You Dress?
There is no strict dress code to follow when boarding a private jet. Your flight will continue as planned no matter what you are wearing. Still, if you do not want to be frowned at, there are unspoken rules that you should follow.
If you are on a business trip, then you should wear formal clothes. A full suit will be a fine choice for men, but a shirt, trousers and dress shoes will also do. A dress or a pantsuit are great picks for women.
However, if you are going on a family trip, you are not expected to dress up like this. Contrary to what you might think, you should not match the luxuriousness of the aircraft. Instead, you should select your outfit based on your destination. Casual clothes will work fine as long as you are not underdressing. It means that you should still look presentable.
Where Should You Sit?
On commercial flights, you will be assigned a row and seat number. In contrast, there is no seating arrangement on a private flight. However, this does not necessarily mean that you can sit wherever you want.
If you are the one who booked the flight, then go ahead and find the best seat. But, if you were invited by someone else, the case is different. As a matter of courtesy and respect, the owner of the aircraft or the one who paid for the flight should pick his seat first. The rest of the passengers should fill the rest of the seats. Sometimes, the lead passenger will decide you will sit beside or opposite him, and you should respect their request. You do not want to sour their mood by taking their favorite spot from them.
Likewise, you should let them board the plane first before you climb in.
How Should You Pack?
You might think that since there are fewer people on the plane, there will be plenty of luggage space for you. That is not true. Private jets are typically smaller than commercial planes. That means these smaller aircraft do not have the same capacity as your typical airplanes. The size of the aircraft, its fuel requirements, the size of the luggage compartment door, and weight restrictions will be the basis of how much a customer can bring.
You can still carry a large suitcase and a small bag on board. Bring whatever you want – instruments, sports gear, anything – because you do not need to check in any of them. Just keep in mind that the space is limited.
Should You Tip The Staff?
The answer is yes. Just like any other service, it is not wrong to reward the staff if you are happy with their service. The crew will surely appreciate the gesture, especially the pilot. You might think that they are already earning a fortune, and so they would not need the tip, but that is wrong. Many of them earn less than expected. Besides, they are the ones who made your flight possible and brought you safely to your destination. They did so much more than just fly the jet, which by itself is already hard enough. They were behind everything and it is just right if you would thank them by tipping.
Regarding how much you should give, it depends on the class of flights. For expensive flights, you could tip to about $1000 while for more modest ones, $20 will do as a starting point.
What To Ask For?
If there is something private jets do not have, that is magic. Do not expect them to be able to give you whatever comes to your mind. For instance, they can not change the bad weather just so your flight could go on as planned. Also, food and drinks can be arranged before the flight. So do not go asking for a very specific type of wine if you did not include that on the plan.
Summary
The way you should act on a private jet is not that different from how you should on a commercial plane. The same concepts of common courtesy and proper behavior still apply. In short, as long as you act civilized, you and the others, including the crew, will have a great and pleasant experience.
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