How to Hire a Private Jet

How to Hire a Private Jet
No panic or stress about the possibility of missing your scheduled flight. No frustration or boredom whilst waiting for your scheduled flight in a crowded airport terminal. Tailored luxury and comfort on a scale simply not available on commercial airlines.

1. Approach Aircraft Operators Directly

Many private jet owners do not use their aircraft on a day to day basis, and in order to earn on their asset they will lease their aircraft to a company who then ‘operate’ it on their behalf, and take on some of the operating costs. In turn, whilst the aircraft is not being used by the owner, these companies make the aircraft available for charter by individuals or companies at a given price.

Some ‘operators’ manage several jets, others may manage only 1; indeed, there are a number that actually buy and manage their own private fleet. So for an individual, whilst it is possible to approach aircraft operators directly, this route is not one we would recommend as depending on a particular operator’s fleet size, aircraft type, and availability, costs will vary dramatically. As such, you will have to phone a large number of operators for a quote before having some confidence that you have found the right operator at the most competitive price, which can be both time and labour intensive.

2. Speak to a Private Jet Broker

Brokers present a much more accessible entry point to the private jet charter market for the uninitiatetd, or those unfamiliar with the intricacies and inner workings of the industry. Good brokers will be familiar with almost all reputable aircraft operators, with a knowledge based on experience of who are the best operators for you dependent on your exact requirements. They also have the ability to tender out your flight request to the wider market, allowing individual operators the opportunity to provide their most competitive quote and thereby ensuring that you have the comfort of knowing that you are paying the lowest possible rate for your specified flight.

The benefits of using a broker are numerous: not only can you be reasonably confident that you will end up paying the most competitive price for your stipulated flight, but you can dip in and out of the market at your leisure without needing to pay monthly membership or subscription fees.

3. Join a Fractional ownership Programme

Some aircraft operators buy and manage their own fleet before offering them out on a fractional ownership basis or based on a subscription or membership fee.

Typically, fractional ownership involves an individual buying a share of an aircraft based on their anticipated flight requirements, and then being given access to that jet, or similar aircraft within the companies fleet, upon request. Essentially this is similar to owning your own private jet, albeit with running costs being split between the various fractional owners (as well as usage!)

Similarly, other companies can offer access to their private jet fleet based on annual subscriptions on membership fees.

In both instances, given that there is an ongoing cost to you in return for access to these companies fleets, unless you have a regular need to charter a private jet these methods of access can be expensive and preclude your ability to shop around for a better deal.

Villiers Jets tips for Booking a private jet:

1. Do your research

This will help to make the process as quick and efficient as possible, as well as ensure that the quote you receive is as accurate as can be. If you are able, let your broker know as many details as possible, in order to help them match you with the most appropriate operator and aircraft type. Think dates, times, luggage requirements, and number of people travelling in your party, as well as the location from which you’d like to depart and your preferred destination.

2. Be prepared to be flexible

It may be that by flying a little later on your chosen date of travel, or by flying from an alternative airfield to the one initially stipulated, you’ll receive a better quote. Listen to your brokers advice.

3. Be proactive and responsive

If you are submitting a charter enquiry online, be prepared for a broker to call you back and discuss in person your requirements in a little more detail. This helps the broker ascertain more precisely your exact requirements, and thus will help them save you money. If they do call you, reply as quickly as you can – jet availability can change quickly, and often those who are most responsive to their brokers will be in a position to secure the best possible deals.

Formula One Preview, 2016

The 2015 season is not yet over, however with Lewis Hamilton having sewn up this years Championship crown, many fans are already looking forward to next year’s season.

Aside from the usual close season speculation as to which drivers will end up where in 2016, the big question will be as to whether any team will be capable of challenging Mercedes as the dominant force in the sport.

The feeling within the paddock is that Mercedes, having won the 2015 Constructors Championship and with Hamilton staying put, will still be the team to beat; however with Ferrari improving steadily over the latter half of the 2015 season and Red Bull still uncertain as to whether to continue with their current engine provider, there is perhaps scope for a more competitive field.

McClaren will also be keen to improve their performances, and you can bet your bottom dollar plenty of hard work will be going in to providing a truly competitive car for Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso, drivers with undoubted pedigree and quality.

The race calendar will also expand, with two more fixtures included, namely the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim and the European Grand Prix in Azerbaijan. This means that the 2016 calendar will extend from Australia to Asia, through the Middle East and Europe, to North America and Brazil.

As global as the F1 bandwagon now is, fans looking to make it to one or more of the races will benefit from truly tailored travel arrangements. Villiers Jets are able to ensure you never miss a grand prix, flying you to the closest practical airport to the race, and ensuring that you arrive in the comfort and style that one would associate with the most glamourous sport on the planet.

Villiers Recommends… La Pause, Marrakech

As November draws near, many of us face the imminent prospect of those long, cold winter nights that leave memories of the summer and warm drawn out evenings feeling further away than ever.

In endeavouring to keep the winter at bay for as long as possible, we go to great pains here at Villiers to bring you suggestions that we feel are worthy of your consideration should you be minded to enjoy one last stint in the sunshine.

With that in mind, let us introduce you to La Pause – a beautiful oasis of serenity and charm located an hours drive from Marrakech, Morocco.

Almost as soon as you turn off the main road towards the empty sands of the Sahara, heading away from the hustle and bustle of the city and its medina (in itself most definitely worth a day or two of your time!), you’ll find yourself amongst rolling sand dunes that undulate away to the distant horizon and leave you feeling as though you’ve been transported to another world far removed from the stresses and strains of everyday life.

The camp itself is without electricity, meaning that as evening draws in and the spectacular sunset reaches it’s crescendo, hundreds of candles and oil lanterns twinkle into life, casting a magical glow over the beautiful bedrooms and the winding pathways that link them as evening falls.

Fear not, however – this little piece of paradise is not without its luxuries. Delicious food, excellent wine, scolding showers, and superbly appointed private bedrooms will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to enjoy one of the many activities on offer to those who are minded – from trips into the desert on quad bikes or on camel, to a long walk in the desert hills followed by a refreshing swim in the pool – or even a version of golf with the most unique 9 holes you will find!

If you are in need of inspiration in an environment where sunshine is almost guaranteed year round, then we heartily recommend a visit.

Prices for Private Jet Charter to Marrakech Menara Airport (IATA: RAK, ICAO: GMMX) from Paris start from approximately €16,000 for 4 passengers. The airport is approximately a 10 minute drive to the city centre, and has facilities to cater for Private and VIP arrivals.

Helicopter transfer direct from Marrakech Menara Airport to La Pause is available on request.

For all enquiries, please contact us below.

Top Autumn Destinations by Private Jet

Astonishing as it seems, with September almost upon us and the long warm sunny days slowly becoming a little shorter, cloudier, and cooler, its apparent that we are almost through the summer with Autumn only a few weeks away.

Traditionally, families and individuals take a long break over the summer before working through until Christmas and the New Year, but it’s becoming increasingly normal for those in the northern hemisphere to whisk themselves away for a quick break during this long and foreboding three month stretch in order to get some sunshine and maintain a degree of sanity.

Here are Villiers Jets top recommendations for a mid-Autumn/ early Winter break:

1. Canary Islands by Private Jet

Perched precariously off the western coast of Africa, this archipelago is an excellent destination if you are looking for somewhere beautiful, warm (temperatures in October and November regularly sit between 20c and 25c) and accessible to head during the colder Autumn months.

Flying to the Canaries by private jet usually entails a flight of 4 – 4.5 hrs, there is no great difference in time zones from most European countries.

Enquire about flights to Gran Canaria Airport (IATA: LPA. ICAO: GCLP) by private jet.

2. Marrakech, Morocco by Private Jet

Conjuring images of bustling souks, romantic riads, and exotic unfamiliar sights, sounds and aromas, Marrakech deserves a place on everybody’s list of destinations to visit when the children have returned to school and a well earned break is on the agenda.

With average temperatures in October of 27c, there is no shortage of sunshine, whilst an abundance of beautiful villas, five star hotels, world class golf courses and trips to the dramatic Atlas mountains for the more intrepid, ensure there is plenty to do. Flights from London to Marrakech by private jet typically take 3 – 3.5 hrs.

Enquire about flights to Marrakech Menara Airport (IATA: RAK, ICAO: GMMX) by private jet.

3. Dubai and the UAE

If guaranteed sunshine and luxury that is second to none are the two most important factors in your decision making process, then it’s difficult to look further than Dubai and the UAE.

Although further afield than the Canaries or Morocco, the flight time to Dubai is very reasonable at just over 6 hrs, putting it well within the reach of medium sized private jets flying from most European countries.

Average temperatures between September and October vary from 30c to 40c, meaning you perhaps wont want to stray too far from the pool in your luxury hotel such as the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah or the Palm Atlantis. With the levels of comfort and service provided, however, its rare that you would need to.

Enquire about flights to Dubai Al Maktoum International Airport (IATA: DWC, ICAO: OMDW) by private jet.

Golf PGA Championship 2015

For those of you out there who are golf mad, we are sure it won’t have escaped your notice that this weekend sees the last of the years golf majors. This is, of course, the PGA Championship, which is taking place this year at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, USA.

It should be a great championship for plenty of reasons – not least given the motivation of a $10m prize purse, $1.8m of which will be taken home by the winner. Interesting sub plots include whether current champion Rory McIlroy will be able to come in and defend his title having had to sit out The Open Championship last month through injury, and whether Tiger Woods will be able to produce anything akin to his previous barnstorming best in an effort to add to his 14 major titles.

Villiers Jets are able to handle any private jet charter requirement you may have in order to get you out to the live action at Whistling Straits. With many enquiries from fans and those involved in professional golf tournaments alike, we are well set to take care of any individual or group private aviation requirements.

For those wishing to travel by private jet to this years PGA Championship, Villiers Jets recommend flying to Sheboygan County Memorial Airport (IATA: SBM, ICAO: KSBM), which has a runway of 6,800 feet meaning it is accessible to all size and type of private and business aircraft. The airport is located just over 12 miles south of Whistling Straits and is the closest airport by far, being approximately 15 – 20 minute drive.