Asked often. Answered plainly.

On-demand charter is priced by the flight hour plus repositioning, crew and airport charges. As a guide, light jets run $3,200–5,500 per hour, midsize $4,300–8,500, super-midsize $6,500–12,000, heavy jets $8,000–15,000 and ultra-long-range aircraft $12,000–25,000, before the 7.5% Federal Excise Tax on domestic flights. A New York to Miami flight on a light jet typically starts around $18,500 one way. Every quote we send is itemized and confirmed with the operator before you commit.

No. Your quote lists the flight time, any repositioning, crew overnights, landing and handling fees, catering, de-icing where applicable, and taxes. Fuel surcharges are included in the hourly rate. If the operator changes something after booking, we tell you before it is charged.

The US Federal Excise Tax (FET) is 7.5% of the amount paid for domestic air transportation, plus a per-passenger segment fee of $5.30 in 2026. It applies to flights within the United States and the 225-mile zone across its borders. International flights pay a per-passenger head tax instead. The tax is collected by the operator and shown separately on your quote.

An empty leg is a repositioning flight an aircraft must make anyway, sold at a discount of typically 30–50% and occasionally more. Dates, times and routing are fixed by the primary trip and can change or cancel if that trip changes. Empty legs suit flexible travellers; we publish them as they are released and notify clients who have registered their routes.

Domestic flights can be arranged with as little as four hours' notice, and we regularly confirm same-day departures. For the best aircraft choice we recommend one to two weeks. International trips need 24–48 hours for customs and permits, and peak dates such as Thanksgiving, the days after Christmas, the Super Bowl and the Monaco Grand Prix should be booked four to ten weeks ahead.

An advisor calls or messages you within minutes to confirm the brief, then sends two or three aircraft options with photographs, year of manufacture, operator safety ratings and an itemized price. You choose, sign a short charter agreement, pay by wire or card, and receive a full itinerary with the operating carrier's name, crew details, FBO addresses and your flight-ops contact.

Each operator sets its own cancellation terms and they are stated on your quote before you sign. Typically a flight can be cancelled free of charge until 48–72 hours before departure, with sliding penalties closer to the flight. Changes to times, passengers and catering are usually free; routing changes are re-quoted.

Yes. The TSA requires every passenger over 18 to present government-issued photo identification, and the operator will ask for full names, dates of birth and weights for the manifest. International flights require passports and any visas for the destination; we check these with you when we confirm the trip.

We only source aircraft from FAA Part 135 (or foreign equivalent) certificate holders that hold a current ARGUS Gold, Gold Plus or Platinum rating or Wyvern Wingman status. Before every flight we pull a trip-specific safety report covering the aircraft, the operator and both pilots, and we require two pilots on every jet charter, with the captain holding an ATP certificate and type rating.

ARGUS and Wyvern are independent auditors of charter operators. ARGUS Gold requires at least a year of operations, a historical safety analysis and pilot background checks; Gold Plus adds a passed on-site audit; Platinum adds a functioning safety management system and emergency response plan. Wyvern Wingman means the operator passed an on-site audit against the Wingman Standard. Operators without one of these ratings are not in our network.

Yes. Every operator we work with carries aviation liability insurance, typically between $50 million and $300 million per occurrence depending on aircraft size. Insurance certificates are available on request before you fly, and our charter agreement states the limits for your flight.

An operator holds the FAA air carrier certificate and flies the aircraft. A broker, like Varsano Jets, arranges the flight on your behalf: we compare aircraft across many operators, negotiate price, verify safety and manage the trip. Because we own no aircraft, our recommendation is driven by your trip, not by which plane needs to be flown. The operator's name appears on every quote and contract, as required by US Department of Transportation rules.

No. Varsano Jets, a DBA of Varsano Group Inc., is an air charter broker under 14 CFR Part 295. We are not a direct air carrier and we do not have operational control of aircraft. Every flight we arrange is operated by a properly licensed direct air carrier under FAA Part 135 or the foreign equivalent.

Almost always. Pets travel in the cabin with you on private flights. We confirm the operator's pet policy, any cleaning fee and the paperwork required for international destinations, and we can arrange pet beds, meals and a vet-check if you need one.

Standard catering (snacks, soft drinks, water, and often a selection of wine and spirits) is included on most jets. Full meals, specific restaurants, dietary requirements, children's menus and celebrations are arranged by your advisor and itemized on the quote. Our concierge team can source almost anything with enough notice.

It depends on the aircraft. A light jet holds roughly 65–90 cubic feet (about six to eight suitcases plus golf bags), a midsize 90–150, and heavy jets 170 cubic feet or more. Skis, bicycles, surfboards and instruments are common; tell us what you are bringing and we will match the aircraft.

Yes. Chauffeured cars meet you at the aircraft steps at both ends, and helicopter transfers from the airport to the city, your estate or a yacht are arranged as part of the same itinerary. Our concierge team also handles hotels, restaurants, event access and security on request.