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Getting Started

How to charter a private jet for the first time

The process feels unfamiliar the first time, mostly because nobody explains it up front. It's more straightforward than it seems — five steps, most of the work handled on our end, and none of it requires knowing anything about aircraft before you call.

What actually happens, step by step

This is the same process outlined on our homepage, expanded with what a first-time flyer specifically needs to know at each stage.

01Contact

Reach out 24/7 by phone, text, or the request form. All you need ready: departure and destination, approximate dates, and passenger count. You don't need to know what kind of aircraft you want — that's the next step, and it's ours to figure out, not yours.

02Customize

We build options around your route, dates, and preferences, and match the aircraft category to what your trip actually requires — not the most expensive thing available. If you want to understand your options before we call you back, our jet types breakdown covers what each category is actually good at.

03Confirm & pay

Review your quote and pay. Approve, e-sign, and pay securely — usually by wire transfer. Once full payment is received, your trip is confirmed. Your quote covers everything known at the time of booking; a few things can only be determined day-of, like de-icing, unexpected customs holds, or optional inflight WiFi usage, and would appear as a separate final invoice if they apply.

04Fly

Arrive 15–20 minutes before departure. No TSA line, no gate, no boarding group. We monitor your flight in real time from departure to arrival.

05Build toward ownership

Not relevant to a first flight, but worth knowing: repeat clients who fly enough for it to make financial sense get guidance on the acquisition process when they're ready for that conversation.

What information should I have ready before I call?

• Departure and destination
• Preferred dates and times — and how flexible you can be, since flexibility sometimes opens up empty-leg pricing
• Number of passengers
• Any special requests: pets, catering, ground transportation

You don't need to know which aircraft you want before you call. Knowing your passengers and your distance is enough to start — the rest is our job.

The one mistake most first-time flyers make

It's rarely overspending. It's booking the wrong category for the trip — too small to comfortably complete the route, or too large and paying for range and seats nobody uses. A good broker corrects for this before you ever see a quote; it's worth asking directly if the aircraft being offered actually fits your trip, or just happened to be available.

Ready to book your first charter? Request a quote and one of our specialists will walk you through the rest.

Levity Charters, LLC is an air charter broker and does not own, operate, or maintain any aircraft. All flights are operated by FAA-certified Part 135 or Part 121 air carriers.