Chartering a private jet in winter can offer several advantages. However, there are a few details you should pay attention to as you book your trips and plan your itinerary. Even though private jet travel is less chaotic than commercial flights, you’ll find that private carriers can get fully booked fast during this season.
Why Is Private Jet Travel Better During Winter?
Some may wonder why chartering a private jet is better than commercial flights during winter. This option provides several crucial advantages. First off, many large commercial airports can get pretty crowded.
The Transportation Security Administration reports that Sunday after Thanksgiving and the days before Christmas, and New Year’s Eve are the busiest days for US airports.
Booking a private jet charter allows you to avoid the holiday crowd. Apart from that, private jets’ quick and easy boarding process is more convenient and much faster. As a result, you save more time and get to your destination faster, avoiding the usual airport stress during the holidays.
Finally, you can plan your trips and choose small airports closer to your destination. This flexibility gives you more options regarding available accommodations and land travel. In addition, the in-flight amenities also make the trip more appealing.
However, when booking your trip, you should pay attention to the following crucial details and set your expectations accordingly.
Peak Days
Winter is considered a peak season for travel. For this reason, it’s best to book your charters ahead of time. The days leading to Christmas, especially Christmas Eve, can be significantly busy with plenty of bookings.
If you’re planning trips to New Zealand, Canada, Australia and Great Britain, expect booked flights on Boxing Day, which falls on December 26, to be packed as well.
Finally, the days near and after New Year’s Eve also tend to become heavily booked. It’s best to book way ahead of time, so you don’t run out of available charter flights.
De-Icing Jet Aircraft
A necessary precaution during winter is aircraft de-icing, which can cause delays if you haven’t planned for it. Your flight crew will decide if your jet aircraft needs de-icing to ensure your safety. Ice buildup can occur on a jet’s wings and nose if the temperature drops too low.
You can incur high costs in case your aircraft needs this procedure. The price will vary depending on several factors, such as the size of your jet, the type of fluid to be used and the amount of de-icing fluid necessary for your aircraft. Your flight crew can mitigate against de-icing by keeping the jet in the hangar to prevent temperature dropping.
Pilots will determine the severity of icing on the aircraft with the help of the ground crew. They will determine whether it’s safe to take off, given the condition of the wings and other jet aircraft parts. Icing at the bottom of an aircraft can significantly affect airflow and become dangerous when it forms at the top and bottom edges.
When the crew determines that the icing prevents the aircraft from meeting the standards for takeoff, your flight may get delayed. This is because you need to disembark the plane while the crew performs de-icing procedures.
Available Landing Slots
Many airports near popular destinations will have fewer landing slots, which is why the Civil Aviation Authority will strictly control air traffic flow. Private jet travel will be scheduled, and you should secure your slot reservations as soon as possible. Keep this in mind if you have plans to travel to popular ski resorts during winter.
Choose airports closer to your selected resort to making things more convenient. Remember that available slots are provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. It also pays to be flexible with your flight schedule if other private jet charter passengers have booked most landing and departure times.
In addition, you can also choose alternative airports if the one you chose won’t be available due to an increase in private jet flights.
The Impact of Winter Weather
Your pilot will choose different cruising altitudes for your jet aircraft depending on winter weather conditions and aircraft type. Light jets are smaller and have top speeds of around 500 miles per hour. Your pilot may choose to fly faster to avoid rough weather.
Mid-size jets, on the other hand, can handle tougher weather conditions than small jet aircraft, making them more popular during winter. Further, your flight crew will appraise you regarding wind and turbulent weather before takeoff, so you know what to expect beforehand.
Plan Your Winter Trip with Hera Flight Specialists
Booking a private charter during winter still requires careful planning. This is where our specialists at Hera Flight can come in to help.
Book your winter trip with us; our team will help you find the best aircraft and flight schedule for your holiday adventure. Contact us today, and our consultants will be more than happy to assist you.