A charter quote should make three things clear before you book: what the total price is, what’s included in it, and what could still cost extra. If there’s a cost we know about before you book, you should know about it too.
Some costs are known when the trip is priced. Others depend on weather, changes to the itinerary, additional services you request, or something that simply can’t be known in advance.
What’s Normally Included in the Quote?
For a typical ABOVE charter, the price we present accounts for the aircraft, required flight crew, fuel for the quoted routing and the known flight-related costs associated with the trip.
Fuel and any known fuel surcharge are already built into the price we present. If the operator’s terms allow a future fuel adjustment, we’ll point that out before you book.
The same goes for aircraft positioning. If the aircraft has to reposition for the option we’re quoting, that movement is already reflected in the price we present.
It shouldn’t suddenly appear after the flight simply because the aircraft had to move empty.
Known landing, handling, parking and other trip-related costs are also accounted for when we price the itinerary.
Standard snacks and beverages are generally included as well.
Applicable FET and passenger segment fees are shown as separate lines when they apply and then included in the final total.
They don’t apply the same way to every trip, so your quote will show what actually applies to your itinerary.
What Can Still Cost Extra?
Some costs genuinely can’t be known when the original quote is prepared.
De-icing is probably the best example. Whether an aircraft needs to be de-iced depends on the weather at the time of the trip, and it can also be required while the aircraft is repositioning before or after your flight.
Hangar costs can sometimes arise as well depending on weather or other circumstances.
Changes to the itinerary can change the price too. Changing airports, adding a stop, extending the trip, adjusting the schedule or making another change that results in additional flight time or expenses can create costs that weren’t part of the original quote.
Upgraded catering, ground transportation and other special requests may also be additional.
Full meals, specific restaurants, cars, drivers or other requests can be arranged separately.
ABOVE does not add a markup to catering or ground transportation.
Wi-Fi or other onboard communications can occasionally carry a usage charge depending on the aircraft and service.
If there’s a known charge on an aircraft you’re considering, we’ll point it out before you book.
Airport, international, after-hours and special-event costs can affect the price too.
That can include additional landing or ramp charges, airport-extension fees, permits or international handling.
If we know about them when we’re pricing your trip, we’ll account for them or make them clear before you decide.
Special-event fees are a good example.
Sometimes one airport carries a significant event fee while another nearby airport doesn’t.
If driving a little farther could save a meaningful amount of money, your ABOVE Aviation Specialist may show you both options so you can decide whether the savings are worth the extra drive.
Traveling with a pet can sometimes carry an additional operator fee.
If you tell us about the pet before booking, any known pet fee will be included in the price we present.
In very rare cases, an operator may apply an additional pet or cleaning fee after the flight if a pet was brought onboard without being disclosed in advance or if additional cleaning is required.
Just let your ABOVE Aviation Specialist know ahead of time so we can confirm any requirements and costs before you book.
Excessive cleaning or damage to the aircraft can also result in additional charges.
Those obviously aren’t normal costs of the flight.
What About Paying by Credit Card?
This isn’t a flight charge, but it’s worth knowing before you decide how to pay.
If you pay by credit card, a 5–6% processing fee applies depending on the card used. We’ll confirm the exact fee before you pay.
Wire transfer is generally the preferred payment method.
We cover payment timing, methods and the rest of the process in How Payment Works for Private Charter.
Get Pricing for Your Trip
Send us your route, dates, approximate times, passenger count and anything else that’s important to you.
We’ll show you the options, what they cost and what, if anything, could still be additional.