Frequently Asked Questions

We offer 3 levels of membership, Saver, Premium and Elite Luxury. 

Unlike every other jet card or membership program on the market, we don't require a large investment. Simply pay a smaller monthly payment.

100% of the money paid toward the membership is applied to the cost of a flight. A 2%, 3% or 6% cash bonus of that amount is added toward the cost of your flight.

You pay any additional amount (shortfall) needed for the flight at the time of booking. Unlike other jet card programs who hold your money, you only pay when you're ready to fly.

It's like an intertest bearing savings account for a future vacation or trip.

And if you are an Elite Luxury Member, you'll even receive a free flight after one year of membership. The only requirement is that you have taken a flight during the previous 12 months. The free flight is limited to our east coast flight routes. 

There are no long term commitments. Cancel anytime. The only penalty is if you have not taken a flight in the past 12 months, you owe for one month of the membership, otherwise there is no cancellation cost.

Most companies who provide private jet charters are brokers. This means they do not own or operate the aircraft you will be traveling on. The idea is that the broker deals with multiple carriers (companies that actually own and operate the aircraft). This concept on surface sounds good because there are more potential choices.

The downside is that the broker has little or no control over the quality of the aircraft or crew that will actually be providing the flight. 

Today, since the pandemic, there are now a new generation of companies that are both brokers and carriers. 

This allows for control over the quality of the aircraft and crew for a consistent flying experience but still having the flexibility to get other aircraft. 

This is one of the unique differences of the private jet charter industry compared to other industries. Here bigger is definitely not better, just more expensive. 

Private jets used for charter, and their crews, are controlled by very strict regulations from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) referred to as Part 135. 

Regardless of who owns and operates the aircraft, the rules and regulations are identical. There is no cutting corners and violation penalties are severe. Aircraft are closely monitored by the FAA, including surprise inspections. 

So, here the smaller carrier has a distinct advantage, less overhead. This equates to sometimes dramatic cost savings on the same flight on the same model aircraft.

One of the big changes in the industry, since the pandemic, is a new generation of boutique private jet charter companies, like The Boca Jet.

As the industry shifts direct carriers do not want to deal with big brokers or large corporations. The emphasis is on direct sales and specialized companies, like The Boca Jets. This means the newest aircraft are available to less and less larger charter brokers. 

If you are a frequent private jet flyer you are probably aware that several of the top private jet charter companies not only operate at a loss but some have never made a profit. Here again bigger is not better.

Additionally, several of the largest private jet charter companies are now owned by foreign holding companies. We are U.S. based and owned. 

Private jet cards have become very popular, especially since the pandemic. During the pandemic there were no commercial airlines flying so the only way to fly was private.

With so much demand, lead times to book flights became longer.

Brokers and carriers saw an opportunity to sell prepaid hours in the form of memberships or jet cards. 

Here the jet card holder would be assured a flight with less lead times. 

This became a slippery slope for many brokers and carriers since an aircraft cannot be in two places at once. 

If a customer in California needs an aircraft and it's in Florida, it must be repositioned back to California for that customer. Since there is no paying customer on that repositioning flight, that represents a large cost. These costs are now being passed along to the jet card holders in the form of massive hourly cost increases. 

The Boca Jet operates regionally so aircraft are always available and repositioning fees are not passed along to the customer. And we do not require a huge upfront payment for our membership.

The bottom line is that on demand flying when you can plan in advance will keep your flight costs down. 

We offer the best of both, an industry first. No big financial commitment upfront with short lead time aircraft availability. 

All domestic private jet charter flights are subject to a 7.5% FET (Federal Excise Tax). If it sounds familiar, its also added to tires.

Additionally for the lower 48 states there is a $5 per passenger seat charge.

The variable cost is determined at the destination airport. Unlike commercial airlines where there is a gate, private jets rely on 3rd party companies to provide a terminal. These are called an FBO (Fixed Based Operator). They also provide electric, fuel and other services for the aircraft while its on the ground.

Generally this can range from a couple hundred dollars to over a thousand dollars. 

There can be other miscellaneous fees such as Wi-Fi, cleaning, food, beverage, etc. 

If you are flying internationally, even the Bahamas, there are additional government fees and the use of a "handler" who is a local 3rd party who deals with any unforeseen issues. 

At The Boca Jet our Elite Luxury members get the benefit of some of the newest aircraft flying today. As an example is our 2023 Citation CJ3+

With the strict FAA maintenance regulations, mechanical issues are rare but do happen, just like commercial airlines.

Our aircraft operate under an Argus Platnum rating and WYVERN Wingman certification. These far exceed the FAA regulations. Your safety is paramount to us. 

Certain manufacturers' jets are more prone to mechanical issues such as the Hawker or Gulfstream jets.

When a mechanical issue occurs, an aircraft maintenance team will take a quick look to see if they can fix it immediately. If a quick fix is not an option, the aircraft will go in for a thorough inspection and maintenance. 

If the aircraft cannot be fixed immediately, we will arrange a backup aircraft. Since we operate regionally, we try to keep it down to two hours or less to get the backup in position. 

Larger companies, such as NetJets allow for up to 6 hour delays due to a mechanical problem. We know reliability is important so a good backup option is always on standby.

Mother Nature can be unpredictable and complicate the flight route with obstacles such as winds, rough air, turbulence and storms.

Pre-departure, we will be on the lookout for any and all reported weather advisories that may impact your travel schedule.

The aircraft operator and Pilot in Command have the ultimate decision if the flight is a go or no go. They will do their best to avoid any weather but there may be delays on your trip due to unpredictable and unavoidable weather patterns. 

Aircraft will not take off if the conditions are unsafe. 

Additionally, if the airport has been exposed to snow or ice then de-icing of the aircraft may be necessary. This will incur an additional cost. The use of a hangar can also be a solution, depending on the airport facilities.

All of our jets are equipped with Wi-Fi. However, if an older jet is used, due to a special customer request or backup due to a mechanical failure, it may not be available. 

Wi-Fi is generally free on domestic flights. However, when flying internationally, you’ll be charged on a different type of Wi-Fi service which is charged by  measured data usage. It can become costly. Wi-Fi usage on a flight from Europe to the United States could cost hundreds.

The good news is more and more Starlink satellites are being deployed. They will be the predominate internet provider for internationally traveling aircraft and ships which will dramatically reduce the Wi-Fi data costs.

This is one of the most common questions we get asked. The answer is yes.

In the private jet industry the busiest days are Thursday and Sunday. Obviously holidays are more expensive due to demand, personnel availability, and increases in labor cost.

Here again, we are your best value in flying on peak days since we do not mark up any cost increases. We make our money on the base flight and that is it.

It is of note that companies like NetJets have up to 149 no-fly days for their jet card holders. Imagine that, you pay over $225,000 up front and now are subject to delays, a 30% price increase per hour and a brokered aircraft. 

We do recommend that you let us know as far in advance as possible for holiday travel plans. We can help to save you money and guarantee a quality aircraft. 

One of the more popular reasons people fly privately is for their pets. Commercial airlines will only accommodate smaller pets. 

Like many of us, we own several pets, including larger dogs.

The answer is yes. Regardless of the aircraft we provide, your pets are welcome. 

There may be requirements for sedation and caging depending on breed type and size, along with distance and length of your trip. Please contact us with all of your private jet pet travel questions.

If you have any special food requirements for your pets, our catering team will be glad to help. 

Each aircraft has different baggage compartment sizes and weight limitations.

Some of the baggage will be stored in the nose (aft) of the aircraft for your safety and convenience.

Golf clubs and larger items may be kept in the cabin but should be secured.

When flying privately it is important to let us know what your expected baggage weight. It is always a best practice to travel with soft-sided baggage if you are looking to maximize the amount of items you will be bringing.

If you have concerns about your fragile items or over-sized baggage, just give us a call and we can walk you through all the options.