What Advisors Need to Know About Chartering Private Jets with Chartright

Chartright Air Group is ready to welcome travel advisors.

That was the message at the recent Chartright open house, held at their hangar in Toronto on Aug. 22. TMR was invited to tour the facilities along with a selection of media and travel advisors specializing in luxury.

Chartright is a Canadian aviation company with a 40-year history in the sector. The company offers a variety of private jet services, including charter flights, and boasts a wide range of aircraft at its disposal — from small seven-seater Cessnas all the way up to a 15-seat Bombardier ultra long-range jet. For larger group requests, Chartright has a network of suppliers it can reach out to. The sky is quite literally the limit.

Chartright has mainly involved working with charter brokers but is looking to expand in the travel sector, specifically using advisors to connect with luxury clients.

“We see travel advisors as an untapped market,” said Graham Nierop, Chartright’s director of sales.

“We can work with agents based on their preferences, either by building commissions into quotes or offering a net rate,” he added. “We also understand the sensitivity around your clients and we don’t get in the middle of that. There is no big Chartright upfront branding. We appreciate the business and your relationship with your clients. We’re here to simply provide a service and to fly your clients from one place to another.”

Beyond private jets

The idea of a private jet is undeniably luxurious, and it’s not just about the aircraft. Flying via a chartered jet is significantly more convenient and comfortable. Clients can pick when they leave and can request to go to smaller airports that commercial airlines don’t.

Chartright takes care of everything, making boarding and customs a breeze. Passengers just need to show up and get on the plane — no long lineups, no hassle with security, and definitely no waiting around. And with planes all over Canada, a jet can be made ready in just about three hours.

TMR’s “Luxury Vacations Outlook, 2024” found that the luxury segment is growing: Luxury vacations accounted for nearly 50% of gross sales for most advisors/agencies, and nearly 90% of advisors said that clients would be willing to spend on a luxury vacation to tick off a bucket list experience. Almost two-thirds (64%) of advisors said a key motivator for clients who book luxury vacations is lifestyle/element of exclusivity.

Flying in a private jet fits two key motivators: bucket list experience and exclusivity — and it might be more in reach than your clients realize.

Let’s talk about price

Perhaps most surprising of all is the cost. Private jets have the connotation of ultra-exclusive, and with that comes a hefty price tag. Chartright breaks down its cost per hour (plus sundries), and it ranges from just over $3,000 up to over $20,000.

For example, the mid-sized Cessna Citation seats eight and retails per hour at just over $5,800 (plus sundries). If a family of six wanted to go from Toronto to Galveston, Texas for a luxury cruise, business class airfare is going to top $10,000, plus they would then need transport from the Houston airport, which is 90 minutes away from the port.

Chartright can offer a direct flight for just over $32,000 (plus GST), directly to the Scholes International Airport in Galveston. No long wait at Pearson, and no lengthy shuttle ride to the cruise port.

Full payment is typically due in the quoted currency on the date of service unless other financial terms have been agreed upon. Quotes include flight charges, landing fees, overnight charges, and estimated taxes.

Not included in the price quotes are catering, ground transportation, and deicing, which are charged post travel. Wi-Fi is mostly complementary, but in some cases will incur an additional fee. Chartright doesn’t mark up these services, and provides a detailed invoice for transparency.

If a client needs to cancel, they will be charged a cancellation fee that is scaled based on the departure date.

Chartright strives to make the process as easy as possible for clients. In the case of operators canceling or a jet becoming unavailable, the company handles this in the background. A replacement will be provided at the same cost. Only in very rare circumstances would the replacement aircraft incur additional funds.

Ana Karanfilova, senior sales administrator, stressed that Chartright can be customized to fit your client’s needs — whether that’s flying in a jet that can accommodate athletic gear or stocking the flight with favorite refreshments.

“If they can pay for it, they can have it,” she said.

Travel advisors

Nierop stressed how easy Chartright wants to make the booking process for travel advisors.

“It’s very simple: call us at 1-800-595-9395 ext. 220, or email css@chartright.com and we will provide the quote – usually within 30 minutes. Once we receive a signed quote, we will confirm the booking instantly,” he said. “We have our own operations/dispatch team, we take care of everything. Travel agents will need to provide clients’ passport details to us, and we will take care of everything else.”

Although travel advisors are a new avenue for the aviation company, there’s a clear dedication to the sector.

“I’m a firm believer in this relationship. We’re really driven and want to build this relationship with you,” Nierop added.

Renee Gancasz, owner of Scratch the Map, believes Chartright offers exciting potential for travel advisors.

“It offers a level of flexibility that’s hard to match,” she told TMR, praising the wide range of aircraft, destination, and scheduling options. “Given that a private charter can be ready to go in a matter of hours, it’s perfect for a spontaneous getaway or needing to arrange a flight at a moment’s notice.”

With staff available seven days a week and the promise of quick response times, Chartright offers convenience to travel advisors as well.

“This boutique experience is also true for the advisor experience: no long turnover times, just prompt responses,” said Gancasz. “Now there’s all the reason I need!”

Leisure and more

Leisure makes up about 60% of Chartright’s current business, with October to May being the busiest months. Mexico, the Caribbean, South Florida and California’s Palm Springs are popular destinations, but he has seen demand for travel between Canadian and American urban centers, like Toronto and New York.

“Beyond the practical benefits, it certainly offers that next level of luxury and pampering,” Gancasz told TMR. “The privacy of your own charter also means clients can conduct business meetings, enjoy family time, or simply relax in an environment that feels more like a high-end lounge than an airplane cabin, getting to their destination well-rested and ready for whatever is waiting for them on the other end.”

Nierop pointed out the potential for corporate travel as well. Already, his team occasionally charters flights for high-level executives. In industries where time is money, it can be more cost effective to charter a private jet and fly a team to an important meeting — working while in the air — than to have those people lose a day to waiting around the airport.

Still, luxury leisure travel is the best positioned to take advantage of Chartright’s offerings, especially for those harder-to-reach destinations where airlift can be an issue.

“It’s travel reimagined — where the journey becomes just as enjoyable as the destination,” said Gancasz.