If you fly by private aircraft (which seems plausible given that you’ve come here), the great news is that you can enjoy international travel without the hassles of long lines and crowded airports. To put it another way, you can rest easy.
Here’s everything you need to know about traveling internationally on a private aircraft to help you relax:
When flying overseas on a private aircraft, the same passport and visa requirements apply as they would on a commercial flight. These are required for admission into a country, not as part of the airline. As a result, no matter how you travel – including by private jet – you will need a passport and/or a visa.
It is critical that you check with your destination country’s policy well in advance of your trip. They may require a visa as well as a passport prior to your visit. This will take some time, and you’ll want to be sure you’ve taken care of everything before heading to the airport.
When you choose to fly private, you will have access to a plethora of fantastic benefits. Avoiding customs, on the other hand, is not one of them.
If you’ve ever traveled internationally, you’ve probably had the unpleasant experience of going through customs, having your bags searched, having to report whatever you bought and are bringing back with you, and so on.
For individuals flying abroad on private jets, this procedure is still required. You must still submit your declarations and pay any outstanding fees. The difference is that customs inspectors will often come to you rather than standing in long, stagnant lines.
And this small gesture can have a huge impact.
Your documentation will be examined when you arrive at the airport and before you board your trip. This contains your passport and, if necessary, your visa. A manifest is a list of everyone who is on board an aircraft as it flies both locally and internationally.
It’s used by both the flight crew and the FBO, as well as immigration services. Every traveler’s documentation is extensively scrutinized.
This information could be documented in advance of your trip day, depending on your situation and your charter. This will undoubtedly hasten the process.
Keep in mind, however, that you will still need to carry your passport with you while boarding the plane.
That tiny furry companion of yours, believe it or not, can’t travel without documentation either. Before boarding the aircraft, he or she will need to take care of a few items. Vaccinations may be required depending on the destination, but your pet may be required to get them. Certain countries are considered high-risk for rabies, and confirmation of vaccination is necessary in these cases. Make a pet passport for your pet by collecting all relevant information in one, easily accessible location. Pets are often allowed in the cabin of pet-friendly private planes, unlike most commercial airlines, where they must sit to enjoy the ride. When you’re planning your trip, you’ll want to talk about all of this information.
While it varies depending on the weather, season, and other factors, commercial air travelers are generally advised to arrive two hours before boarding for domestic flights and three hours before boarding for foreign flights.
Fortunately, this is not the case when it comes to private jet charter.
For domestic private flights, many customers arrive just a few minutes before departure. When flying internationally, however, a decent rule of thumb is to arrive one hour before your scheduled departure time. This gives you time to go over your documentation and make sure everything is in order before you leave. After all, the last thing you want is to rush out of the airport and discover that your paperwork is incomplete, preventing you from entering your target country.
Perhaps you’ve considered it before, but just in case you haven’t, flying a private jet charter implies that your destination options are expanding. You will no longer be restricted to major airports that are designed to accommodate larger planes. Private jet charters allow you to fly directly to small airports, including those on smaller, less-accessible islands. Reduce unnecessary travel costs by getting as near to your destination as feasible.
You are not exempt from having to go through customs and immigration when returning to the United States from an international trip. You’ll need to make sure you have all of the proper documents and your passport in order to return to the United States safely and easily. As a result, the same steps that you took to get to your destination should be followed when returning. You could face significant delays if you don’t do so.