The short answer
The seven questions people ask most before flying privately for the first time are about cost, notice, safety, aircraft choice, luggage, pets and what happens when something goes wrong. The short answers: cost is driven by aircraft category more than anything else; four to six hours' notice is usually workable; every flight is operated by an independently audited Part 135 carrier; and when an aircraft goes technical, a broker sourcing from the whole market usually recovers faster than a program limited to its own fleet.
Note. Originally published in 2021 about a specific moment. Rewritten in 2026 into the questions people still actually ask.
1. What does it cost?
It depends overwhelmingly on aircraft category, then on routing and positioning. The same Northeast-to-Florida trip in a light jet and a super-mid can differ by a factor of two, and on a flight of that length the comfort difference is far smaller than the cost difference.
We do not publish prices, because a price without live operator availability behind it is a guess rather than a quote. What actually drives the cost is a longer answer and worth ten minutes.
2. How much notice do you need?
On a normal weekday, four to six hours is realistic and same-day departures happen regularly. Twenty-four to forty-eight hours gives materially better aircraft choice and pricing.
Peak holiday periods are a different problem entirely — the full answer is here.
3. Is it safe?
Every flight is operated by an FAA Part 135 certificated air carrier holding top ratings from ARGUS, Wyvern, or both — independent third-party auditors. Velocity owns no aircraft, so there is never a commercial reason to bend that.
The question that matters more than which ratings a broker requires is how often they re-check them. Ours are verified before every trip rather than annually. What those ratings actually assess.
4. How do I know which aircraft I need?
Two variables: how many people, and how far. Almost everything else follows.
The most common error is sizing up — booking a super-mid for a two-hour leg with four passengers, where a light jet does the same trip in the same time for meaningfully less. Baggage is frequently the real constraint before seats are. Use the configurator or call and we will size it in a minute.
5. How much luggage can I bring?
Less than you would guess on light jets, and it is usually the binding constraint. A light jet with a 65 cubic foot hold takes four people with soft bags comfortably; the same four with golf clubs or ski equipment is a mid-size conversation.
Tell us what you are carrying when you call. It changes the aircraft more often than the passenger count does.
6. Can I bring my dog?
Yes, in the cabin, on almost every trip we arrange. Operators set their own policy so it is confirmed per aircraft. It is one of the better reasons to fly privately and it is very rarely a problem.
7. What happens if the aircraft breaks?
The real test of any charter arrangement, and the one nobody asks until it happens.
When an aircraft goes technical, a broker with access to the entire market can usually source a replacement faster than a program limited to its own fleet — because we are not waiting for one particular company’s aircraft to come free. That is a structural advantage rather than a service promise, and it is worth asking every provider you consider.
Related questions
While we are here.
Do I need to arrive early for a private flight?
Fifteen minutes is normal, and it is genuinely fifteen minutes rather than a target. You park near the aircraft, walk out, and go. Recovering that time on both ends is most of the practical value of flying privately.
Can I bring my dog on a private jet?
In the cabin, on almost every trip. Individual operators set their own policy so it is confirmed per aircraft, and it is very rarely a problem.