The short answer
It depends on what you need. An operator owns or manages aircraft, holds the Air Operator Certificate and flies you. A broker, such as Charter-A, does not fly: it acts as your agent, searches aircraft from many operators, checks them and manages the trip. If you already know the one fleet you want, go direct. If you want choice and comparison, use a broker.
Key facts
- An operator holds the Air Operator Certificate and flies the aircraft.
- A broker is your agent: it finds aircraft from many operators and arranges the flight.
- Charter-A is a broker and an accredited member of The Air Charter Association.
- Either way, the flight itself must be flown by a licensed operator on an AOC.
- A Charter-A quote is one inclusive figure, free and without obligation.
- You pay a deposit on signing and the balance 15 days before you fly.
What is the difference between a broker and an operator?
The two do different jobs, and the difference matters because only one of them flies the aircraft. An operator is the licensed air carrier. It holds the Air Operator Certificate (AOC), employs or contracts the pilots, maintains the aircraft and is responsible for how each flight is run. A broker is a company that sells charter on your behalf. It does not own or operate aircraft; it finds the right one, from the operators available, and looks after the arrangements.
The aircraft is therefore the same whichever door you come through. A jet that you book through a broker is still flown by an operator, to the same rules. What changes is who searches the market, who you deal with, and who looks after the details around the flight.
| Operator | Broker | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Flies the aircraft under its own AOC | Finds, checks and arranges a flight on an operator’s aircraft |
| Aircraft you can be offered | Its own fleet, or aircraft it manages | Aircraft from many operators, depending on who is available |
| Who you deal with | The carrier itself | One team, acting as your agent, from quote to landing |
| When it suits you | You already know the fleet you want and where it is based | You want choice, comparison, or a flight on a date and route where one fleet may not fit |
| What to confirm | That the aircraft is available and priced for your trip | That the flight is on an approved AOC and what the price includes |
A general comparison. Individual companies differ in how they work, so ask each one the questions in this article.
What does Charter-A do as a broker?
Charter-A is a broker, and says so plainly. It does not operate aircraft. You tell it the route, the date and the number of passengers, and it checks which suitable aircraft are available from approved operators and replies with options, each with one inclusive price. Before an aircraft is offered, Charter-A confirms that it is on a CAA or EASA approved AOC, that it is insured for charter, and that it suits the runways and the distance involved.
After you approve an option, Charter-A issues the booking confirmation, takes the deposit, collects the passengers’ details, sends the flight schedule at least 48 hours before departure, and has an operations team that answers the telephone 24 hours a day on +44 (0)20 7781 8094. The steps are set out in how to charter a private jet for the first time.
What are the advantages of using a broker?
- Choice. One enquiry reaches aircraft from many operators, not a single company’s fleet. That matters most when you need a particular size of aircraft on a particular day, or when the nearest suitable aircraft belongs to an operator you would not have thought to ask.
- Comparison. Several options come back together, so you can weigh the aircraft, the airports and the price side by side instead of repeating the enquiry company by company.
- One point of contact. The same team looks after the quote, the paperwork, the catering and car requests and the day itself, rather than leaving you to coordinate separate parties.
- A second pair of eyes. A broker can spot a problem with an airport, a runway, opening hours or a border arrangement before it becomes yours.
What are the limits of using a broker?
A broker adds a layer between you and the carrier, and you should understand it. The broker is your agent and arranges the flight, but the operator flies it, so the operator’s own conditions on the aircraft and crew still apply. A broker also depends on what operators have available on your dates. It cannot promise a specific aircraft or price in advance, and neither can anyone else: availability and price are settled when the quote is issued.
The way to keep the arrangement honest is to ask the broker plainly what it does and does not do. A broker that is clear about its role, tells you which operator and AOC will fly you before you commit, and puts the price in writing is working properly.
When does going direct to an operator make sense?
Going direct can be a reasonable choice when you already know which operator you want, you fly the same route regularly on that operator’s aircraft, or you have a standing relationship with it. In those cases a broker’s main benefit, searching the wider market, is less useful to you. Going direct can also make sense if a company has the one aircraft type you want and is based at your home airport.
It makes less sense when you are comparing, when your dates are tight, or when you are not sure which aircraft you need. A single operator can only offer what it has, and will naturally offer its own aircraft even where another operator’s would suit the trip better.
How do I compare a broker with an operator?
Compare like with like. Ask each for the same trip, and look at four things: the aircraft and the operator’s AOC, what the price includes, how the cancellation terms work, and who answers the telephone if something changes on the day. A lower headline price is only a saving if it covers the same things, and the guide to what is included in a private jet charter price lists the items most often left out.
Our companion article, how to compare private jet charter quotes, gives a full checklist that works whether the quote comes from a broker or an operator.
What should I ask a broker before I book?
- Are you a broker or an operator? Who will actually fly me?
- Is the flight on an Air Operator Certificate, and which authority issued it?
- How many pilots will fly, and are they type-rated on the aircraft?
- Is the aircraft insured for commercial charter?
- Is the price one inclusive figure, and what can be extra?
- What are the deposit, the balance date and the cancellation terms, and where are they written down?
- Are you an accredited member of a trade body such as The Air Charter Association?
- Who can I telephone, at any hour, on the day of the flight?
The reasons behind the first four are covered in is chartering a private jet safe?, which also explains why a flight without an AOC is an illegal charter however low the price.
How does payment work with a broker?
Payment terms vary between companies, so read them before you sign. With Charter-A, you sign the booking confirmation online by DocuSign and pay a 50 per cent deposit, which secures the aircraft, crew and slots. The balance is due 15 days before the flight, and payment is always completed before you fly. Bank transfer and card are both accepted. The cancellation terms are set out in the booking confirmation, so you see them before you commit.
Does using a broker cost more?
Not necessarily, and it is a fair question. A broker is paid for arranging the flight, and the price you see is one inclusive figure, so the way to judge value is to compare complete quotes for the same trip rather than guess at the make-up of any one of them. Because a broker can put several operators’ aircraft side by side, it can sometimes find a better match for your trip, or an empty leg that fits it, but that depends on the day and cannot be promised. See how much it costs to charter a private jet for what drives the price.
Who is my contract with?
Read the booking confirmation for exactly this. It should state the flights, the aircraft, the dates, the price and the terms, and it should be clear which company you are contracting with and what that company undertakes to do. A broker that arranges the flight as your agent and an operator that flies it have different roles, and the document should reflect them. If anything in it is unclear, ask before you sign, not after. With Charter-A the confirmation sets out your flights, aircraft and price exactly as quoted, and the cancellation terms are in it, so you see them before you commit.
What does a broker handle that you would otherwise handle yourself?
A good deal of the work around a flight is invisible until you try to do it yourself. Many airports want prior permission for each flight, and the busiest allocate slots. For an international flight the passengers’ details must be sent to the border authorities, and at some smaller airports customs attends only by arrangement and needs notice. Handling agents have to be booked at each end, catering has to be ordered and, if you want a car, it has to be timed to the aircraft. A broker arranges these as part of the flight, and a broker that knows the airports can suggest the one that suits your trip.
An operator handles many of these for its own flights too, so this is not a claim that only a broker can do them. The point is that when you book through one team that looks after the whole trip, you have one place to ask, and one team accountable for the arrangements, from the quote to the landing.
What happens if something changes on the day?
This is a good test of any company, broker or operator, and worth asking about in advance. A change of timing can usually be accommodated, provided it does not conflict with the other bookings of the aircraft and its crew. A change of destination is priced again, because the flying time and the airport fees change. The practical question is who you call. Charter-A’s operations team answers the telephone 24 hours a day, so there is someone to speak to whatever the hour, and the team can talk to the operator and the handling agents on your behalf.
If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing. For anything else, the booking confirmation sets out the position, which is one more reason to read it.
Are empty legs different through a broker?
An empty leg is a flight an aircraft has to make anyway, without passengers, to reach its next booking or return to base. Because it is flying regardless, it is offered at a reduced price, often 25 to 75 per cent below a standard charter. Empty legs are one-way, and their route and timing are fixed by the original booking, so they can move or disappear if that booking changes. A broker that watches the market can tell you when one matches your journey. Where an empty leg does not match exactly, Charter-A can sometimes re-route it, saving up to 50 per cent. See empty leg flights from the UK.
Can I use both?
You can ask both for a quote, and many people do the first time. The practical point is to avoid sending the same enquiry through several brokers, because then the same aircraft can be offered to you more than once, at different prices, which makes comparison harder rather than easier. One broker that checks the whole market, plus one direct quote if you have a particular operator in mind, gives you a fair comparison.
More questions
Is a charter broker the same as an operator?
No. An operator holds the Air Operator Certificate and flies the aircraft. A broker is your agent: it finds a suitable aircraft from the operators available, checks it and arranges the flight. Charter-A is a broker, and says so plainly.
Who is responsible for safety, the broker or the operator?
The operator is responsible for flying the aircraft under its AOC. A broker’s job is to check that the aircraft and operator are approved and insured before offering them. Charter-A confirms a CAA or EASA approved AOC before any aircraft is offered.
Will a broker always find the lowest price?
No broker can honestly promise that. A broker shows you suitable aircraft available on your dates, each with one inclusive price, so that you can compare them. The right choice also depends on the aircraft, the airports and the terms, not only the price.
Can I find out which operator will fly me?
You should ask before you commit. A reputable broker will tell you the aircraft type and confirm that the flight is on an approved AOC. Ask for the details in writing.
Do I need an account or membership to use a broker?
Not with Charter-A. There is no membership, no account to open and no minimum spend. You ask for a quote, compare the options and pay only for the flight you book.
Related articles
How do you charter a private jet for the first time?
To charter a private jet you need three things: the route, the date and the number of passengers.
Is chartering a private jet safe?
Yes, chartering a private jet is safe, provided the flight is operated by a licensed air carrier.
How do I compare private jet charter quotes?
Line the quotes up on the same trip and check ten things: the aircraft and its age band, the crew, what the price includes, landing and handling, positioning, catering, taxes, how long the quote is valid, the deposit and the cancellation terms.
On this site
More from Charter-A.com
The roles of broker and operator, the pre-offer checks, the deposit and the schedule timing are as set out in Charter-A’s booking documents and in the existing articles on this site. Charter-A Ltd acts as agent for the passenger; details are confirmed for each flight at booking.