Liftbrief / Direct questions
2. How do I compare private jet charter quotes fairly?
First confirm that the quotations describe the same journey and service obligation; then compare their known totals. NBAA’s consumer guidance explicitly recommends pre-screening suppliers and obtaining comparable quotations rather than assuming every operator meets the same needs. (nbaa.org)
Use this Charter Quote Equaliser structure:
| Comparison field | What to record |
|---|---|
| Mission | Airports, dates, local departure times, arrival deadline and acceptable stops |
| Travellers | Passenger count, baggage, equipment and boarding requirements |
| Aircraft | Model or category, actual configuration, registration if allocated |
| Counterparties | Seller, contracting entity, payment recipient and operating carrier |
| Known expenditure | Quoted flight price plus expressly excluded, priced items |
| Unresolved expenditure | Charges whose amount or applicability remains unknown |
| Delivery conditions | Cancellation, substitution, delay and replacement provisions |
| Evidence | Proposal version, expiry, relevant contract clause and outstanding question |
Illustrative comparison—not actual quotations:
| Item | Proposal A | Proposal B |
|---|---|---|
| Headline flight charge | USD 27,000 | USD 32,500 |
| Separately priced positioning | USD 4,000 | Included |
| Known pre-tax subtotal | USD 31,000 | USD 32,500 |
| De-icing | Unpriced | Confirm whether included |
| Replacement cost | Not addressed | Stated obligation requires review |
A is USD 1,500 lower on the known pre-tax subtotal. It is not yet proven cheaper for equivalent service.
Do not invent a contingency amount to make incomplete proposals look comparable. Keep unresolved items visible and obtain written answers before declaring a preferred option.