YOUR JET CHARTER QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY OUR AVIATION EXPERTS

When we say "We just happen to have a private jet ready to go when you are," we genuinely mean it.

Using our mobile app or web, you can instantly locate a private plane that would be at your departure airport or close to it on the date and time of your departure.

We then perform an extensive real-time safety audit on the aircraft and the aircraft operator.

The results are grouped by aircraft category from Turbo-props to Long Range (Heavy) jets and presented to you for instant booking.

With just a few taps or clicks, you will be able to pay for your booking and receive immediate confirmation. With few more taps, you can add your travel companions, and you are all set and ready to head to the airport.

When booking your private jet charter service from us, you are leveraging technology to score a private charter flight directly for the air carrier. The process eliminates air charter broker from being a go-between you and your private jet rental.

There are over 1096 air charter service companies in the United States By using an aggregator platform such as TapJets you get the best, safest, and most cost-conscious options for your trip.

Brought to you by our ability to track movement, calendar information, and over 82 other data feeds to ensure that our clients receive the best possible options available.

This is just the beginning, please check out empty leg Flight Auctions and other benefits of our platform.

Updated: May 17, 2019

TapJets platform looks at over 1700+ aircraft that are available for charter on your specified dates at the time you are making a reservation. We believe that the price we offer is the lowest possible price for your trip. If you find a charter aircraft for less, we will match the price and give you an additional 5% discount. Our price match rules are simple. It has to be for the same type of aircraft (i.e., Hawker 800XP), same route of travel, same time and same dates. Price guarantee does not apply to "empty leg" pricing that some operators offer via our auction or other means.

Unlike charter services, TapJets doesn't require membership fees, cards or rely on end-to-end outsourcing. We are with you every step of the way.

Another unique benefit for Tapjets customers is that they only pay for the time they fly.  The clock starts from the time you boarded the plane and the engines are started and ends at your destination when engines are shut down.  For more details, you can visit our charter contract document.  No other company offers customers the flexibility of paying only for the actual time flown.

Here you can see demonstration video about booking from our app.

Here you can see Instant Booking of Private Jet from Web Browser Demonstration Video .

Each flight booked on TapJets platform is subject to a safety audit prior to your departure. We partnered with Wyvern Consulting that provides TapJets with real-time access to pilot experience and background checks, aircraft certification, valid insurance policy, and air-carrier credentials. A written audit report is available to our customers at no charge before every flight.

PASS stands for Pilot and Aircraft Safety Survey.  This real-time report confirms the following information:

• Verification that a charter operator holds a current Air Operating Certificate
• Verification that the aircraft being chartered is listed on the air carrier's Operations Specifications
• Confirmation of current insurance for the aircraft
• Confirmation that each crew member's experience meets a specific safety standard
• Confirmation that each crew member's medical and license information is current
• Confirmation that operator has Civil Aviation Authority approval for international operations at chosen locations

Wyvern Consulting was the first aircraft safety auditing firm in the country. Providing services to operators in the U.S. and some parts of Europe, the company offers different levels of audits that comply with industry standards. Registered Operator is its entry-level program in which operators have their records on file in the due diligence-related Registered Standard PASS Program that Wyvern’s corporate, operator and broker clients have access to before a flight. Following the entry-level tier is the Wingman Standard, which only a fraction of operators maintains. Operators at this level adhere to specific processes and parameters that reflect the latest safety best practices. In May 2016, about 150 operators worldwide were members of the Wingman program.

You can add TapJets Bot to your Slack workspace. TapJets Bot can look up flights, provide you with a quote, and finalize your booking.

Simply click on the "Add to Slack" button below  

You can offer seats on a private jet charter flight regardless of where you have purchased your flight as long as we can verify that the flight is operated by a regulated air carrier certified to operate for hire flights by the appropriate authority for the country where the flight is being operated.  You must provide proof of booking and appropriate confirmation at the time you submit your flight for listing on the JetShare platform.

You must be a Host Member of the JetShare community in order to list your flight.  In all such instances, TapJets acts as a technology partner allowing you the Host to utilize our platform to find people who are going to share this flight with you.  The definition an authority for this operation is defined in the Department of Transportation section 295 as follows:

TapJets charges you a transaction fee for each seat sold and confirmed in the amount of 5% of the amount you have accepted as payment.  An additional 3.5% credit card processing fee is added if the transaction is settled by a credit card.  All proceeds, less the fees, will be transferred to your account upon completion of the flight.  

If you believe you have a flight route that others like to join, you can use our Instant Booking app to search for the options and then send a quote to our JetShare ops team.  We will provide you with the best options available and discuss listing the flight on the flight board.

You must complete a brief form to tell us about yourself, your private travel objectives, and brief experience in private flying.  The objective of the application process is to give us the ability to conduct a basic background check for the safety of flight and community enjoyment purposes.  While we do not disclose the exact criteria, we reserve the right to approve, reject, or suspend members if we believe their conduct is a risk to the safety of flight or is detrimental to the peaceful enjoyment of our services by other community members. The information you provide, our decisions and communications are strictly confidential and are not shared with any other members community.  Once approved you can join as a basic member or as a host member which will allow you to reserve seats on any of the JetShare listed flights, and if you are a host then you will be able to offer any of your flights on JetShare platform so that community members can join your flight. 

For Curated flights, the price per seat is an equal share of the total flight cost divided by the number of seats booked.  So as additional reservations are made, the per-seat price is reduced and if you already hold a confirmed seat the price you will be entitled to a refund for the reduced amount.

On some of the flights offered by JetShare, there is a minimum seat required in order for the flight to be confirmed.   This is done to ensure that there is a sufficient number of passengers committed to cover the costs of the flight.  Your reservation on such flight will not be confirmed unless the minimum required seats have been sold.  For the flights that do not meet the minimum seat requirement prior to 72 hours from departure, JetShare will cancel all the bookings and remove the flight listing. 

If you have a confirmed seat, which is nonrefundable, that you would like to re-list for sale, you should contact the JetShare ops team and request a listing of the seat.  This option is only available to VIP and Host Members.

JetShare service is only available to vetted and approved community members.  To become a member, you have to apply or be invited by another community member.  Once approved you will be able to pick a membership tier that fits your travel needs and reserve seats, join or initiate flights on the JetShare platform.

JetShare is a crowdsourcing service that allows members who have purchased a verified private jet charter flight and operators of the flight to offer them on a per-seat basis to the JetShare Community.  There are two type of flights: (1) Hosted flights are offered to members by another member (Host) who does not mind sharing his existing (booked and verified) trip with community members. (2) Curated flights are offered by community administrators based on the route popularity or request of other community members

Instant booking is our primary concern. We try to make your trip as easy as possible. You don’t need to fill out and sign papers. You book a flight through the application or the website in a couple of seconds. Time is money.

In your App account or Website account, you can find the «My quotes» section, then click to the «View Quotes» icon, where you can familiarize yourself with all the details on the quota and send them to your email or print.

TapJets is directly involved in the lease of an entire aircraft, and it is not profitable both for you and us. You rent a whole plane, and during the flight, you become a full host on board.

If you are intersted in purchasing a seat, please take a look at our JetShare program.

The Concierge is in touch at any time. You can quickly contact him by phone number 213-394-3910 or text to email address concierge@tapjets.com. Always welcome!

A concierge can assist with all kinds of work-related tasks such as to order a taxi, catering, carrying of stuff, and whatever you need.

Yes, you can acquaint with our privacy policy to click here.

What is FAR Part 135?

FAR stands for Federal Aviation Regulations. These are the rules prescribed by the Federal Aviation Administration or FAA. These rules regulate most aviation-related activities, from commercial and private aviation to hot-air ballooning and drone flying. The FARs promote safe aviation for everyone included.

FAR Part 135 lays out the rules for the operators, or as stated in the FAR "Operating Requirements: Commuter and On-Demand Operations and Rules Governing Persons on Board Such Aircraft". It only applies to the aircraft that have 30 or fewer seats or have a maximum payload capacity of 7,500 pounds. This means it applies to most private jets.

What types of Part 135 operators are there?

The operator that meets all necessary conditions and has a Part 135 certificate becomes a Part 135 operator. This is not an easy task - as the Part 135 safety standards are often very high and exceed minimum government requirements.

There are four groups of Part 135 operators:

Single Pilot

This certificate allows the use of only one pilot for all operations.

Single Pilot in Command (PIC)

This certificate allows the use of one PIC and a maximum of three Second in Command pilots (SIC). The pilots can only perform their specific duties and can't trade positions. The certificate allows operation of an aircraft with 9 seats or less. The flights are limited to the USA, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. 

Basic

This certificate allows up to 5 pilots, including SICs; a maximum of 5 aircraft, and a maximum of 3 types of aircraft; aircraft must be with 9 seats or less. The flights are limited to the USA, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Standard

This certificate doesn't have any restrictions. The operators must be authorized by the FAA for all their operations and they must develop and maintain manuals, training programs, and have the required management positions.

What are the benefits of flying with a Part 135 operator?

The Part 135 operators are the best safety-wise. The pilots are required to have a minimum of 500 total flight hours, 100 cross-country flight hours and 25 night, and cross-country flight hours. The duty time of pilots is strictly regulated to make sure they are always well-rested. The pilots are required to have 10 hours of rest time in-between flights. The aircraft have to pass regular maintenance and usually obtain third-party safety certificates like ARG/US, Wyvern, and IS-BAO.

To put it shortly - exceptional safety.

What are the drawbacks of flying with a Part 135 operator?

Small Part 135 operators might encounter some problems if a recovery is needed. In case of any mechanical issues or pilots getting sick they might not be able to fix the issue and will have to cancel the trip.

Some of the certificates don't allow landing in poor visibility, which means in case of fog or heavy rain you will have to land elsewhere.

Tapjets is available on-demand around the clock.  Using the app, you can order your flight in as little as two hours before departure. However, aircraft availability and position changes constantly so booking in advance gives you the largest price and selection flexibility.

The prices shown in our app is for the entire flight for the aircraft, crew, fuel, landing fees, airport fees, and any other items associated with your flight.  What the price does not include and is shown separately is Federal Exercise Tax (FET)  of 7.5% and Passenger Segment Fee. of $4/per person.  We are required by the government to collect these fees in addition to your purchase price. You will see these amounts on details section of your booking screen.

Tapjets offers the industry's most flexible cancellation policy. Flights canceled 48 hours before departure are fully refunded to your credit card; flights canceled within 48 hours from departure are credited to your Tapjets account for future travel.

To cancel a flight request, sign into your App account or Website account. Go to the main menu and click on MY FLIGHTS. Choose the flight from the appeared list and press the "Trash" icon to delete the flight.

The best way to introduce your friends to TapJets is to give them a gift of flight.   By sending your personal voucher code your friends will be able to deduct $500 or 10% of their flight (whichever is less).

As a token of our appreciation, whenever your friend uses the voucher you have sent, we will also give you a $500 voucher towards your future travel. You can use this credit on any future flight, or you can collect lots of credits and pay for the entire flight.

The only limitation we have on these vouchers is that your friend can only use this type of voucher once.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to give us a call.

You can check your account balance in your mobile app or web app under My Account.

TapJets accepts Bitcoin as a form of payment for your flight. When using our web or mobile application, you will be able to select Bitcoin (BTC) as your form of payment. Once you complete your booking, we will email you our BTC payment information and our system will be monitoring BTC wallet for the arrival of your payment. When we receive the coins, we will send you final confirmation for your flight with all of the airport and terminal (FBO) details.

Please note that Bitcoin payments may take up to 6 hours to confirm. If you are departing within 24 hours of your order, please contact our office to follow up on our receipt of the funds.

TapJets accepts ACH and Wire Transfers as a form of payment for your flight. When using our web or mobile application, you will be able to select ACH or Wire Transfer as your form of payment. Once you complete your booking, we will email you ACH or Wire Transfer information and our system will be monitoring our account for the receipt of your payment. When we receive the payment, we will send you final confirmation for your flight with all of the airport and terminal (FBO) details.

Please note that ACH takes three (3) business days to reach our account and Wire Transfers take up to 48 hours. If your departing within these times you may need to select another form of payment. For same day wire transfers, please contact our office for assistance.

Business jets create all the comfortable and necessary conditions for work onboard. Also, during the flight, customers can negotiate among themselves or with partners. If you need a conference table, a video conference, we can provide it upon request.

It’s for those people who can’t imagine their life without the Internet. We ensure its presence on the plane upon request because not all the jets have Internet access. Also, keep in mind, the availability of the Internet can change the cost of your flight.

Safety is in our DNA, and as a technology company, it is in our code, on our servers, and with you on-board of each flight.   Our founders with stellar careers as airline captains with over 40,000 hours of flight time each at United and American have infused their zero-tolerance for errors approach for every flight that we book for you.  We believe in a system of risk identification (symptoms), and mitigation before trip ever departs. 

With over 1100 companies operating private jets in the USA alone, without automation, this task is daunting, so we built a system that consistently ensures compliance.  Here is a brief look at how it works: 

Before we allow you to schedule an aircraft from your smartphone, we assure that the company that operates the flight is in good standing with FAA and or ICAO regulators  We verify their insurance policy to see if their coverage is current and sufficient. We look at their claims history to see if any concerns may be related to safety.  We then take a close automated look at their financials, credit reports, and tax filings.  Any signs of trouble in finances could mean shortcomings in maintenance or training of crews.  

Once the aircraft is assigned to your flight, we subject it to an automated audit of it's flying history. We look for any incident history, prior mechanical issues, time in service, refurbishments, and any possible maintenance items that may be due before your flight.  We also look to see if any flights were "canceled" due to maintenance issues on this aircraft. 

As soon as a crew is assigned to your flight, our systems automatically gather the information about their experience, making sure they are appropriately qualified for the type of aircraft they are flying, that they have flown sufficient hours in this particular type of aircraft, that their training is recent and finally that they hold proper medical certification.  Finally, we look back at the last 24 hours of the crew to ensure that they had adequate rest to conduct your flight. 

We have partnered with Wyvern LLC to fetch some of this information from their proprietary PASS system.  We also connect to government databases from FAA and ICAO, private maintenance tracking systems, operator scheduling systems, aircraft tracking systems, credit reporting systems, and many other data sources so that we can consistently, accurately, and efficiently make sure that we know absolutely everything about the safety of your flight before it takes off.   As a result, if there is a concern, we will make sure you know about it, and we take steps to resolve it way before it becomes a safety issue. 

Many people can’t imagine their life without flying with their beloved pets. TapJets provides the opportunity to travel with animals. Just leave us a request, and we will make it happen. Easy!

You should plan to be at the airport 15 minutes before your departure. You will receive a flight confirmation with directions to a private airport terminal. The Same information is available in your mobile app My Trips section.  If you are running late, please let us know as soon as possible.  If we don't hear from you, we may depart to our next flight 60 minutes after your original departure time.

So you are planning a hunting trip, and you’ve secured a private jet charter directly to the ranch’s private airstrip. Can you bring your guns with you?

The short answer is Yes all you have to do is ask. But here is a more detailed explanation that will get you checked in and on your way without any delays.

Flying with firearms is legal and relatively easy with some preparation on your part. Know the laws, rules, and regulations, have your luggage set up correctly, and above all have a friendly attitude.

Rule #1. Please let us know ahead that you will be bringing firearms. We will work with the operator to ensure everyone is aware of the precious cargo.

Rule #2. No concealed and loaded guns in the cabin. If the airplane is small and you can assess baggage, then triggers must be locked, or weapons must be in cases.

Rule #3. Guns, rifles, or any other device that shoots must be unloaded and in its own case. Ammunition should be in separate containers or boxes. There should be no loose ammunition.

Rule #4. You must check with the County, State, or the Country to where you are going about their rules and regulations related to bringing guns to their jurisdiction. You are responsible for knowing the laws and regulations.

Following these simple rules will allow you to enjoy your hunting trip or have your personal protection with you when you arrive at your destination.

If you want to make your friend happy, you can find in your profile the Free Flights section, and then you will get your Promo Link, which you can easily copy and send. Keep in mind, every time your friends use your voucher code, they get $500 credit towards their flight. Once they complete their journey, we will add $500 to your account with TapJets. Your credits can be used to pay for any of our private jet charter flights.

You pay for the time you fly and get rewarded once you reach a certain number of hours for each Rewards tier. The number of hours flown is stored on your account.

TapJets Rewards Tier eligibility is based on hours flown in one calendar year. Reward hours expire in 24 months from receipt. If you decide to upgrade to a different size of aircraft (or downgrade), hours can be traded based on the market value of the flight hours.

Rewards Hours are accrued based on your most typically used aircraft type (e.g., if you usually fly midsize jets, your Rewards Hours will be redeemable for medium-sized flight time. However, we’re giving you the flexibility to transfer your rewards hours at fixed rates if you wish to upgrade and maximize your reward.

Effective April 15, 2018, TapJets will offer our clients the ultimate private jet loyalty program: TAPJETS™ REWARDS.  The program is custom-built to recognize and reward our customers’ continued loyalty to TapJets through valuable rewards and exclusive perks.

TapJets™ Rewards provides all of the benefits of a jet card or fractional membership, but without the need to make any up-front purchases or costly membership fees. Instead, our customers enjoy direct access to the largest virtual fleet of aircraft operated by top-tier, FAA-certified air carriers. You simply pay for the time you fly and get rewarded based on how often you travel with us.

As an added benefit, we’ve retroactively qualified the 2017 flight hours of our existing customers for 2018 rewards tier status.

TapJets™ Rewards Details

Enthusiast

     25 hours of flight time (in any aircraft type)

     Reward – 1 Rewards Hour*

• As always, guaranteed in-app aircraft pricing and availability
• Ability to select a specific aircraft model (if more than one is available for your trip)
• 24x7 Access to our Global Concierge Hotline to assist you with any travel-related matters
• Ability to trade your FREE hours to any other aircraft category at a fixed exchange rate.

Aficionado

     75 hours of flight time (in any aircraft type)

     Reward – 4 Rewards Hours*

• All Enthusiast benefits, plus…
• $100 in ground transportation credits for every flight
• Guaranteed aircraft availability for special events
• Early access to our most competitive Flight Auctions

 Connoisseur

     200 hours of flight time (in any aircraft type)

      Reward – 12 Rewards Hours*

• All Enthusiast and Aficionado benefits, plus…
• Free ground transportation to and from airport locations
• Free catering for every flight over two hours
• Ability to combine flight reward hours from several travelers in your family or company

*Same aircraft type or trade up to larger type from Propeller, Light Jet, Midsize Jet, or Long-Range Jet

Rules and Conditions:  TapJets Rewards Tier eligibility is based on hours flown in one calendar year.  Reward Hours expire in 24 months from receipt. If you decide to upgrade to a different size of aircraft (or downgrade), hours can be traded based on market value of the flight hours. The member who acquired the Reward Hours must be on board the flights that are flown using Rewards Hours. 

Rewards Hours:  Rewards Hours are accrued based on your most typically used aircraft type (e.g. if you typically fly midsize jets, your Rewards Hours will be redeemable for midsize flight time). However, we’re giving you the flexibility to transfer your rewards hours at fixed rates if you wish to upgrade and maximize your reward. See table below: 

The pet size doesn’t matter. Cat, dog or an exotic pet - all are welcome aboard! The main thing is that it shouldn’t exceed the size of the aircraft.

It depends on the air carrier you fly with. Some air carriers may charge an additional fee, but most air carriers are pet-friendly and don't charge anything. If your pet damages the jet, the cost of transportation will include it.

Of course! We adore your pets almost as much as you do. Just keep in mind that you should let us know prior, so we find a suitable jet for you and your furry friends. Also, it would help if you were sure that a place where you go accepts your pet, especially if it is an exotic one.

Obviously, you need to have all the necessary animal vaccinations and a veterinary passport (especially for international flights).

Yes, your pet can be in any place comfortable for them and you.

You rent the whole jet, so it’s your party, and only you decide where your pets will sit!