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Private Jet for a Wedding: How to Plan the Flight for the Couple and Guests
A wedding in a remote location, on an island or at a villa far from scheduled routes, brings together everything that makes travel complicated: many people, fixed dates, small airports and a lot of luggage. A private jet solves most of these problems, as long as it is planned well. Here is how we did it for one of our clients, and what to know if you are thinking of doing the same.
Ten guests for a weekend on an island
The client found us on Google. He was invited to a wedding on an Italian island for a long weekend, and had to fly with nine other people. He often flies private and found our website "professional, detailed and accurate".
We answered his email quickly with a quote that already included all taxes and airport fees, and right after sending it we called him to go through every item. "I appreciated the transparency and professionalism of Mauro De Rosa."
The problem: a short runway and a full cabin
The airport closest to the venue has a short runway that not every jet can use. We picked a suitable aircraft, but with ten passengers on board the baggage hold was small and the landing weight was already close to the limit.
For a wedding, though, the client expected a couple of trolleys per person: around twenty suitcases, too many for the aircraft's weight and balance.
The solution: the suitcases leave the day before
Instead of asking the guests to leave half their luggage at home, we sent a driver to collect the heavier suitcases the day before the flight and take them to the destination. The guests found them at the hotel when they arrived. "I really appreciated that they found a solution instead of telling me: sorry, you have to reduce your luggage."
The client's nephew was on board too, so we left him a Lego set for the flight. "A personal touch that impressed both me and his mother."
How to plan a wedding flight
Start from the guests
Count how many people need to fly and where they are flying from. If they all start from the same city, one aircraft is enough; if they come from different cities, several flights can land at the same airport, or one flight can stop to pick them up. Above a certain number of passengers a group charter with a larger aircraft makes more sense: see our group charter page.
Choose the airport first, then the aircraft
Many wedding venues are served by small airports, with short runways or limited opening hours. The runway decides which aircraft can land, and therefore how many seats and how much luggage you have on board. To see how many people each category of jet carries, read our guide to passengers by aircraft type.
Say early how much luggage there will be
Formal wear, shoes, gifts: people travel with more luggage than usual to a wedding. Mention it when you ask for a quote, so the aircraft is chosen for its hold too. If there are too many suitcases, as for this client, they can travel separately and wait for you at the destination.
Think about the last leg
From the airport to the venue you may need a transfer, or a helicopter where the road is long or there is none: see helicopter charter.
Book early
Weddings cluster in the same months, often on the same weekends: in high season, the aircraft that suit short runways are the first to be booked.
Planning the flight for your wedding? Request a quote: tell us the dates, the number of guests, the departure cities and the luggage, and we will suggest the right aircraft.
