How to Read a Private Jet Charter Quote (What Is and Is Not Included)

Every Hogani Jets quote includes the following without exception:

Only two categories of cost can appear outside your quoted price, and both are driven by weather conditions that exist on or near your travel date, not by Hogani Jets fees or broker markups.

De-icing and weather-related hangar fees are the only costs that can appear on your invoice beyond the quoted price. Everything else is already in the number Hogani Jets gives you.

The following services are included in a standard Hogani Jets quote and do not vary by aircraft category or route:

• Standard catering: water, soft drinks, light snacks, basic cabin amenities
• Ground crew coordination at both ends of the trip
• Crew briefing and flight planning
• FBO coordination at departure and arrival

The following are available on request and may be quoted additionally if you request them:

• Premium catering upgrades (hot meals, premium menus, dietary-specific requests, premium spirits)
• Ground transportation arranged through Hogani Jets at either end

• Onboard Wi-Fi where not standard on the specific aircraft

   

Hogani Jets always presents an all-in price. This is an intentional choice that differs from a meaningful portion of the broker market.

Some brokers quote a base charter rate and add FET (7.5%) on top at the end. A $20,000 quote from a plus-FET broker becomes $21,500 before you have agreed to anything. The headline number is not the real number.

Hogani Jets builds FET and all known fees into the number you receive at the start. The price you see is the price you pay, subject only to the weather exceptions described above.

How to compare quotes fairly?

When comparing a Hogani Jets all-in quote against a competitor's plus-FET quote, add 7.5% to the competitor's base number before comparing. A competitor quoting $19,000 plus FET is actually quoting $20,425 all-in, which may be more than a Hogani all-in quote of $20,000.

Federal Excise Tax (FET) is a federal tax on US air transportation, collected by the operator and remitted to the IRS. It is not a broker fee and it is not negotiable. Hogani Jets includes it in every applicable quote.

The rate, applicability, and exceptions are more nuanced than most pages explain. Here is the complete picture:

Domestic US Flights

FET applies at 7.5 percent of the total charter price on flights that take off and land within the 48 contiguous states, Alaska, or Hawaii. It applies regardless of aircraft size, distance, or purpose.

International Flights and the 225 Nautical Mile Rule

This is the rule most brokers get wrong. FET does not automatically disappear the moment a flight crosses an international border. The IRS applies a proximity test:

The Bahamas is specifically excluded from FET even though it sits within 225 nm of Florida. US territories including Puerto Rico and the USVI are also excluded. Canada and Mexico destinations close to the border (Toronto, Vancouver, Tijuana) do carry FET because they fall within the 225 nm zone.

Segment Fees

Domestic and international departures from the US both carry per-passenger segment fees set by the IRS. These are included in Hogani Jets' all-in pricing.

On pure international flights such as a charter from Miami to London, the US segment fee applies on departure. The UK or European destination may also impose its own government-mandated passenger departure tax. Hogani Jets will advise on destination-specific levies when they apply to your itinerary.

Charter pricing is built on billable flight hours, not on the time you personally spend in the air. Understanding how operators calculate billable time helps you compare quotes accurately.

Billable time starts from engine start and ends at engine shutdown, which includes taxi time at both airports. Operators typically add a standard 0.1 hours (six minutes) per segment for ground operations. On shorter routes, most operators apply a minimum billable hour threshold, commonly 1.5 to 2 hours, regardless of actual flight duration. If your actual flight is 45 minutes, your quote will show a minimum of 1.5 or 2 hours.

Always verify the billable hours shown on two competing quotes are identical before comparing totals. A lower hourly rate that bills more hours produces a higher final cost. The hours, not the rate, determine which quote is actually cheaper.

If the right aircraft for your trip is not already based at your departure airport, it must fly empty to reach you. That empty leg is called a positioning or ferry leg, and its cost is included in your Hogani Jets quote, not added as a surprise after you have confirmed.

Positioning is one of the most common sources of cost variance between broker quotes. A quote that appears lower may be hiding positioning costs that will be disclosed later, or sourcing from a more distant aircraft that adds more positioning distance than a locally-based alternative. Hogani Jets identifies the closest qualified aircraft for your trip and includes all positioning in the all-in price from the start.

Some operator agreements include an aircraft substitution clause, which permits the operator to replace the quoted aircraft if it becomes unavailable before your flight due to maintenance or scheduling conflict. Without written protection, you can confirm a booking on a specific aircraft and find a different one at the gate.

Hogani Jets addresses the substitution clause as standard practice. Under Part 295, which governs air charter brokers, you have the right to accept or decline any substitute aircraft presented to you. Hogani Jets ensures clients are informed in advance and that substitution language in operator agreements is addressed before you confirm.

What to confirm before signing?

Ask whether the quoted aircraft tail number is guaranteed or whether a substitution clause applies. If substitution is possible, ask what the written notification requirement and remedy are if the substitute does not meet the original specification.

Every charter quote contains two categories of cost: known costs and unknown costs. Hogani Jets separates these clearly.

The standard Hogani Jets applies: if a cost is known at the time of quoting, it is in the quote. Only costs that are genuinely unknown because they depend on weather conditions on the day of travel can appear afterward.

Whether you receive a quote from Hogani Jets or any other broker, these are the signals that warrant a direct question before you proceed:

• No specific aircraft tail number: "midsize jet" without an identified aircraft is not a confirmed booking
• Ask whether the total includes FET or is quoted plus-FET
• No mention of positioning ,  if the aircraft is not locally based, positioning cost should appear in the quote, not on the final invoice
• A substitution clause in the operator agreement with no written protections or notification requirements
• Vague cancellation terms: "subject to operator policy" without a specific deadline or refund structure is not a term

• What is the specific aircraft type, model, and tail number on this quote?
• Is the quoted aircraft guaranteed, or does a substitution clause apply?
• Is this an all-in price, or will FET and fees be added on top?
• Is the positioning fee included, and is the aircraft locally based?
• Does this itinerary trigger any crew overnight costs? If yes, are they in this quote?
• What are the cancellation and amendment terms and the deadlines?
• What are the de-icing or weather-related costs that could apply on the day?

Hogani Jets answer all of these in writing before you are asked to commit. Contact Hogani Jets at charter@hoganijets.com or +1-855-660-0573.

Is the price Hogani Jets quotes me the final price I pay?

Yes, with one exception. The quoted price includes all known costs: the aircraft, crew, fuel, positioning, landing and handling fees, FET, and segment fees. The only costs that can appear after your quote is issued are weather-driven: de-icing when ground conditions require it, and hangar holds in severe weather. These are disclosed upfront as possibilities but cannot be priced until the day of travel.

Does Hogani Jets include FET in the quoted price?

Yes. Hogani Jets always includes Federal Excise Tax in the all-in quoted price. Some brokers quote a base rate and add FET (7.5%) on top at the end. Hogani does not. The number you receive is the number that covers FET.

Does FET apply on flights to the Bahamas?

No. The Bahamas is specifically excluded from FET by statute, despite its proximity to Florida. A Miami to Nassau or Miami to Exuma charter does not carry US Federal Excise Tax. This is a specific exclusion, not a general international rule.

Does FET apply on flights to Canada or Mexico?

It depends on distance. The IRS applies a 225 nautical mile rule: destinations in Canada or Mexico within 225 nm of the US border are treated as domestic and carry FET at 7.5%. This includes cities like Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Tijuana, and Monterrey. Destinations beyond 225 nm (Calgary, Mexico City, Guadalajara) are outside the FET zone. Hogani Jets applies the correct treatment to every itinerary.

Does FET apply on flights to Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands?

No. US territories including Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and Guam are outside the US air transportation tax base. FET does not apply to charters departing from or arriving in US territories.

What is a domestic segment fee and is it included in my Hogani quote?

A domestic segment fee is a per-passenger government fee of $5.30 per flight segment on US departures. An international departure from the US carries an international departure tax of $23.40 per passenger. Both are included in the Hogani all-in quoted price and are not added at booking or invoicing.

Why does my Hogani quote look higher than a quote I received from another broker?

Hogani Jets quotes include all costs upfront: FET, positioning, landing fees, handling, and segment fees. A lower-looking quote from another broker may be quoting a base rate before FET (add 7.5%), before positioning fees, or before airport charges. Before comparing totals, confirm whether the other quote is all-in or plus-FET, and whether positioning is included. An apples-to-apples comparison frequently shows Hogani quotes are equal to or lower than plus-FET alternatives.

What is an aircraft substitution clause?

An aircraft substitution clause in an operator agreement allows the operator to replace the quoted aircraft if the original becomes unavailable before your flight. Hogani Jets addresses substitution clauses as part of every booking. Under Part 295, you have the right to accept or decline any substitute aircraft presented. Hogani ensures clients are informed in advance and that written protections are in place before you confirm.