How is it handled? I have flown privately internationally, on a handful of occasions, on an aircraft owned by clients, and on each occasion bar one, I gave the crew my passport before boarding at my port of origin (and a couple of times, to the driver who took me to the plane) and saw it next at the hotel when someone gave it to me along with my luggage (which I also never saw after handing it over).
Never having as much seen a passport control or customs officer, we would just disembark and head for the exits.
I always used to check the passport and it was always stamped.
I undertand that while everyone has to go through passport checks and customs, the “go through” part might vary. Never asked what was happening and since I have no idea if and when I get to fly privately internationally again, wonder, what exactly happens for private planes passengers.
I guess someone on the crew met with the appropriate officials and got the passport stamped?
No pictures or fingerprints, which happen every when flying commercial. Maybe they look up passenger manifest?
Quite different from my experience, though mine was quite some time ago, back in the early 80s. At one time I did a lot of travel between the US and Canada on a route that would have involved awkward multiple transfers on commercial flights, so the company opted for private charters. We were usually met on the tarmac by a customs & immigration officer and the formalities often concluded inside the plane, especially if the weather was bad, like one rainy night I remember. Although I do seem to recall going inside the terminal for clearance on several occasions so maybe it varies with the circumstances. But there was never anything about giving passports or anything else to flight crew – they were never involved. The great thing I remember about the whole experience is that there was never a wait or lineup for anything!
The only case I knew was when my brother flew his family up here to visit. He landed at Montreal International (now Trudeau) and was met at the tarmac by a customs officer. This was 30 years ago and passports weren’t required. But that was it. He parked the plane and they all piled into my car and came to my home.
I believe in a previous thread someone mentioned: if it’s a 0.1-percenter and entourage, that there was usually an expediter - an assistant or crew whose job was to ensure the correct documents were filed, then collects the passports to pass to the customs officials who meet the plane at the destination and answer questions. Unless something interesting is going on, the VIP passengers probably don’t rate more than a cursory glance from the customs people as they go by, to be sure the numbers and appearances match. For a business flight, unless again it’s VIP’s, possible it could be the same questions as with regular customs, but less likely to give the passengers the third degree (unless the plane came in from Colombia or Afghanistan). Presumably with companies that have plenty of business flights, it’s sufficiently routine it’s not going to get much scrutiny and the assistant/crew has all the answers “what is purpose of trip?” “Where are you staying? How long in country? Any commercial goods?” etc.
Note that an aircraft entering a country must land and report at an airport with customs on duty. Flight plans are mandatory for such flights, so the customs officials are forewarned. My ages-ago private pilot training mentioned that in some general aviation airports, for small planes a flight plan and radio ahead was necessary to have US customs waiting; but I imagine it’s the same idea as sailing into any harbour along the coast.
Or, you simply fly to somewhere like the Virgin Islands, where if you are accompanied by young girls going to your private island, it doesn’t matter because it’s part of the USA.
I’ve flown internationally on a friend’s private jet several times. In each case, I carried my passport the entire time and handed it to customs officials inside the plane or on the tarmac just outside.
I got the impression that the customs officers didn’t apply nearly as much scrutiny on those occasions as they did when I flew commercial to the same destinations. I mean, they made sure I was who I claimed to be, but they didn’t rifle through my bags or even examine them to any real degree. This was true both in foreign countries and upon our return to the US.
And I agree with Wolfpup: there’s no wait for anything, whether we’re talking customs or champagne. It spoils you completely, and my first commercial flight afterwards was always especially sad. It’s like the difference between instructing the valet to fetch the Aston and standing in line at Hertz for 45 minutes to rent a Nissan Versa that reeks of stale cigarettes.
It’s more convenient to fly private but the laws still exist. If anyone someone on a private plane is more tracked because they have a flight plan etc.
Harrington did not name the country or give information about who was the client. As I go back and read the account again, it occurs to me that the client may have had a large influence over corrupt or indifferent officials in the “country outside of Europe.” This may not work flying into the U.S.
I used to fly regularly between HMO and DTW on private planes, and inbound to DTW we always stopped at ELP to clear customs and immigration. Quite simply, everyone got off, formed a line alongside the aircraft, and customs would visually inspect everyone. When that was complete, we’d form a line at a window and have our passports reviewed one by one.
The flight crew would usually have some box lunches from a store at a local mall delivered, aircraft fueled, and then we’d be on our way.
I remember watching a video about this a while ago. Specifically, flying a helicopter from US to Canada. They notified customs before the flight started (possibly including some paperwork, I can’t recall), and again once they landed at the Canadian airport. I’m pretty sure they didn’t have to meet with any actual customs personnel in Canada, just once they returned to the US. (US is more restrictive than CA).
Funny you should ask - I just did it yesterday as a crew member on a chartered jet.
Short answer - it varies. Every international destination does things a little differently. Even within the U.S. there is variation. For example, some places want you to shut down engines and just sit there with the door closed until the officers come out. And I’ve seen them get VERY upset when the door was opened before they actually walked up to the plane, no matter how hot it was. Other places have actually said to me, “Hey, why didn’t you just open the door? You don’t have to sit in there sweltering.”
Usually it’s very quick for our passengers, but not always. Sometimes at major airports they have an officer come over from the airline terminal, while other places have personnel dedicated to the private jet FBOs (“fixed based operators” - the term of art for a private jet terminal).
One time it turned out a passenger didn’t have his passport with him. That was a failing on our part, as we are supposed to check for that. But sometimes people come breezing out to the jet with their personal assistant having handled everything and there’s not much conversation with the crew. The customs officials were not amused, and as far as I know the guy could still be in jail there.
Yes, it’s generally a much nicer way of traveling internationally, particularly when we have a “handler” to just take passports and have them walked through the process. But that’s not always what happens.
I work in this field so cannot say much. In the UK it sits under the banner of General Aviation
Post number 6 sums it up nicely. But there are rules which are strangely not enforceable. There has been resistance (you know from the privileged) to make these rules of submitting plans and passenger details enforceable with penalties or offences. They have made it an online process now but not mandatory.
ABQ has a Customs and Immigration office on site. That is what makes it an “International Airport” even though there are ZERO Commercial carrier international flights that operate to, or from Albuquerque. They deal only with private flights, of which there are a few, due to the proximity of Mexico. I once visited the C&I office looking for guidance on how to repatriate my stolen vehicle which was recovered by the Chihuahua state police.
I’m confused. I can see how a corrupt dictatorship could play fast and loose with the rules, but I find it hard to believe that most countries will allow a plane to land without going through customs and immigration control. What’s to stop a private charter from bringing in contraband or fugitives? Would the US, or France, or the UK really let a plane in without any checks?
