Passenger Checklist Flying by Private Jet

When Michael’s assistant pinged him the night before his charter, the message was simple: “NovaJet tail N725PJ, crew briefing at 4:30 p.m. at Signature Flight Support.” He didn’t blink. Over the years, he’s learned that private-jet travel isn’t magic — it’s a choreography of small details done right. Miss one step, and the seamless experience starts to fray. To make sure nothing slips through the cracks, here’s Michael’s quietly refined checklist for flying by private jet out of Mississauga (or anywhere in Canada), so you can turn hours in the sky into your most productive — and relaxing — time of day.

Confirm Your Ride: Lock in the Essentials

Twenty-four hours before you leave home, you’ll hear from NovaJet’s concierge with arrival instructions, crew names and any last-minute weather notes. This isn’t bureaucracy — it’s your freedom guarantee. Michael always sets a personal calendar reminder for that email; if it hasn’t arrived by 5 p.m., he calls. That way, when he steps into the sedan that whisks him to the FBO, he already knows:

• Aircraft tail number (so he can glance up at the tarmac and spot it among a dozen jets),
• Crew roster (captain, co-pilot and flight attendant — names he greets by memory),
• Lounge location (Signature, ExecuJet or Million Air, depending on the airport).

A single missing detail can mean a scramble through unfamiliar floors or last-minute paperwork. Michael’s rule: If it’s on their email, it’s in his phone.

Quick‑Reference Passenger Checklist

When	Activity	✔️
24 Hours Before Departure	• Expect concierge email: tail number, crew names, lounge location, weather notes • Set a 5 p.m. reminder to follow up if no email arrives
12 Hours Before Departure	• Double‑check passport/driver’s licence and visas/eTA are in your leather sleeve
Evening Before	• Print PDF of flight plan and customs declaration • Place corporate authorization letter in briefcase sleeve
Carry‑On Packing (Pre‑Flight)	• Hard‑shell case: laptop, tablet, noise‑cancelling earbuds • Leather portfolio: today’s printouts + encrypted USB stick • Toiletry kit + oximeter • Vacuum‑sealed change of clothes
Hold‑Bag Packing	• Garment bag with blazer and tagged samples/prototypes
Dressing	• Business‑casual outfit (polo, unstructured blazer, chinos, slip‑ons) + silk scarf in pocket
Arrival at FBO	• Greeted in lounge by name; collect oat‑milk latte • Confirm tail number on ramp • Brief crew on any last‑minute requests
Boarding	• Hand off keys; escorted through private security corridor • Verify welcome greeting (“Good afternoon, Mr. Lee”)
Onboard Setup	• Slide out table; check latch • Adjust air vent • Test Wi‑Fi & save credentials • Grab chilled spring water
In‑Flight Routine	• Switch between Work/Rest modes as needed • Snack or meal service • Hydrate (electrolytes or herbal tea) • Stretch every 90 min
Descent & Landing	• Stow briefcase and water bottle • Buckle seatbelt; note touchdown time
Ground Transfer	• Confirm luxury sedan arrival • Retrieve hold‑bag with tags • Text assistant: “Landed, on to lobby at 5”
Post‑Flight Debrief	• Complete NovaJet survey: note any anomalies (blanket scent, Wi‑Fi flow, cabin temp)

Documentation: Beyond the Boarding Pass

Yes, you bypass terminal lines — but you still need the right papers. Pull out your passport or driver’s licence and slip it into a slim leather sleeve. For domestic hops, the licence suffices; for cross-border charters you’ll need your passport plus any visas or eTA approvals. NovaJet often pre-files your crew’s customs declaration, but Michael still double-checks his ETA confirmation and prints a PDF of his flight plan — just in case the Wi-Fi stalls at a remote FBO.

If you’re travelling on a corporate account, have your letter of authorisation ready. Some handlers insist on a stamped company letter before releasing a plane. Rather than dig through email on the ramp, Michael keeps a plastic-sleeved copy in his briefcase, labelled “Authorized Charter Use.”

Packing Smart: What Goes in the Cabin (and What Doesn’t)

Private jets give you generous allowances, but Michael treats his carry-on with surgical precision. He brings:

• A single hard-shell case with his laptop, tablet and noise-cancelling earbuds — everything he needs for video calls or last-minute edits.
• A leather portfolio containing only that day’s printouts; the rest live on an encrypted USB stick.
• A compact toiletry kit : travel-size hand-sanitizer, lip balm, eye drops — and a mini-pulse oximeter if he has back-to-back meetings across time zones.
• A lightweight change of clothes in a vacuum-sealed pouch: a fresh shirt and socks to swap in the lavatory if he naps or spills coffee.

Everything else goes in the hold: a carry-on garment bag with a blazer, plus any samples or physical prototypes he needs on-site. He tags each bag with his name and flight number — just in case ground staff juggle items between charters.

Dressing for Success — and Comfort

Private-jet cabins can be styling studios or casual lounges. Michael errs on the side of business-casual , striking a balance between boardroom polish and seat-belt ease. His go-to uniform: a fine-knit polo under a unstructured blazer, tapered chinos and leather slip-ons (no laces to fuss with during take-off). He keeps a silk travel scarf in his coat pocket — both to warm a suddenly chilly cabin and to add a dash of personal flair without bulk.

Boarding Ritual: From Car Seat to Cabin Seat

At Signature’s sleek glass doors, Michael hands off his keys and steps into a hushed lounge. He’s greeted by name, the barista knows his oat-milk latte preferences, and the crew announces that his Challenger 350 is warming up on the ramp. There’s no cattle call, no gate change. Just a low-profile escort through a security-cleared corridor, and then:

“Good afternoon, Mr. Lee,”
“Welcome aboard.”

The polished handrail feels cool under his palm as he climbs the airstair. Within a minute, he’s settled into leather that’s been conditioned to room-temperature perfection.

Settling In: Craft Your Onboard Environment

Michael treats the cabin like a high-end hotel room. Before anything else, he:

1. Slides the fold-out table into place, checks that the latch holds steady, then plugs in his laptop.
2. Adjusts the air vent until the whisper of cool air hits just behind his neck — no drenching drafts, just enough to keep him alert.
3. Puts on noise-cancelling earbuds , and tests the Wi-Fi. He logs into the secure network, runs a speed test, and saves the ID and password in a note app.
4. Opens the minibar to grab a glass-bottle spring water. NovaJet sources local brands — no clunky plastic — and hands him a chilled bottle without ever disturbing his focus.

These small rituals — table shake test, vent calm-down, water-bottle ergonomics — ensure that every minute in the sky feels intentional, not an afterthought.

In-Flight Modes: Work, Rest or Recharge

A private jet is a chameleon. Michael fine-tunes his cabin experience according to his flight plan:

• Work Mode
  He taps his headset cradle, swivels his chair toward the monitor, and launches a video conference. The crew dims the cabin lights slightly to reduce screen glare, and he’s in full-blown CEO-at-work mode. Slide decks appear sharp on the 24-inch display; no one in the cabin can overhear the board-level discussion.
• Rest Mode
  If there’s a lull in the agenda, he lets the crew know he’s switching to “do not disturb.” His seat transforms into a near-flat lounger. He reaches for the hotel-grade blanket stored overhead, and sinks into a 20-minute power nap with an eye mask and mint-scented lavender sachet to hush the mind. Thirty minutes later, he’s wide awake, eyes feeling fresher than after any airport lounge nap.

Between these modes, he eats. On a late-afternoon flight, NovaJet’s caterers delivered a delicate bento box — sashimi-grade salmon, avocado, and pickled ginger — served on china with real chopsticks. It felt more like a dinner reservation than in-flight catering.

Stay Hydrated, Stay Sharp

Altitude and cabin air can sap moisture fast. Michael keeps a small pouch of electrolyte powder in his pocket; a quick stir into his water bottle keeps headaches at bay. He avoids caffeine after 3 p.m., opting instead for herbal tea bags in a mesh strainer — the crew brews them fresh on request.

If his itinerary spans multiple legs, he changes his socks at each layover and brushes his teeth between destinations. These tiny habits stop that “airport weary” feeling before it sets in.

Stretch, Move, Prevent Stiffness

Cabins are cozier than first-class cabins — but there’s room to move. Michael stands every 90 minutes, rolls his shoulders and gently stretches his spine. He strolls to the galley, grabs a second water, and unrolls one of NovaJet’s travel yoga straps for a quick foot stretch. On longer runs, he consciously cycles his legs under the seat to keep circulation flowing. By the time the crew dims the lights for descent, he’s neither cramped nor restless.

Touchdown and Transfers: Maintain the Flow

As descent begins, Michael folds his briefcase, snaps the table shut, and stows his empty water bottle in the trash receptacle. Cabin lights brighten to signal landing. The co-pilot’s voice is calm: “Ladies and gentlemen, we’ll be on the ground in five minutes.” He buckles in, takes a deep breath, and watches the runway lights approach.

Seconds after the wheels touch down, the cabin door swings open to a waiting luxury sedan — no baggage carousel, no customs lineup. NovaJet’s ground-handling partner hands off his suitcase with a nod: “Welcome to Vancouver.” Michael settles into plush leather once more, texting his assistant: “Landed. On to lobby at 5.”

Post-Flight Debrief: Sharpen for Next Time

Back at his office, Michael spends two minutes on NovaJet’s post-flight survey. He notes that the chalet-white blanket showed a small scent of detergent rather than linens, and that the cabin temperature felt perfect, but the Wi-Fi password prompt could be smoother. NovaJet’s team follows up within 12 hours with an acknowledgement and a promise to fine-tune. Over time, these micro-adjustments make every charter incrementally better.

Your Turn: Build Your Own Private-Jet Ritual

What Michael treasures most isn’t luxury for its own sake. It’s the predictability of an experience that bends to his needs — from the exact strength of the coffee to the precise moment his seat goes flat. As you prepare for your first NovaJet charter (or your fiftieth), keep in mind:

• Confirm every itinerary detail 24 hours out.
• Pack light but smart: tech in the cabin, extras in the hold.
• Dress for comfort and professionalism.
• Set your in-flight mode early: work or rest.
• Hydrate strategically; avoid cabin fatigue.
• Move deliberately; stretch regularly.
• Debrief honestly; every note makes the next flight smoother.

A private-jet flight isn’t a one-off treat. It’s a skill set — an art of managing time, space and comfort at once. Master these steps, and you’ll turn each journey into a competitive edge, wherever NovaJet takes you.

Ready to make your next flight feel effortless? Request your custom quote at https://www.novajet.com/contact/ or book online. Your bespoke travel routine is waiting.