Jet Card Add-On Charges: Deicing, Catering, Wi-Fi and FBO Selection

A jet card’s hourly rate does not tell you the full cost of a winter departure, a catered meal or in-flight internet. Some programs include these services. Others charge separately, set allowances or pass supplier costs through to your account.

Take an example of a morning business flight with six passengers. You need deicing, breakfast, Wi-Fi for work and a specific private terminal for your ground transfer. Before confirming the booking, find out which services your card covers and what you will pay for the rest.

Check how those extras appear on your statement. A charge can reduce your prepaid hours or funds without generating a separate invoice.

What does an all-inclusive jet card actually include?

Start with the product schedule attached to your agreement. It sets out what the hourly rate covers and when additional charges apply. Use it to price the trip you intend to take.

Separate included services, optional purchases, supplier costs passed through to you and charges triggered by specific circumstances. This makes it easier to compare quotes and understand the deductions from your account.

Compare the named card’s inclusions

Magellan’s jet card comparison lists deicing and catering as add-ons for its Category Jet Card and as included for its Premium Jet Card. NetJets lists Wi-Fi, catering and deicing as included.

Use the jet card comparison guide to compare access, pricing and contract terms alongside these inclusions.

Deicing: who pays when winter operations change the bill?

Deicing removes frozen contamination from an aircraft. As Transport Canada’s ground icing guidance explains, anti-icing protects a clean surface against further accumulation for a limited period. Check how your card charges for both. The operator determines which treatments the flight requires.

If deicing is included, check whether that covers treatment at both ends of your trip, repeat applications and hangar use. These details are especially useful if you fly frequently in winter.

Extreme-weather exceptions can still add to the bill. Some providers pass through exceptional deicing costs in extreme weather after notifying you.

Weather can prevent the provider from giving you a final deicing cost in advance. Agree on who receives notice of additional charges and what supporting details will appear on your statement.

Catering: standard refreshments, meals and special requests

A stocked cabin, a snack and a full meal are different requests. Find out what your program supplies, then specify the passenger count, meal and dietary requirements so the provider can confirm availability and price.

The same agreement can include light catering but allows extra charges for certain high-value custom items. Ask where your usual order falls within the included menu or allowance.

For an early departure with colleagues, order breakfast for the booked passenger count. Ask whether the allowance applies per person, flight or travel day, and whether it covers preparation, delivery and handling.

If your departure moves or a passenger cancels, find out whether you can amend the order and what remains payable. For dietary requirements, confirm how the food will be prepared and handled.

Keep the final order with your trip confirmation so you and the provider have the same record of the menu, passenger count and approved cost.

Wi-Fi: what does your flight need?

For a working flight, check both the cost and capability of the Wi-Fi. The aircraft needs suitable equipment and coverage along your route to support the work you plan to do.

Tell the provider whether you need, large file transfers or video meetings before the aircraft is assigned. Ask about usage limits and whether an aircraft substitution could change the connectivity available.

If data costs extra, check the allowance and charging unit. Find out whether access covers every passenger and who can approve additional spending when colleagues or guests are traveling.

For a business-critical connection, put the requirement in your booking and ask what happens if the service is unavailable, including any credit offered. Schedule your work around the capability the provider confirms.

FBO selection: what changes when you choose the terminal?

An airport can have more than one FBO, or fixed-base operator, providing ground facilities and services. Give your driver the specific terminal name and address.

Your preferred FBO might be closer to a meeting or easier for your transfer, while the card provider normally uses another facility. Ask whether switching changes the price and which services account for the difference.

The National Air Transportation Association’s FBO Fees and Services Hub advises operators to confirm fees with the FBO because charges depend on the visit. Ask your provider to check the facilities and services needed for your arrival and departure.

An FBO can charge the aircraft operator for its services. Your jet card agreement determines whether those costs are included or passed on to you.

Fuel minimums and fee waivers

Some facility charges can be waived with a qualifying fuel purchase. Ask whether the waiver applies to your aircraft and visit, which charges it covers and how it will appear on your account.

Check charges for after-hours access, major events and any extra services you request. The provider should explain the cost of your chosen FBO for that visit.

Other charges to include in your comparison

Taxes, fuel provisions, international arrangements, peak-period conditions and itinerary changes can also affect your total. Include them when comparing quotes.

NetJets specifies a contractual per-gallon ceiling for the fuel included in its card price. Check how any fuel cost above a stated ceiling is calculated.

Minimum billing can also increase the hours deducted for a short flight. The guide to daily and segment minimums explains how to calculate that part of your trip cost.

Count an extra once, whether it is deducted from your card balance or billed separately. The guide to hours-based and deposit-based cards explains how each account works.

Request an itemized confirmation for your trip

Compare providers using the same route, date, passenger count, aircraft requirement, catering order, Wi-Fi needs and FBO. Have each provider complete the same inclusion schedule and price any outstanding items.

Keep your product schedule, trip confirmation and final statement together. You can then trace each charge to the agreed terms, an approved request or a change to your itinerary.

Frequently asked questions

Do all jet cards include deicing?

No. Coverage varies between cards, including those from the same provider. Check whether your card includes anti-icing, repeat treatments and exceptional-weather costs.

Does complimentary catering cover any meal I request?

Check the included menu or allowance, then price any custom items, delivery and handling charges. Ask what remains payable if you change the order.

Can private jet Wi-Fi be included but unavailable on my flight?

Yes. Included Wi-Fi describes how access is charged; the aircraft, coverage and service terms determine what is available. Confirm the capability you need when booking and ask what happens if the connection fails.

Will choosing a different FBO create an extra charge?

It can. Your agreement and the services you request determine the charge. Ask for the additional cost and any fuel-related fee waiver in writing.