Private Jet Car Service: FBO Chauffeur and Private Aviation Ground Transportation

What is a private jet car service?

The reason people fly private is control of time. The ground leg should not give it back. At a commercial airport, you queue for a taxi; at an FBO, you walk from the aircraft into a lounge and a car. The variables are different, though, and they matter: which FBO your aircraft uses, whether customs is handled on site, whether vehicles may drive onto the apron, and how long the crew need before the next flight.

LimousineWorldwideDirectory.com books private aviation ground transportation at airports around the world. Our 24/7 desk, plans the pickup with your flight department or assistant, and the ride is delivered by a vetted, licensed and commercially insured local chauffeur operator from our worldwide directory. One booking, one confirmation, one invoice, one point of contact.

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FBO pickups: lobby or planeside?

An FBO (fixed base operator) is the private terminal that services aircraft and passengers at an airport: handling, fuel, lounge, crew facilities and, at some airports, customs. Rules about vehicles are set by the airport authority and the FBO, and they differ.

• Lobby pickup. The chauffeur waits in the FBO lobby or at the kerbside door nearest the lounge. This is the default and works almost everywhere.
• Planeside pickup. Where the airport allows, and with the FBO's permission and the right airport authorisation, a vehicle may drive onto the ramp and meet the aircraft steps. Not every airport permits it, not every FBO offers it, and it can depend on the day, the aircraft's position and local security rules.
• Escorted access. At some airports, a chauffeur's vehicle is escorted by FBO line staff rather than driving independently.

We do not promise planeside access in advance. We ask the FBO, confirm the rule with your handler, and tell you what to expect before the flight. If you plan to rely on planeside service, say so when you book.

Tail-number tracking and timing

Give us the aircraft's tail number (registration), the FBO name and the planned arrival time. Every airport pickup is flight-tracked, and for private aircraft the tail number is what lets us follow the flight in real time. If the flight is early, late or diverted, the chauffeur adjusts. For international arrivals, we allow 60 minutes of free waiting after landing, and 30 minutes for domestic arrivals, so that customs and baggage do not start a clock.

Two points are worth knowing before you travel:

1. Flight plans move. Departure times of private flights shift more than airline schedules. Tell the desk about changes as soon as you hear about them, and we will move the chauffeur.
2. Handlers have the detail. Your flight department, charter operator or handling agent controls the aircraft's movements. We coordinate with them for the FBO, the parking stand and the meeting point.

Customs, immigration and entry rules at the FBO

On international trips, arrival formalities are part of the ground plan, even though the chauffeur is not involved in them.

Customs and immigration. At many major private airports, officers clear passengers and crew at the FBO or at a designated facility. For flights arriving in the United States, private aircraft file passenger and crew manifests electronically with US Customs and Border Protection through eAPIS, and the notice period depends on whether the airport has CBP landing rights or is a notification airport; your handler arranges this. Teterboro, for example, offers customs on site, although sources differ on its hours, so confirm with your FBO before you travel. We do not file customs paperwork and we do not guarantee clearance times.

Entry authorisations. Visitors may need authorisations such as the US ESTA, Canada's eTA or the UK's ETA, depending on nationality and route. Check these on the official government sites well before you fly; they are the traveller's responsibility.

What the chauffeur does. After clearance the chauffeur takes the bags and brings you out. For international arrivals, our free waiting period starts at landing, which covers most clearances.

Airport notes for private aviation

We cover private aviation ground transport at the main business-aviation airports. These details come from published airport and route sources and are approximate.

Teterboro (TEB), New York

Teterboro, New Jersey is about 12 miles (19 km) from Midtown Manhattan. Road times range from about 25 to 45 minutes in light conditions to 60 to 90 minutes at rush hour. The airport is run by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and has several FBOs, so confirm the FBO name with your handler. See Teterboro and the New York limo service.

Van Nuys (VNY), Los Angeles

Van Nuys is about 12 to 15 miles (19 to 24 km) from Beverly Hills, typically 25 to 45 minutes by road depending on traffic. The airport, which the City of Los Angeles bought in 1949, has its information at iflyvny.com; noise restrictions apply, and the airport lists them, so ask your handler about the arrival and departure window. See Van Nuys and the Los Angeles limo service.

Paris Le Bourget (LBG)

Le Bourget lies about 11 to 15 km (7 to 9 miles) north-east of central Paris, depending on the destination. Road times vary widely with the A1 motorway and the Paris périphérique. See Paris Le Bourget and the Paris chauffeur service. Note that Paris has a low-emission zone and Crit'Air stickers apply to many vehicles; your chauffeur operator manages compliance.

Farnborough (FAB), near London

Farnborough Airport in Hampshire is about 35 miles (56 km) from central London, and the drive typically takes 50 minutes to an hour and a quarter depending on traffic. It describes itself as the UK's most pre-eminent business aviation airport. See Farnborough and the London chauffeur service.

Other private aviation airports

We also cover Palm Beach (PBI), Nice Côte d'Azur (NCE), Geneva (GVA) and Dubai Al Maktoum (DWC). Browse the whole private aviation hub.

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A private-aviation arrival, step by step

1. Booking. You send the desk the airport, the FBO, the tail number, the planned arrival and the passenger and bag count. A named contact for the flight department or assistant is helpful.
2. Confirmation. The desk confirms the vehicle class and the chauffeur operator, and asks the FBO or handler about vehicle access. You receive one confirmation.
3. Before landing. The chauffeur is at the FBO ahead of the aircraft. The aircraft is tracked by tail number.
4. On arrival. After any formalities, the chauffeur meets you at the agreed point. Bags move from the aircraft to the vehicle by the FBO's line staff or the chauffeur, depending on the FBO.
5. To the destination. The route is chosen for the hour. In cities with charges and restricted zones, such as London, the operator manages compliance.
6. Departure leg. For the return, the chauffeur arrives at your agreed time, checks that the FBO has been told, and delivers you to the door.

The commonest problem is not the car. It is information: a changed FBO, a new tail number for a substitute aircraft, or a passenger list that grew overnight. Send updates to the desk as soon as they reach you, and we pass them to the chauffeur and to the FBO contact.

Getting from the FBO to the city: an honest comparison

If your destination is at the airfield or the FBO has a hotel shuttle, use it. If your schedule requires the fastest crossing of a congested route, a helicopter transfer can beat any car, and an FBO can usually arrange one; a car remains the reliable option when weather or air traffic closes the sky. A private chauffeur is the best match for luggage, children, security-minded principals and entourages.

Crew transport

Pilots and cabin crew need ground transport too: from the aircraft to the crew hotel, from the hotel to the FBO for the next leg, and to dinner. We book crew vehicles under the same account as passenger transfers, including Executive Sprinters for larger crews (12 to 14 passengers, up to 12 bags). Give us the crew's report time at the FBO and the hotel, and we plan the pickup so crew duty-time limits are respected. Crews often travel with uniforms, flight cases and catering supplies, so state the luggage when you book.

Discretion and security

Many private-aviation clients value privacy above everything else. Chauffeurs keep clients off cameras and social media, NDAs are signed on request, and bookings can be made under an alias, including on the name-board if you choose a meet-and-greet. We are a chauffeur service, not a security company: there are no armed drivers or bodyguards, but we work alongside a client's own security team and follow their routes and instructions. For high-profile travellers, see VIP and celebrity chauffeur and HNWI and family office chauffeur.

Vehicles and onward travel

• First Class Sedan (Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series or similar): up to 3 passengers, 2 large and 2 cabin bags.
• Luxury SUV (Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon Denali or similar): up to 6 passengers, 5 to 6 large bags. A frequent choice for private-aviation parties with luggage.
• Executive Sprinter: 12 to 14 passengers, 12 bags. For entourages and crews.
• Maybach, Rolls-Royce and Bentley on request, availability confirmed at booking. In Europe and Asia the classes are Mercedes-Benz E-Class, S-Class and V-Class.

Water and phone chargers are provided in most vehicles. No drinks are promised on board, and local alcohol law applies. Child, toddler and booster seats are available on request.

For longer onward journeys, such as a transfer from a private airfield to a city 150 km away, see long-distance car service. For a hotel arrival with a meet-and-greet, see meet and greet service.

Accounts and cancellation

Executive assistants and flight departments can book on a corporate account with monthly invoicing. Cancellation is measured from the scheduled pickup time. More than 72 hours' notice: no charge. 72 hours or less: 10%. 48 hours or less: 50%. 24 hours or less or no-show: 100%. Because flights move, tell the desk about changes as early as you can. If a pickup moves rather than cancels, agree the new time with the desk; the terms above are measured from the pickup time on your confirmation.

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