The quote request: the most important page in private aviation
In private aviation, most websites exist to start one conversation: a request for a quote. Yet the form that starts it is often an afterthought. It deserves the same care as the cabin.
The client is in a hurry, and often not the traveller
A charter request is often made by an assistant, a family office or a travel manager, on a phone, between other tasks. They know the route and the date. They may not yet know the number of passengers, or which aircraft they want. A form that demands everything before it accepts anything will be abandoned.
Ask for what you need to quote, and nothing more
- Route and date first. From, to, the date and an approximate time. Airport fields should accept city names as well as codes.
- Passengers and luggage. A number and a short note: skis, golf bags, a dog, a wheelchair. These change the aircraft, so ask early.
- One way, return or several legs. Let the client add a leg without starting again.
- Contact, the client’s way. Email, telephone or a messaging app, and the language they prefer.
- A free note. For catering, a meeting on board, flexibility on timing. Experienced clients use it; others will skip it.
Say what happens next
Once the request is sent, tell the client exactly what to expect: who will answer, how, roughly when, and what the quote will include. If the operations desk answers around the clock, say so. Then make sure the reply arrives as promised. In this business, the speed of the first answer is the brand.
Make the form work behind the scenes
A request that lands in a shared inbox as an unformatted email slows the team down. Send it to the system the sales team uses, with the route and date in the subject line, and send the client a copy. Measure how many forms are started and how many are finished, and look at where people stop.
Keep trust in view
Near the form, show what reassures a first-time client: the operator’s certificate, independent safety audits, who operates the aircraft and how payment works. In private aviation, safety and discretion are the product. The page should say so calmly.
The studio designs and builds websites for private aviation, with enquiry forms tested on real routes. See private aviation.
