Answered by the MeghQuasar charter desk · Last updated 24 September 2026
They cover accommodation, meals and ground transport when a trip keeps the crew away from base overnight, and they are normally itemised separately from the charter price. They appear whenever the aircraft stays out, and they are one of the few costs you can design out of a trip.
Crew duty limits are regulatory, not a matter of willingness. Once a crew reaches its limit the aircraft does not fly, and the operator's only choices are a rest period or a second crew positioned to meet the aircraft. A second crew costs materially more than a hotel, so an overnight is usually the cheaper of the two.
A reasonable operator will state it as a per-crew, per-night figure covering hotel, meals and transfers, with the number of crew and nights shown. If it arrives as a single unexplained line, ask for the breakdown before you sign rather than after you fly.
Two pilots as a minimum on most business jets, with cabin crew added on larger types or where the operator's rules require it. A long sector can require a second flight crew, which is a step change in cost rather than a small increase.
The legally limited period a crew may be on duty, covering pre-flight preparation, flying and post-flight work, not just time in the air. It cannot be waived, so a delay that pushes a crew toward its limit changes what is possible for the rest of the day.
Sometimes, by releasing the aircraft after the outbound and chartering a separate return. Whether that is cheaper depends on how well positioned an aircraft is for your return date, so it is worth pricing both shapes rather than assuming.
Send the route, the date and the number of passengers. We check operators with aircraft near either end and come back with named options and a price.
MeghQuasar is an independent charter broker and does not own or operate aircraft; flights are operated by licensed third-party operators. General information, not advice for a specific trip. Last reviewed 24 September 2026.