We worked as private jet crew and these are the wildest things we witnessed
Private jet travel is reserved for celebrities and the super rich.
But two private jet employees have – speaking anonymously – shared some insights into what goes on behind the scenes with DailyMail.com.
Both women, one a pilot and the other a flight attendant, say their jobs are very rewarding, but after five years of flying high-flying customers around the world, they’ve seen varying degrees of behavior: both good and bad.
Float down to learn what’s happening above the clouds when it comes to high rollers.
Two private jet employees – speaking anonymously – have shared some insights into what goes on behind the scenes at DailyMail.com
Strangest requests? ‘I was once asked to quit piloting and dance’
While she was flying passengers, the private jet’s pilot said she was once asked to “oscillate the plane up and down so that the bouncing motion would help with the dancing.”
Sticking to the theme of the hip shake, she added: “Another time, one of the flight attendants came into the cockpit and asked if one of us, the pilots, could go back to the cabin, because the passengers had asked for to dance with one of us.
“Male passengers often get excited when they spy on a female pilot.”
Another time, the pilot said she witnessed a flight attendant being demanded to seat every passenger in the car, “including a small dog.”
The private jet flight attendant says she’s had equally crazy requests during her time in the air, but one remains fresh in her mind.
She reveals, “Probably one of the strangest demands from a customer was not to look them in the eye or talk to them.
‘It was very strange. Basically anything they needed, they told their personal assistant and then that person would let me know.”
Who are your customers? “I once flew a criminal with three armed guards”
The pilot and flight attendant say they’ve encountered all kinds of people throughout their careers, but the one thing private jet passengers have in common is wealth.
The pilot says she’s flown as many as 35 VIPs over the years, ranging from “CEOs to billionaires, to actors, producers, musicians and athletes.”
One time, however, she had a passenger who was a little different.
The aviator explained, “Looking back on one of my stranger clients.
“I once flew to an airstrip to pick up a prisoner who had been captured in Australia and was to be extradited to the US. He was escorted to the plane with three armed marshals. It was a bit nerve wracking.
Meanwhile, the flight attendant says she’s never encountered any criminals, but she’s flown over 50 VIPs. “But I’m not naming names!”
The pilot and flight attendant say they have come into contact with all kinds of people during their careers
Weirdest encounters? ‘I caught a couple joining the mile high club’
When it comes to the wildest thing she’s experienced on a flight, the private jet’s flight attendant says it must be the time she “caught a couple trying to join the mile high club.”
She recalled the embarrassing situation and said, “I was in the main cabin and suddenly the bell rang.
“I assumed the customers needed champagne or something. However, when I opened the door, I realized that it probably wasn’t their fingers that had pressed the button, as they were writhing around half-naked. I retreated quickly!’
The pilot says she luckily didn’t see anyone having sex on her planes, but there have been lots of parties in the air.
She revealed: ‘I’ve seen disco lights flash at the request of passengers and danced very enthusiastically.
“Some of our famous musicians have also sung songs for our flight attendants. It can get very wild! If guests are too drunk, they are usually helped off the plane by their assistants. It happens quite often.’
What is the average spend? “Some spend $1 MILLION PER MONTH on simple travel”
Both women say the sky is the limit when it comes to customers splashing cash.
The pilot says the planes she flies generally cost $6,000 to $12,000 an hour to charter.
This means a simple trip from London to New York can cost $100,000, after catering and extra costs are added.
She adds, “It only takes ten trips, and before you know it you’ve flown $1 million.”
The flight attendant says she’s seen similar expenses.
She muses, “I would say private jet costs range from $20,000 to $1 million. I had a client spend $1 million a month earlier.
“It can really add up and the requests can be as lavish and outrageous as you want them to be. For example, the customer can order vintage champagne or a supercar to pick them up on the catwalk. No request is too much in the world of uber luxury!’
Another cost factor factored into customer spend is tips. The flight attendant says she often gets hefty tips and the best she got was $2,000.
She explained, “What made it even better was that the client just asked me to leave him alone all the time, so I did. Another time I received a bottle of champagne worth about $4,000 as a thank you.”
Both women say the sky is the limit when it comes to customers splashing cash
The best and worst passengers? ‘Musicians and wannabes are the rudest’
When asked what the best passengers on a private jet are, the pilot says she prefers to fly around with athletes and business people.
She explains, “They’re almost always on time, not very needy, and have a good expectation that we’ll be there for the safety of the flight.”
Another of her top picks when it comes to passengers is animals, with some of her more unusual furry fliers including hamsters and cats.
When it comes to the worst clients, the pilot reveals, “I’d say the worst tend to be musicians and producers who, for whatever reason, seem to have an air of entitlement, a lack of punctuality, and a condescending attitude to the crew.” ‘
While the flight attendant says that “selfish musicians can also be a nuisance,” her experience is “the worst are those who have never been on a private jet and are trying to impress their friends or social media followers… I feel like that they can sometimes be unpleasant.’
However, she adds: “However, this statement does not apply to everyone. I’ve had people who have never flown privately and were the absolute best. It really depends.’