Canada’s visitor trade is buzzing, which is hardly a surprise given the variety of locations and experiences that are available depending on your location. Lots of nature-focused tourism goes on all over the country, but particularly along the coasts and mountains. People come to Canada to learn about First Nations’ culture, to shop and party in the cosmopolitan cities that the country is home to, and also to take meetings and connect with investors or potential partners that might be able to help them further their business interests. Though that isn’t technically considered tourism, there’s no reason that the trip can’t still be enjoyable! Especially if you’re getting in on the greatest travel hack of all time: private flights. Here’s everything you need to know about making the most of your very first flight from the glamorous and immaculately appointed Montreal Saint-Hubert airport.
Begin On Your Own Schedule
Though Montreal Saint-Hubert (currently undergoing a rebranding as Montreal Metropolitan Airport) is a commercial airport, many private jet operators have spaces and gates there. SO even though the airport is technically a commercial one, your private jet charter company will have its own space on the tarmac, its own private boarding gate for your flight, and access to some VIP lounge spaces that will be the cherry on top of your airport experience.
Flying with a private jet rental company means that you get to begin and end your trip on your own schedule, not one that makes the best business sense for a commercial airline. This means that you can plan takeoff time to make sense of what you have to do and where you have to go before you take off, or to make sense of the check-in time of your accommodation or the time difference. The point is, it’s YOUR schedule, so you get to choose. Starting off your trip in charge of how things go really sets the tone for the rest of the experience and gives you a feeling of control that travel can often take away.
Enjoy a Calm, Exclusive Environment
An airport environment is not usually a particularly calming one. Since MSH is a public airport, you will need to encounter other travellers at points along the way, but as a private jet traveller, you’ll have access to a number of entirely private spaces. You’ll enter the airport with the public but head to a private check-in counter and then a private boarding gate. From there, you’ll head out to your charter company’s part of the “parking area” and take off.
Once you’re on the plane, the real exclusivity and privacy kick in. Your cabin crew will welcome you and help you to get situated before takeoff, then begin in-flight service when you have reached cruising altitude. Since the only people in the cabin are you, your party, and the cabin crew, their attention will be entirely focused on you and your needs. No sharing armrests with strangers who may or may not have a cold, no fighting for sleep because there’s a baby crying. Just the bliss of expansive seating, space to stretch your legs, excellent food and drinks, and service on par with the best in the world.
Customize Your Flight Experience
The customization of your flight experience doesn’t end with being able to set your own takeoff time, oh no! You can also decide on the route you take, potentially giving yourself access to incredible views. You get to decide which food and drinks will be served (larger jet classes even have a galley kitchen so you can have a chef on board!), whether or not you fly with your beloved pet, and what entertainment you enjoy during the flight and ask for special requests like toys, weighted blankets or maybe even for a special bottle of champagne to be served with a surprise cake because it’s someone’s birthday. Most private jet companies also have concierge services, which offer customization that extends beyond the duration of the flight. If you need a helicopter or ground transfer booked, they can probably help you with that. If you’re looking for the perfect hotel, they’ll be able to help there, too. All you have to do is reach out and ask.
Enjoy The Time You’ve Saved
And lastly? Take advantage of all the time you’ve saved by choosing to fly private and use a concierge to help plan your experiences. Sleep in late, have an extra-long lunch, take a walk at sunset. Stop to smell the roses and savour your coffee because you’ve got the time. Time is a commodity that you can never really get back, and having an excess of it makes any trip anywhere infinitely more enjoyable. So enjoy your flight, enjoy the exclusivity of a private jet, and enjoy all the time you have to appreciate all of this and the wonder of whatever destination you’re visiting.