Charter jargon falls into two families: yacht terms (APA, base fee, bareboat, crewed, MYBA) and jet terms (empty leg, positioning, FBO, jet card, fractional). This glossary defines about 55 of the most common ones in plain English, with links to our full guides where a term has one.
Charter brochures and quotes are full of abbreviations: APA, FBO, MYBA, deadhead, plus expenses. They all mean specific things, and misunderstanding one can cost real money. This glossary defines the terms you will actually meet when booking a yacht or a private jet, in plain English, one line each. Where a term has a full guide on this site, the term links to it.
Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA) — a deposit for the running costs of a yacht charter (fuel, food, drink, dockage), typically 25 to 40% of the base fee; unspent money is returned. See how charter costs break down.
Air taxi — a small aircraft charter for short hops, usually on turboprops or very light jets.
All-inclusive (charter) — a pricing basis where most running costs are bundled into the quoted rate, as opposed to plus expenses.
Bareboat — chartering a yacht without crew, so you (or your hired skipper) run it; you need the required licence for the cruising area.
Base fee — the advertised hire rate for the yacht and its crew, before APA, taxes and tip. See the cost breakdown.
Block hours — a pre-purchased bundle of flight hours on private jets, sometimes offered at a fixed hourly rate.
Broker (charter broker) — an intermediary who arranges charters across many yachts or aircraft; typically paid commission out of the charter fee. See how brokers get paid.
Cabin (jet) — the passenger compartment of the aircraft; cabin size is a key difference between jet categories.
Captain — the person in command of the yacht, responsible for the vessel, the crew and your safety.
Catamaran — a twin-hulled yacht, prized for deck space and stability. See catamaran vs motor vs sailing yacht.
Charter agreement (contract) — the written contract for your trip, covering payments, cancellation, and responsibilities; ask for it before paying any deposit.
Charter fee — the total price you pay for the charter, as distinct from the base fee before extras.
Co-brokerage — when two brokers cooperate on one booking (for example, your broker and the yacht’s listing broker), usually splitting the commission.
Crew — the professional team running a crewed yacht: captain, chef, steward/ess, deckhand and sometimes more on larger yachts.
Crewed charter — a charter that includes a professional crew; you are a guest, not the operator.
CYBA — the Charter Yacht Brokers Association; its agreement form is commonly used for Caribbean charters, while MYBA dominates the Mediterranean.
Deadhead — an empty positioning flight; see positioning flight and empty leg.
Delivery fee — a charge when a yacht must travel outside its home area to reach you; one of the classic hidden costs.
Empty leg — a flight an operator must fly anyway (usually repositioning), often sold at 25 to 75% below full price; route, date and time are fixed. See private jet costs.
FBO (Fixed-Base Operator) — the private terminal and ground-services company at an airport serving business aviation: lounges, fuel, handling and parking.
Ferry flight — see positioning flight.
Fractional ownership — buying a share of an aircraft (for example, 1/16th) entitling you to a set number of flight hours per year.
Gratuity (tip) — discretionary, but around 10% of the base fee is commonly suggested for yacht crew; jet tipping norms vary. See yacht costs and jet tipping etiquette.
Gulet — a traditional wooden motor-sailer, common for charters in Turkey, Greece and Croatia, usually offered on semi-inclusive terms.
Heavy jet — a large-cabin private jet category (about 10–16 seats), suited to 5+ hour and transatlantic flights; indicative rates run about $7,000 to $13,000 per flight hour.
Home port (home marina) — where a yacht is normally based; charters starting elsewhere may incur a delivery fee.
Itinerary — your planned route and schedule; on crewed yachts it is flexible and agreed with the captain, weather permitting.
Jet card — a prepaid card for a fixed number of flight hours at agreed rates, a middle ground between on-demand charter and ownership.
Light jet — the smallest jet category (about 6–8 seats), for trips under roughly 3 hours; indicative rates run about $3,500 to $6,500 per flight hour. See private jet costs.
Marina fees (dockage) — charges for berthing in marinas, normally paid from the APA on a yacht charter.
Midsize jet — a jet category (about 7–9 seats) for 3 to 5 hour flights, such as US transcontinental trips.
Motor yacht — a yacht driven by engines rather than sail; faster and more spacious per foot, with higher fuel costs. See catamaran vs motor vs sailing.
MYBA — The Worldwide Yachting Association (formerly the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association); publishes the standard contract for most larger Mediterranean crewed charters.
On-demand charter — booking a jet or yacht trip by trip, paying per flight or per week, with no ownership or membership commitment.
Operator (aircraft operator) — the company that owns or manages the aircraft and holds the operating certificate; distinct from a broker who only arranges the booking. See the jet safety checklist.
Part 135 — the US Federal Aviation Administration certification under which on-demand charter operators fly paying passengers; asking an operator about its certification is a basic safety check.
Passenger manifest — the list of everyone travelling, with ID details, which the operator needs before departure.
Plus expenses — a pricing basis where the base fee is quoted and running costs are paid separately, usually via the APA. See yacht costs.
Positioning flight — an empty flight to get the aircraft to your departure airport (or back to base); often billed to the charterer. See how jet pricing works.
Preference sheet — the form where you tell a yacht’s crew your food, drink and activity preferences before the trip.
Sailing yacht — a yacht primarily wind-powered; the most economical way to charter per week, but slower and more hands-on. See catamaran vs motor vs sailing.
Security deposit (bareboat) — a refundable deposit held against damage on a bareboat charter, separate from the charter fee.
Skipper — a hired professional who runs a bareboat yacht for you if you lack the licence or inclination; typically about 180 to 250 euros per day according to a 2026 charter guide.
Stakeholder — the neutral party (often the broker) who holds charter funds under a MYBA agreement until they are due to the owner.
Super-midsize jet — between midsize and heavy: more range and cabin space than a midsize jet without heavy-jet operating costs.
Superyacht — generally a yacht over about 24 metres (80 ft), with a larger crew and full-service operation.
Tail number — an aircraft’s registration identifier (like a licence plate); ask for it to verify exactly which aircraft you are quoted.
Tender — the small boat carried by a yacht for shuttling guests ashore and for water sports.
Turboprop — a propeller aircraft with a turbine engine; the most economical private aircraft for short regional hops.
Ultra-long-range jet — the largest jet category, capable of nonstop intercontinental flights of 12+ hours.
VAT (charter tax) — value-added or charter tax added on top of the base fee in many countries; published samples cite 22% in Italy, 20% in France and 13% in Croatia.
Water toys — jet skis, paddleboards, seabobs and similar equipment; check whether they are included or an extra, as they often are on the hidden costs list.
Advance Provisioning Allowance. It is a deposit, typically 25 to 40% of the base fee, that pays the running costs of your trip — fuel, food, drink and dockage. Unspent money is returned to you.
A flight an operator must fly anyway, usually repositioning an aircraft after dropping off paying passengers. Because the alternative is flying empty, these legs are often sold at 25 to 75% below the full charter price, but the route, date and time are fixed.
A broker arranges charters and is typically paid commission out of the charter fee; an operator owns or manages the yacht or aircraft and actually runs the trip. You can book through either, but only the operator is responsible for the vessel or aircraft itself.
The Worldwide Yachting Association, formerly the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association. It publishes the standard contract used for most larger crewed yacht charters in the Mediterranean.
We compared published rates and guides from the sources below. Figures are indicative ranges, not quotes, and were collected on the dates shown with each source.
This guide is general information, not professional advice. Prices are indicative and change with season, route and availability. Spotted a mistake? Our contact email is coming soon.
First-time yacht charter guide: set a budget, pick a region and yacht type, compare broker quotes, read the contract and prepare to board your yacht.
Read the guide
APA is the running-costs deposit paid before a yacht charter. Learn what it covers, typical percentages and how unspent money is handled.
Read the guide
What to look for in a yacht or private jet charter contract: payments, cancellation terms, weather clauses, substitutions and disputes.
Read the guide