Private Jet and FBO Transfers: Chauffeur to Farnborough, Biggin Hill and Luton Executive

A private jet transfer is planned around a slot, a handler and a gate that most passengers never see, and the chauffeur arrangements either side of the flight follow that same logic.

This guide sets out how transfers to and from FBO terminals differ from a standard commercial airport pickup, using Farnborough, Biggin Hill and Luton Executive as the main London-area examples.

What is an FBO, and why does it change the transfer?

An FBO, or Fixed Base Operator, is the private terminal building used by business and private aviation, separate from the commercial passenger terminals most travellers are used to. There is no shared arrivals hall, no queue for immigration in the ordinary sense, and no walk through a departure lounge. A chauffeur collecting or dropping off at an FBO is generally working with the handler's own timing rather than a public flight board.

Farnborough, Biggin Hill and Luton Executive: the London options

Timing around slots rather than schedules

Commercial flight times are published and relatively fixed; private jet slots can shift with comparatively little notice, sometimes by an hour or more. A chauffeur transfer built around private aviation needs to track the actual slot confirmed by the operator or handler, not an original plan made days earlier, and last-minute adjustments should be expected as a normal part of the process rather than an exception.

Coordination with handlers and airside access

At most FBOs, passengers are driven directly to or from the aircraft steps, coordinated by the ground handler rather than the chauffeur crossing airside themselves. In general terms, this means the chauffeur's role is to have the passenger at the FBO building in good time, with the handler managing the final short distance to the aircraft. Exact procedures differ between facilities and operators, and specific airside arrangements should always be confirmed with the handler directly rather than assumed.

Luggage and last-minute changes

Private aviation often allows more flexibility on luggage than commercial flights, which can mean more to load, less time to do it in, or a sudden change of passenger numbers shortly before departure. A chauffeur used to FBO work will build a margin into the schedule for this kind of last-minute variation rather than treat it as unusual.

Security options for private aviation transfers

Some private jet journeys call for nothing more than a discreet, well-timed chauffeur. Others, particularly those involving high-profile individuals or sensitive itineraries, benefit from a chauffeur who also holds an SIA close protection licence. This should be discussed and arranged in advance, since it affects vehicle choice, route planning and how the transfer is coordinated with the handler.

Booking the return leg

Because private aviation timings can move, it is generally more reliable to keep the return chauffeur booking flexible around the confirmed slot rather than fixing it rigidly weeks in advance. Providing a contact at the FBO or handler, where appropriate, helps keep the return transfer aligned with any last-minute changes.