Two minutes, one and a quarter mile, $5 million in prizes—what’s not to love about the Kentucky Derby? Now in its 150th year, the thrill returns to the revitalized Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on May 4.
The first leg of the Triple Crown, followed by the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, the Kentucky Derby is the pinnacle of Grade I stakes races in the United States and brings together three-year-old thoroughbred colts, geldings and fillies in the “Run of the Roses.”
After a two-week Kentucky Derby Festival and a day full of lower-stakes races, one winning horse will be draped in a blanket of roses.
Every year on the first Sunday in May, thousands of betters and horse racing fans flock to Louisville. This swell of visitors can cause congestion on major highways and scheduled flights into Kentucky.
For the discerning traveler, private flights offer the ultimate in luxury and comfort while empowering you to fly on your own schedule and skip the crowds. At Stratos Jets, we’ve been flying enthusiasts to the races for nearly 20 years.
Louisville International Airport is by far the most popular arrival airport for all travelers en route to the Kentucky Derby. Thankfully, when you fly private, you get to fly on your own schedule and to the airport of your choosing.
When you touch down in Kentucky, you’ll want to get off to the races. Save time renting a car or hailing a cab with our ground transportation services. Simply let our Trip Support Team know how we can help before you take off, and we’ll take care of the rest.
We can handle everything from coordinating a rental car to hiring a limousine and driver, to booking a stay at one of Louisville’s top-rated luxury hotels. We look forward to helping ensure a memorable visit to the Kentucky Derby.
Every charter flight review on this page was submitted by a real Stratos Jets customer. In the interest of transparency, we never change reviews or use incentives to influence these reviews. This way, you can hear directly from our past and current clients about how we handled their private travel experience.
4.5/5(22)
4.7/5(25)
4.8/5(568)
4.8/5
566 Reviews
4.7/5
25 Reviews
4.5/5
22 Reviews
5/5
4 Reviews
Overall rating (4.9 out of 5) Based on 768 reviews from our trusted Jet Charter reviews
Eva S.
51501/08/2023
Danny Morejon is a great facilitator who made this urgent flight possible within a matter of hours. He is also a good advocate for Stratos. Had it not been for the communication I had with him a few weeks ago when searching for flights, I wouldn’t have called back for assistance.
Kim H.
51510/09/2024
I have never met Anthony, but based on his efforts over the years, I would hire him sight unseen. Best customer service. Period. I've gone with other carriers who promised lower price and got stranded. He's always found a way to accommodate even when challenges occur. Top notch.
Michael Q.
51507/31/2023
Daniel is professional and engaged throughout the entire trip. From booking to wheels down.
Robert E.
51508/05/2012
Toilet paper, Pillows and blankets
Dave P.
51507/25/2013
Passenger stated that the "jet interior was shoddy and showed that the jet wasn't well taken care of."
Said crew was nice.
Stated no coffee available although I had specified de-caf to be provided and followed that up with company client services requesting same.
George B.
51505/23/2021
Would recommend Stratosjets to all of our friends, was a truly awesome experience!
Steve R.
51503/22/2023
Excellent service on very short notice! Since I was stranded at the Orlando Airport, Anthony got me out of bind of trying to get back home with impending work commitments. Good aircraft and crew....very smooth ride from Orlando to Jackson, MS. Stratos did a great job!
Debbie D.
51506/29/2023
Came through for me in the clutch! Sanity saving charter ;-)
Sherri D.
51504/24/2025
Everything went very smoothly, as always. Super professional crew and coordinating team. Thank you.
Matteo G.
51502/13/2017
Stratos takes the complicated process of private air charter and makes it simple. They have helped me through the process and Joel even turned down my offer for purchasing a Pre-paid Jet card because he advised that it would not be a good fit for my home airport and family lifestyle. I shortly became a client after that because that experience was indicative of the company's overall honesty and great ethos.
We have Chartered with Joel on multiple occasions and always get the the 3Gs of private air travel - Great Safety, Great Plane & Great Price.
Stratos is a great company and they put your safety 1st and make the process easy. You can text or call them at anytime and their response time is amazing. You truly feel special. Flying on chartered planes is something we really value and keep very personal and discrete. Joel assists us in keeping the experience special and within our schedule and budget.
I recommend Stratos to friends who have jet cards, fractional ownership and 1st timers alike. If you are considering charter, the 1st call to make is to Stratos. They never pressure you and value the relationship. I can not say enough about this team - A great experience!
Rick H.
51506/23/2017
We have used Stratos for the past two years to handle our travel plans and enjoy the ease and attention to detail our trips have been handled with.
Taylor R.
51502/10/2026
Jesse was on the ball throughout the process - made it very easy to arrange our flights. His communication was prompt and clear, and he was always responsive!
Kyle B.
51502/12/2020
This service was unmatched and couldn’t have been better!
Chuck A.
51510/18/2013
It was a perfect flight!
Al K.
51504/24/2025
Flight was smooth all the way on time good crew
Jan M.
51509/17/2025
That sums it up.
I Keith G.
51503/30/2020
7
Rick H.
51507/22/2021
As a repeat customer of Stratos we have always been treated with care and understanding of the circumstances surrounding our travel needs. When Joel was unavailable Zach jumped right in without missing a beat.
Rick M.
51505/19/2026
The process of this trip was great end to end. We always knew what was going on. Johnny and the team made our journey easy. The operator had a great plane and a very pleasant and capable crew. Thanks all around!
Sean Cavanagh
51502/21/2022
Great platform, all trip information was readily accessible. Thank you for working with us on this one and keeping the itineraries flexible. No significant feedback otherwise, we look forward to the opportunity to assist with future operations!
Vicki B.
51512/07/2016
Ricky was awesome and everything went smoothly. I will certainly use your services again should a need arise. Thank you for everything!
Paul A.
51501/22/2026
Best service available
Ken M.
51512/03/2017
I understand we have great alternativeoption for the operation of our companyaircraft at this time.
Our (company name removed for privacy) Japan President was very gladto use charter aircraft.
Thank you
Sara P.
51501/08/2023
Working with Kerry Hill and Joel A. Thomas from Stratos is always a pleasure for us at Regency. There is clear communication from start to finish. Client expectations are laid out, so that we can work our best to execute them. They communicate with us in a timely manner, and of course expect the same from us. Their clients are respectful of our jets and our crews. We definitely enjoy partnering and are looking forward to many more come 2023!
Adam S.
51510/30/2017
Joel and Stratos are amazing! He made sure our flight was tailored perfectly and was very responsive and always available for contact. They catered specifically to our needs with late notice. The pilots were fantastic and patient, especially considering we had three animals and arrived 10 minutes before take-off. They provided the smoothest flight in the Hawker we’ve ever taken. Stratos offered transportation to and from; the boarding process was welcoming and convenient. We will only fly privately with Stratos Jets through Joel and his team. Thank you guys for everything!
Matteo G.
51510/23/2018
From the quoting and booking process to wheels up and down, things could not be better with STRATOS. Joel and his team are amazing and accommodated a last minute return schedule change. They only contract with great companies who have great equipment and outstanding crew. If you are considering Private jet travel I cannot recommend them enough!
Rich C.
51502/18/2019
The crew of Citation very good Cordial and effective Trip punctual all good Thanks
Ivan J.
51507/31/2023
Great communication, everything on time and accurate, highly recommended
Tim L.
51503/04/2016
We were thoroughly impressed with all aspects of these operations.
If at all possible, a method to protect the identity of passengers might be developed (whereby TSA rules are still met). If such a method already exists, my clients would appreciate knowing the details.
John G.
51510/14/2021
I couldn't be happier with level of service provided to me by Frank and his team! Everything was so easy and just a click away. I really appreciated Franks attentiveness to my trips. Stratos Jet will definitely have my business in the future. Thank you Frank & team, you are awesome!!!
S. R. C.
51503/21/2026
From soup to nuts, Stratos delivers!
Christine L.
51512/31/2010
Great trip! Keep us informed of empty legs to Aspen
John S.
51506/23/2022
The process was easy; plane, limo, pilots and boarding went smoothly
Al W.
51503/20/2020
Absolutely wonderful,....would recommend this to anyone [if they can afford it], real value….worth every penny!! Absolute comfort,.. courteous,... simple booking,...true luxury,.....best possible trip home from Florida !!
William B.
51512/21/2021
The level of service provided by Stratos is very high. Glenn and team continue to listen and understand our needs and organize excellent service. The latest provider was the best so far. Thank you team.
Eric Sanchez
51508/16/2017
Always great working with you guys!! Great job all around as usual.
Paul L.
51503/22/2020
Stratos responded to our request for a flight to leave Anguilla before the flights in and out were stopped. We called Thursday night for a flight on Friday (borders closed at midnight Friday). Response was great ! All aspects ...the agent (Glen) kept in constant contact making sure of all the details with constant updates. The pilots ...Brian and Richard were great...real pros and very friendly. Made sure our flight was comfortable and safe.
Paula V.
51504/24/2025
We had a critical event to get to and the weather was not great. Glenn did a great job keeping in contact to make sure everything went smoothly.
Juliet S. T.
51505/05/2018
Joel was extraordinary in helping me with options when a connecting flight was cancelled and I had to scramble to get to my destination on time. He was available late into the evening to help me and ultimately I made my appointment.
Eric Sanchez
51511/22/2017
Always a pleasure. Happy Thanksgiving.
Monika W.
51501/08/2023
My agent was wonderful. However, my scheduled flight time was changed due to the owner wanting to use their plane. This change resulted in my missing an engagement. No discount was given to me for my inconvenience. The lack of observance of a signed contract was shocking and frankly showed a lack of integrity. I expect monetary compensation.
Jim K.
51509/05/2018
Glenn and team were responsive and kept me apprised of the status of our flight, despite dynamic weather. Pilots were experienced and jet was on time and flight was smooth.
Etta G.
51508/07/2015
Mr. <name removed for confidentiality> is extremely upset and disappointed with Stratos Jets as the plane had mechanical problems on take off which delayed the trip by 5 hours. It was his wife's birthday and the entire family had a full day of sightseeing arranged which had to be cancelled. The trip was very costly and he feels he is due back some compensation. Thank you, Etta G.
Jessica Bullard
51501/04/2020
As a charter operator, it is hard at times to work with Broker companies to get all of the information we need quick and efficiently back and forth to each other. We had no issues at all in this case when working with Stratos Jets. The team got everything we needed to us in a timely manner and we were able to make the transaction very smooth. I hope your clients enjoyed their flight! Our pilots said they seemed pleased upon arrival. Looking forward to working with you all again!
Jim Hensley
51507/20/2020
The passengers we flew had a great experience and were pleased with the flight. Jim Hensley American Jet Charter, Inc
Paul G.
51504/15/2024
Always excellent customer service and flights!
Roxann S.
51505/12/2016
Flight was for an elderly person and the tail number was provided a long time before the flight and I made sure the person flying had all the info written down by someone who could hear and got everything correct. Flyer had that until day before when tail number changed. I had to find someone who could hear me well and right down the correct info for the person traveling so he got it straight in his head and for driver.
Isabella R.
51503/27/2018
As always, Joel and his team made this a seamless trip. We enjoyed every moment from booking to take off and landing and everything in between. Thank you!
Nate TenBrink – Ward Aviation
51507/26/2024
Exceptional work from Anthony and the Trip Support Team at Stratos. Wonderful to work with.
Paul K.
51508/03/2022
Daniel was very responsive late into the night and early morning and was able to arrange our flight in hours. Time from first contact to wheels up was less than 12 hours. The FBO's and crew provides were very accommodating and helpful. 5 stars!
Our friendly, expert air charter agents are here to answer questions or start your quote today. Don`t wait, call right now and we can get you on your way to the destination of your choice! Talk to one of our air chater argents now by calling (888) 478-7286 or by emailing [email protected]
How do I choose the right aircraft for my mission?
As charter brokers, we do more than simply book your charter flight. At Stratos Jets, our air charter associates are highly trained personnel capable of matching our clients with the appropriate aircraft for their travel needs. Once we determine how many passengers you’re travelling with and how far you’re flying, we can determine which category of aircraft you require. There are many options available. The most common aircrafts hired for private charters include:
Cessna’s Citation X
Gulfstream’s G650
Bombardier’s Global line
After that, we can help you narrow down the selection of recommended aircraft based on budget, desired cabin amenities, airport requirements, luggage capacity, as well as aircraft age and performance capabilities.
Staying Safe in the Skies
At Stratos Jets, air charter safety is our number one concern. One of our key policies is to increase consumer education. This ensures our clients are able to make informed decisions. We also work with our aircraft providers to ensure their safety training programs meet and even exceed our air charter safety requirements. To make this happen, Stratos Jets is an ARGUS Certified Broker. This means that our brokerage firm is:
Committed to the best industry practices
Adhering to all applicable safety regulations
Maintaining the appropriate insurance coverage required
Are there additional costs per private jet rental passenger?
There are no additional costs per passenger. At Stratos Jet Charters, we base our private jet rental prices per hour, not per guest.
The Stratos Pricing Estimator
If you would like to estimate the cost of a private jet charter, use our Stratos pricing estimator page. It lists the most common estimates based on destination and aircraft type. And you can always enter customized data to get an estimate for a specific destination.
Additional Concierge Charges
We do charge for some of our additional concierge services, such as in-flight catering and entertainment, hotel bookings and ground transportation. We know our clients’ time is precious, so we offer the value and convenience of “one-stop-shopping” through our Trip Support team. When you book a flight with Stratos Jet Charters, we can take care of all the logistics, including booking hotels, meeting spaces, limousines and tickets to special events. That way you can relax, and enjoy your trip.
Empty Leg Charters
Also, since we charge per hour, not per passenger, there are travel bargains to be found with our Empty Leg Flights. Many of our private jet rental flights are one-way, and then we need to move the aircraft to a new destination. To reduce the costs of flying an empty aircraft, we offer discounts to travelers with flexible itineraries. Clever passengers will sometimes split the cost with their fellow travelers, thereby reducing the cost for everyone on the flight.
Can I make last-minute changes to my itinerary?
If your plans need to change, we will do everything in our power to accommodate the changes. One of the benefits of hiring Stratos Jet Charters is that we have much more flexibility than commercial airlines and can provide many more air charter services.
We have two teams that can help you. Here is a brief description of each:
Charter Sales Agents
This is the initial contact team. They evaluate your travel needs to identify the appropriate aircraft type for your travel plan. Pricing is determined by aircraft availability, its position related to the intended departure location and the position of where the aircraft needs to be after performing the customer’s flight.
Trip Support Team
Once the aircraft has been selected, Trip Support works with the customer, the air carrier and all concierge service providers to organize all of the travel details. Trip Support is responsible for coordinating:
Departure time
Departure and arrival at the Fixed Base departure location
Ensuring assigned crew members meet Stratos experience requirements
Making sure the insurance is current and everyone is protected
Coordinating all concierge services
In reference to last-minute itinerary changes, any changes would go through the Trip Support Team.
Our customers often have demanding flight itineraries that can change quickly. They’ve come to appreciate knowing there’s an entire team of people focused on organizing all the details of their trip. Stratos Jet Charters wants to provide our clients with consistently outstanding air charter service and an impeccable safety record.
Are you ready to book your Can I make last-minute changes to my itinerary? charter flight yet?
Our friendly, expert air charter agents are here to answer questions or start your quote today. Don`t wait, call now and we'll get you on your way to your destination!
Eva S.
Danny Morejon is a great facilitator who made this urgent flight possible within a matter of hours. He is also a good advocate for Stratos. Had it not been for the communication I had with him a few weeks ago when searching for flights, I wouldn’t have called back for assistance.
Kim H.
I have never met Anthony, but based on his efforts over the years, I would hire him sight unseen. Best customer service. Period. I've gone with other carriers who promised lower price and got stranded. He's always found a way to accommodate even when challenges occur. Top notch.
Michael Q.
Daniel is professional and engaged throughout the entire trip. From booking to wheels down.
Robert E.
Toilet paper, Pillows and blankets
Dave P.
Passenger stated that the "jet interior was shoddy and showed that the jet wasn't well taken care of." Said crew was nice. Stated no coffee available although I had specified de-caf to be provided and followed that up with company client services requesting same.
George B.
Would recommend Stratosjets to all of our friends, was a truly awesome experience!
Steve R.
Excellent service on very short notice! Since I was stranded at the Orlando Airport, Anthony got me out of bind of trying to get back home with impending work commitments. Good aircraft and crew....very smooth ride from Orlando to Jackson, MS. Stratos did a great job!
Debbie D.
Came through for me in the clutch! Sanity saving charter ;-)
Sherri D.
Everything went very smoothly, as always. Super professional crew and coordinating team. Thank you.
Matteo G.
Stratos takes the complicated process of private air charter and makes it simple. They have helped me through the process and Joel even turned down my offer for purchasing a Pre-paid Jet card because he advised that it would not be a good fit for my home airport and family lifestyle. I shortly became a client after that because that experience was indicative of the company's overall honesty and great ethos. We have Chartered with Joel on multiple occasions and always get the the 3Gs of private air travel - Great Safety, Great Plane & Great Price. Stratos is a great company and they put your safety 1st and make the process easy. You can text or call them at anytime and their response time is amazing. You truly feel special. Flying on chartered planes is something we really value and keep very personal and discrete. Joel assists us in keeping the experience special and within our schedule and budget. I recommend Stratos to friends who have jet cards, fractional ownership and 1st timers alike. If you are considering charter, the 1st call to make is to Stratos. They never pressure you and value the relationship. I can not say enough about this team - A great experience!
Rick H.
We have used Stratos for the past two years to handle our travel plans and enjoy the ease and attention to detail our trips have been handled with.
Taylor R.
Jesse was on the ball throughout the process - made it very easy to arrange our flights. His communication was prompt and clear, and he was always responsive!
Kyle B.
This service was unmatched and couldn’t have been better!
Chuck A.
It was a perfect flight!
Al K.
Flight was smooth all the way on time good crew
Jan M.
That sums it up.
I Keith G.
7
Rick H.
As a repeat customer of Stratos we have always been treated with care and understanding of the circumstances surrounding our travel needs. When Joel was unavailable Zach jumped right in without missing a beat.
Rick M.
The process of this trip was great end to end. We always knew what was going on. Johnny and the team made our journey easy. The operator had a great plane and a very pleasant and capable crew. Thanks all around!
Sean Cavanagh
Great platform, all trip information was readily accessible. Thank you for working with us on this one and keeping the itineraries flexible. No significant feedback otherwise, we look forward to the opportunity to assist with future operations!
Vicki B.
Ricky was awesome and everything went smoothly. I will certainly use your services again should a need arise. Thank you for everything!
Paul A.
Best service available
Ken M.
I understand we have great alternative option for the operation of our company aircraft at this time. Our (company name removed for privacy) Japan President was very glad to use charter aircraft. Thank you
Sara P.
Working with Kerry Hill and Joel A. Thomas from Stratos is always a pleasure for us at Regency. There is clear communication from start to finish. Client expectations are laid out, so that we can work our best to execute them. They communicate with us in a timely manner, and of course expect the same from us. Their clients are respectful of our jets and our crews. We definitely enjoy partnering and are looking forward to many more come 2023!
Adam S.
Joel and Stratos are amazing! He made sure our flight was tailored perfectly and was very responsive and always available for contact. They catered specifically to our needs with late notice. The pilots were fantastic and patient, especially considering we had three animals and arrived 10 minutes before take-off. They provided the smoothest flight in the Hawker we’ve ever taken. Stratos offered transportation to and from; the boarding process was welcoming and convenient. We will only fly privately with Stratos Jets through Joel and his team. Thank you guys for everything!
Matteo G.
From the quoting and booking process to wheels up and down, things could not be better with STRATOS. Joel and his team are amazing and accommodated a last minute return schedule change. They only contract with great companies who have great equipment and outstanding crew. If you are considering Private jet travel I cannot recommend them enough!
Rich C.
The crew of Citation very good Cordial and effective Trip punctual all good Thanks
Ivan J.
Great communication, everything on time and accurate, highly recommended
Tim L.
We were thoroughly impressed with all aspects of these operations. If at all possible, a method to protect the identity of passengers might be developed (whereby TSA rules are still met). If such a method already exists, my clients would appreciate knowing the details.
John G.
I couldn't be happier with level of service provided to me by Frank and his team! Everything was so easy and just a click away. I really appreciated Franks attentiveness to my trips. Stratos Jet will definitely have my business in the future. Thank you Frank & team, you are awesome!!!
S. R. C.
From soup to nuts, Stratos delivers!
Christine L.
Great trip! Keep us informed of empty legs to Aspen
John S.
The process was easy; plane, limo, pilots and boarding went smoothly
Al W.
Absolutely wonderful,....would recommend this to anyone [if they can afford it], real value….worth every penny!! Absolute comfort,.. courteous,... simple booking,...true luxury,.....best possible trip home from Florida !!
William B.
The level of service provided by Stratos is very high. Glenn and team continue to listen and understand our needs and organize excellent service. The latest provider was the best so far. Thank you team.
Eric Sanchez
Always great working with you guys!! Great job all around as usual.
Paul L.
Stratos responded to our request for a flight to leave Anguilla before the flights in and out were stopped. We called Thursday night for a flight on Friday (borders closed at midnight Friday). Response was great ! All aspects ...the agent (Glen) kept in constant contact making sure of all the details with constant updates. The pilots ...Brian and Richard were great...real pros and very friendly. Made sure our flight was comfortable and safe.
Paula V.
We had a critical event to get to and the weather was not great. Glenn did a great job keeping in contact to make sure everything went smoothly.
Juliet S. T.
Joel was extraordinary in helping me with options when a connecting flight was cancelled and I had to scramble to get to my destination on time. He was available late into the evening to help me and ultimately I made my appointment.
Eric Sanchez
Always a pleasure. Happy Thanksgiving.
Monika W.
My agent was wonderful. However, my scheduled flight time was changed due to the owner wanting to use their plane. This change resulted in my missing an engagement. No discount was given to me for my inconvenience. The lack of observance of a signed contract was shocking and frankly showed a lack of integrity. I expect monetary compensation.
Jim K.
Glenn and team were responsive and kept me apprised of the status of our flight, despite dynamic weather. Pilots were experienced and jet was on time and flight was smooth.
Etta G.
Mr. <name removed for confidentiality> is extremely upset and disappointed with Stratos Jets as the plane had mechanical problems on take off which delayed the trip by 5 hours. It was his wife's birthday and the entire family had a full day of sightseeing arranged which had to be cancelled. The trip was very costly and he feels he is due back some compensation. Thank you, Etta G.
Jessica Bullard
As a charter operator, it is hard at times to work with Broker companies to get all of the information we need quick and efficiently back and forth to each other. We had no issues at all in this case when working with Stratos Jets. The team got everything we needed to us in a timely manner and we were able to make the transaction very smooth. I hope your clients enjoyed their flight! Our pilots said they seemed pleased upon arrival. Looking forward to working with you all again!
Jim Hensley
The passengers we flew had a great experience and were pleased with the flight. Jim Hensley American Jet Charter, Inc
Paul G.
Always excellent customer service and flights!
Roxann S.
Flight was for an elderly person and the tail number was provided a long time before the flight and I made sure the person flying had all the info written down by someone who could hear and got everything correct. Flyer had that until day before when tail number changed. I had to find someone who could hear me well and right down the correct info for the person traveling so he got it straight in his head and for driver.
Isabella R.
As always, Joel and his team made this a seamless trip. We enjoyed every moment from booking to take off and landing and everything in between. Thank you!
Nate TenBrink – Ward Aviation
Exceptional work from Anthony and the Trip Support Team at Stratos. Wonderful to work with.
Paul K.
Daniel was very responsive late into the night and early morning and was able to arrange our flight in hours. Time from first contact to wheels up was less than 12 hours. The FBO's and crew provides were very accommodating and helpful. 5 stars!