Bizav Experts Caution Against Illegal Jet-seat Selling

A panel at Corporate Jet Investor Miami 2025 examined the growing problem of informal jet sharing, warning that flight-by-seat selling through WhatsApp groups and similar platforms poses major safety, insurance, and legal risks. Moderator David Hernandez of Vedder Price said such activity is more than a simple legal gray area, noting that consumers using illegal jet share services “really have no rights” if something goes wrong.

Dan Harris of Ironbird Partners said the trend shows how the industry has failed to meet a demand. “The consumer obviously wants it, and we have been unable to provide a solution,” he said, calling the rise of WhatsApp and other illegal app-based sharing a “failed opportunity” for legitimate providers to create compliant options.

Barry Lambert of Southern Sky Aviation said his company has lost legitimate business to such groups. “We’ve seen anything from lost flights to lost management opportunities,” he said, noting that some aircraft owners are drawn to programs that let them sell seats to friends, even if that means operating outside FAA rules, to recoup costs.

Jacquie Dalton of Sparrow Executive Jets said illegal seat selling undermines professional operations. She warned that scammers are “using actual tail numbers” and routes on social media to deceive customers into thinking they are booking through approved operators.

Wade Black of Magnifica Air said many passengers do not realize the risks. He said his company is developing a Part 121 operation to provide a regulated, transparent alternative.

Lambert added that selling seats also raises crew and passenger security concerns. “We don’t have a sterile flight deck,” he said, explaining that putting unrelated passengers together in a small cabin can compromise both comfort and safety.

Lambert said many violations are never reported, so regulators remain unaware of the scope of the problem. Dalton added that existing rules already define what is legal and that it is up to operators to comply.

Dalton said unlicensed and poorly-trained brokers may have accelerated the trend. “We need some standards and some self standards. We don’t want much more regulation coming in,” she said, emphasizing self-policing based on existing regulations.

Hernandez, a former FAA prosecutor, pointed to limited agency resources that make consistent enforcement difficult, but targeted action could be effective if properly supported. He suggested motivated inspectors and publicized enforcement could “shut this stuff down” quickly.

He also pointed out that people who facilitate or host illegal operations could face serious consequences. Hernandez cautioned the audience that those who claim to “just provide a platform” for matching passengers with aircraft may still be treated as part of a conspiracy.

And the risk extends beyond operators to crew, even those who may be unaware of illegal sharing among passengers. "If a pilot gets caught in illegal activity, they can lose their license," Lambert said. "I know one that was prosecuted. He spent two years fighting for his license off of one flight that he wasn't even aware of it happening."

Dalton closed by urging unity and accountability within the industry. She said legitimate participants must work together to identify compliant operators and isolate those who are not following the rules.