How to Place a Private Jet Catering Order: Complete Checklist for Crews and Operators
How to place a private jet catering order is a question every new cabin crew member, dispatcher and executive assistant asks at some point. The answer is reassuringly simple: a complete request, sent once, to the right team. When the first message contains everything the kitchen needs, the quote arrives clear, the confirmation is precise and the catering reaches the aircraft exactly as planned.
At Global Diners, every order starts with an email to order@globaldiners.com and is prepared in our own kitchens in Paris, Nice and Madrid or in our kitchens across more than 2,500 airports, from Paris (LFPB / LBG) and Nice (LFMN / NCE) to Dubai World Central (OMDW / DWC) and London City (EGLC / LCY). This checklist gathers everything to include, in the order our specialised team uses it, so you can copy it into your own flight preparation routine.
Step 1: the flight details
Catering is planned around the aircraft and the departure, so the first lines of the request describe the flight itself. These details allow our team to prepare the right quantities, choose the right kitchen and agree the delivery with the FBO or handler.
Airport of departure: shown as City (ICAO / IATA), for example Paris (LFPB / LBG), to avoid any confusion between airports in the same city.
Date and local departure time: plus the delivery time you would like, usually one to two hours before departure.
Aircraft registration and type: this helps us match packing to the galley and its ovens.
FBO or handler: the name of the terminal or handling company receiving the catering.
Flight duration and destination: essential for planning the number of services.
Step 2: passengers and crew
The next lines describe who will be on board. Passenger and crew numbers determine quantities, and a short note on the type of trip helps us suggest the right style of service: a business shuttle, a family holiday, a delegation or a long-range journey with several meals.
Number of passengers and crew: with crew meals listed separately if required.
Children on board: so that children's meals and snacks can be added.
Service style: individually plated, or bulk presentation for the crew to plate in the galley.
Number of services: breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks or a light meal before landing.
Our article on what flight crews expect from a private jet caterer explains how these details shape the packing on delivery.
Step 3: menu choices and preferences
With the flight and the cabin described, the request can turn to the menu. Global Diners works with one menu, the Global Diners menu, which covers breakfast, cold and hot dishes, desserts, caviar, smoked salmon, cheese and pastries. Choose the dishes you would like, or describe the passengers' tastes and our team will suggest a balanced selection.
Dishes from the Global Diners menu: named as precisely as possible.
VIP preferences: favourite teas, coffee, brands of water, fruit or snacks.
Wine and Champagne: offered subject to local rules and confirmed with your quote.
Restaurant pick-ups: a favourite restaurant can be coordinated on request, with the transfer time built into the schedule.
Step 4: dietary needs and allergies
This is the most important part of the request, and the one to write with the greatest care. Every Global Diners item carries an allergen label, and the more precisely dietary needs are described, the more confidently the crew can serve.
Allergies: list each one by passenger, for example nuts, shellfish, gluten or dairy.
Dietary menus: halal, kosher, vegetarian, vegan or alcohol-free menus are available.
Medical or lifestyle diets: low-sugar, low-salt or other specific requirements.
Cultural preferences: dishes or ingredients to avoid, and any service customs to respect.
A dietary need written once, clearly, travels with the order from the kitchen to the cabin.
Checklist item | Example | Why it matters |
Airport | Nice (LFMN / NCE) | Selects the kitchen and the delivery plan |
Date and delivery time | 15 May, delivery at 10:30 local | Keeps the catering fresh and on time |
Registration and FBO | Aircraft registration, named FBO | Matches packing and delivery access |
Passengers and crew | 6 passengers, 3 crew | Sets accurate quantities |
Menu and services | Breakfast and lunch from the Global Diners menu | Plans the service sequence |
Dietary needs | 1 halal, 1 nut allergy | Guides labelling and preparation |
Step 5: timing, quote and confirmation
We recommend ordering 24 hours ahead. This gives our kitchens access to the full Global Diners menu and allows calm, precise preparation. During major events, such as Fashion Weeks in Paris or the summer season on the Riviera, ordering a little earlier is helpful. Every request receives a dedicated quote from our specialised team; once approved, a written confirmation follows and becomes the single reference for the crew, the operator and the kitchen.
If the schedule moves, simply reply in the same email thread with the new details. Our article on last-minute private jet catering explains how our team adapts, and our guide to slot times and catering delivery covers timing in more depth.
Step 6: delivery and handover
Delivery depends on the airport. At Paris (LFPB / LBG) and Nice (LFMN / NCE), our own kitchens deliver planeside, directly to the aircraft. At Madrid (LEMD / MAD), our own kitchen delivers to the FBO. Everywhere else, delivery is coordinated with your FBO or handler. At handover, the crew checks the order against the confirmation, notes the reheating guidance on hot dishes and stores everything according to the labels.
Our network keeps growing. Our new stations at Querétaro (MMQT / QRO) and Buenos Aires Ezeiza (SAEZ / EZE) have received very positive feedback from crews, and the same checklist applies there as at every Global Diners airport.
Coming very soon: the client portal and crew training
The Global Diners client portal is coming very soon. It is designed to bring the Global Diners menu, order requests, confirmations and documents into one space for crew, operations and finance. Until it opens, every request goes through order@globaldiners.com.
A Global Diners crew training programme will also launch soon. It will be a natural companion to this checklist for cabin crews and flight departments who want to make every order effortless.
Key Dates for Business Aviation Catering at Dubai World Central (OMDW / DWC)
Al Maktoum International sits in Dubai South, and its busiest catering weeks follow the city's winter season, which runs roughly from October to April. Trade fairs, horse racing, golf and the festive holidays bring wave after wave of business jets, while the Dubai Airshow turns the airfield itself into the venue every second November. In those weeks the whole airport is at its liveliest. Ordering a little earlier than the usual 24 hours keeps everything smooth: share final passenger numbers as soon as the manifest settles, and agree a delivery window with your handler. Chilled mezze, sealed individual trays and hot dishes in thermal carriers travel well through Gulf heat and long ground times.
Event | When | Where |
Dubai Airshow | November, odd-numbered years | Dubai World Central, at Al Maktoum International |
Christmas and New Year holidays | Mid-December to early January | Dubai and the wider UAE |
Dubai World Cup | Late March or early April (varies) | Meydan Racecourse, Dubai |
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | Late November or early December | Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi |
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha holidays | Dates follow the lunar calendar and move earlier each year | Dubai and the wider UAE |
GITEX Global | October | Dubai |
Dubai Airshow at Dubai World Central (OMDW / DWC): November, odd-numbered years
One of the largest aerospace exhibitions in the world, held on the airfield itself. Static display aircraft, demonstration slots and delegation flights fill the ramp, and visiting jets often arrive days before the opening. Plan catering as early as your schedule is fixed, ideally 72 hours ahead, and favour individually packed meals that crews can serve on short turns. For hosted delegations, larger platters and Arabic coffee service can be arranged on request with your handler.
Event and holiday dates in the UAE move each year, and the Eid holidays depend on the moon sighting, so please check timings with our team when you place your order.
Dining and shopping near Dubai World Central (OMDW / DWC)
Dining in Dubai ranges from Emirati and Levantine cooking to Japanese, Indian and modern European restaurants run by international chefs, with the densest choice in Downtown, DIFC, Dubai Marina and on Palm Jumeirah. Shoppers head to The Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates for luxury brands, while the Gold Souk and Spice Souk in Deira offer a traditional market experience. Friday brunch remains a local institution.
Local flavours for flights from Dubai World Central (OMDW / DWC)
Emirati cuisine blends Bedouin, Persian, Indian and East African influences, built around rice, spices, dates and slow-cooked meat. Machboos, spiced rice with chicken, lamb or fish, is the national dish and reheats well in a galley oven. Harees, a smooth wheat and meat porridge, and thareed, a meat and vegetable stew over bread, are traditional comfort dishes. For cold service, Arabic mezze travels well: hummus, moutabal, muhammara, tabbouleh, fattoush, stuffed vine leaves and labneh with za'atar, served with khubz flatbread. Grilled shish tawook and lamb kofta suit hot main courses. Dates are part of every welcome, with Khalas, Sukkari and Medjool varieties paired with Arabic coffee scented with cardamom and saffron. Luqaimat, small fried dumplings with date syrup, and Emirati balaleet, sweet vermicelli with egg, offer a local dessert or breakfast option. Fresh juices, laban, karak tea and rose or mint lemonade are popular non-alcoholic drinks. All meat is halal as standard in the UAE. Our kitchens prepare each order, and restaurant pick-up across Dubai is available on request.
Also on the Global Diners network: London City (EGLC / LCY)
Canary Wharf has a dense mix of steakhouses, sushi bars and riverside restaurants serving the finance crowd, while Shoreditch and Brick Lane are known for street food, curry houses and bagel bakeries. Borough Market near London Bridge and Leadenhall Market in the City are long-established stops for produce and lunch. For shopping, Westfield Stratford City is one of the largest malls in Europe, Spitalfields hosts independent fashion and makers, and the West End is a short Elizabeth line ride away.
FBOs at every airport in this guide
Here are the business aviation terminals (FBOs) at each airport mentioned above. Our team coordinates every catering delivery with the FBO or handler you choose, and our own kitchens deliver planeside at Paris (LFPB / LBG) and Nice (LFMN / NCE).
Dubai World Central (OMDW / DWC): DC Aviation Al-Futtaim, Jetex Dubai FBO, ExecuJet Middle East, Falcon Elite DWC LLC and Jet Aviation Dubai
London City (EGLC / LCY): London City Airport Private Jet Centre
Paris (LFPB / LBG): Dassault Falcon Service, Jet Aviation, Signature Aviation, Advanced Air Support International, Jetex Le Bourget, ExecuJet Paris and Universal Aviation France
Nice (LFMN / NCE): Signature Aviation, AviaVIP and DC Aviation G-OPS
Madrid (LEMD / MAD): General Aviation Service SL, AviaVIP, Sky Valet Spain and United Aviation Services S.L.
Frequently asked questions
What information do I need to order private jet catering?
The airport, date, delivery time, aircraft registration, FBO or handler, passenger and crew numbers, the dishes or style of menu you would like, and every dietary need and allergy. Send it all to order@globaldiners.com in one message.
How far in advance should I order?
We recommend ordering 24 hours ahead, which gives our kitchens access to the full Global Diners menu. During major events, ordering a little earlier is helpful.
Will I receive a price before the order is confirmed?
Yes. Every request receives a dedicated quote from our specialised team. Once you approve it, a written confirmation follows with all the details of the order.
What is the Global Diners client portal?
The portal, coming very soon, is designed to bring the Global Diners menu, order requests, confirmations and documents into one space for crew, operations and finance. Until it opens, all orders go through order@globaldiners.com.
Can I order catering at Al Maktoum (OMDW / DWC) during the Dubai Airshow?
Yes. Al Maktoum International (OMDW / DWC) is covered throughout the Dubai Airshow, held at Dubai World Central in November of odd-numbered years, when business jet movements are at their highest. Our team plans production with our kitchens around show week. Ordering early helps secure your menu and delivery slot during this period.
Can you supply an Emirati welcome with dates and Arabic coffee at Dubai World Central?
Yes, for flights from Al Maktoum International (OMDW / DWC), our team can arrange premium dates, Arabic coffee with cardamom and saffron, and a selection of Arabic sweets on request. The coffee is supplied in insulated flasks with traditional cups if required. This welcome can be combined with mezze, grills or Emirati dishes such as machboos.
Explore more destinations and guides
Private jet catering in Paris (LFPB / LBG)
Private jet catering in Nice (LFMN / NCE)
Private jet catering in Madrid (LEMD / MAD)
Ready to place your next order?
Keep this checklist close to your flight preparation routine and every catering order will be clear from the very first message. Send your next request to Global Diners and our specialised team will prepare a dedicated quote, so your crew and passengers can enjoy a perfectly prepared service on board.
To request a quote, email order@globaldiners.com with your aircraft registration, airport, date, delivery time and passenger count. Our specialised team replies with a dedicated quote for your mission.
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