A few months ago we commented on the practice of over-charging for jet fuel. In fairness, this over-charging is often to compensate for under-charging elsewhere, as no one’s making Exxon-like profits in private aviation (except Exxon).

One reader pointed out the related concern of travel speed. According to the rules of physics, when a plane is flown faster, it consumes exponentially more fuel. Paradoxically, according to the rules of your contract, when your plane is flown slower, it can cost you substantially more.

This oddity applies to nearly all forms of private air travel, except ad hoc charter. It is especially acute for fractional ownership programs and other plans where you draw from an allotment of hours.

Obviously, a slower flight will consume more hours of your allocation. And since fuel surcharges are based on flight hours, flying slower results in a higher fuel surcharge for the trip, despite consuming less fuel.

Take a look at the chart. The green arrows are favorable to the customer; the red arrows favor the provider. It’s clearly a zero-sum game where they other guy’s in control. You should be indifferent to the black arrows, as they don’t effect your flight costs, though they have a clear impact on your provider’s expense. For them, all arrows point toward flying slower, unless it creates unfavorable plane positioning for other flights. In certain conditions, a pilot can turn an unprofitable flight into a money-maker just by easing back on the throttle.

Obviously, there are other dominating concerns such as safety, weather and flight range. We don’t recommend that you second-guess your pilots or hector them like you would a cab-driver puttering along at 45 MPH in the fast lane.

The larger lesson is to review your contract terms for circumstances where your provider’s interests are not fully aligned with yours. Take steps to monitor their performance and decision-making. Chat with your account representative and your flight crew about flight conditions. Pilots are an independent-minded lot, and their body language may betray their company’s intentions. You can also check flight records to see average travel times for similar aircraft and compare them with your experience.

Helium Report suggests asking these tough questions before signing with a provider. One overriding goal of your due diligence is to identify a provider you can trust. You’re spending a lot of money, and placing the safety and comfort of your family, friends and associates in their hands. You should feel confident that your provider won’t “nickel & dime” you, but it’s worth keeping an eye on your statements. Trust, but verify.

Note to Readers: Halogen Guides is the new name of Helium Report.