So you’ve avoided the interminable check-in line, been spared the indignity of walking shoeless through a metal detector, and circumvented the mad dash boarding cattle run. You’re settling into your chartered private jet’s supple leather seats, legs outstretched, sipping on a Negroni made just the way you like it (with a dash of grapefruit juice), when the captain’s voice comes over the intercom. You’re next in line to take off and it’s clear blue skies all the way to Cabo, a perfect day to fly.

Compared to the experience of flying commercially, with all of its inglorious rules and regulations, private aviation affords its passengers no small degree of freedom. That doesn’t mean there isn’t some level of decorum to be kept at 35,000 feet, of course. We’ve taken a look at etiquette in the skies from whether you need to tip the caption and if it’s acceptable to pop open a bottle of red wine to the proper protocol of bringing pets onboard.

Tipping

There’s no hard rule for tipping, but by and large it’s not something you should worry about. Fractional jet provider CitationShares, for one, encourages a no tipping policy. “New members also always ask that question,” said Bill Schultz, the chief operating officer of CitationShares. “We have tried to create a club atmosphere, almost like a country club. A country club member would never tip after each round of golf. We take the same approach.”

Craig Bowers, a pilot and president of private jet consulting company JetForward Aviation, insists that tipping is not expected. If you really want to show your appreciation, he said, a more personal approach is best to reward good service. “A better option would be to call the chief pilot and tell them what a wonderful job this person is doing,” he said.

Smoking

Whether you can light up or not is up to the individual plane owner or operator. NetJets, for one, doesn’t place any restrictions on smoking on their aircraft (just wait for the no smoking light to turn off.) If you’ve arranged your flight through a charter broker, be sure to ask the flight crew whether smoking is permissible, as the rules can vary according to the plane owner’s preference.

Pets

As with smoking, pet etiquette varies with the travel provider, but for the most part private jet operators try to be very accommodating to pets. In fact, for some travelers the main point of flying privately is not having to part company with their four-legged friends. As in any social situation, pets should be kept under control, and care should be taken to ensure they do not interfere with the crew during flight. Not all plane owners take kindly to your furry friends though, so if you booking a charter fight and plan on taking your pet on your next trip, make sure your charter broker knows ahead.

Running Late

While it’s true that one of the great advantages of flying privately is having some flexibility in your departure time, it’s rude to leave your pilot and crew waiting for you on the tarmac. “Pilots have a lot on their minds, in terms of flight plans and weather. If you’re an hour late to show up, it can seriously affect the flight,” said Bowers. An easy solution? If you are running late, make a phone call to keep the charter provider and the pilot appraised of any delay.

Food

Feel free to bring whatever food you like onboard your flight, but be aware that that not every plane is equipped with the plates and silverware necessary to serve it, or for that matter, a microwave to heat it up. If you insist on bringing your own food, Jean Kelly, Senior Vice President of Product Delivery at CitationShares, recommends you take cold items which can be served with a minimum of fuss. Be aware that certain foods and drinks may leave nasty stains if spilled. For that reason, some plane owners have actually instituted red wine bans, preferring that you keep your bottle of Bordeaux corked for the duration of the flight.

So…can you go into the cockpit?

Yes, in fact you can, although it’s best to be sure the pilots aren’t busy, which means in particular to avoid times when the aircraft is flying below an altitude of 10,000 feet, when the cockpit is said to be “sterile.” “Keep in mind that taxiing, takeoff, the climb and landing are high workload times,” said Bowers. “Wait until the plane is level before you ask them where you are or how they like flying that model of plane.”