> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.planeconnection.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Use the Charter Marketplace

> Post open charter bids, review applications from qualified operators and pilots, communicate with applicants, and award trips through the charter marketplace.

By the end of this guide, you will have posted charter bids, reviewed applications from operators and pilots, communicated with applicants, and awarded trips through the charter marketplace.

<Info>
  The Operations module must be enabled for your workspace. You also need the appropriate operations
  permissions. Contact your workspace administrator if you cannot access these features.
</Info>

<Info>
  Posting requires the `marketplace.create` permission. Reviewing and awarding requires
  `marketplace.manage`.
</Info>

## Prerequisites

* Your workspace must have the Charter Marketplace enabled under
  **Settings > Modules**.
* At least one aircraft type must be configured in your fleet if you
  plan to specify aircraft requirements on bids.
* Marketplace visibility settings must be configured by a workspace
  administrator (see [Configure Workspace](/en/how-to/admin/configure-workspace)).

## Navigate to the marketplace

Open the **Operations** sidebar and click **Marketplace** under the
**Operations** group. The marketplace page loads with the breadcrumb
path **Ops > Marketplace**.

The marketplace landing page displays two tabs:

| Tab             | Description                                                                                                                       |
| --------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Browse Bids** | View all open charter bids posted by other organizations. Filter by route, date range, aircraft category, and compensation range. |
| **My Bids**     | View bids your organization has posted, along with their status and application counts.                                           |

## Post a charter bid

<Steps>
  ### Step 1: Open the new bid form

  From the **My Bids** tab, click **Post New Bid** in the top-right
  corner. The bid creation form opens with the breadcrumb path
  **Ops > Marketplace > New Bid**.

  ### Step 2: Define the route and schedule

  Fill in the trip details:

  1. **Origin Airport** -- Enter the ICAO code (e.g., `KTEB`) or
     search by airport name. The field autocompletes as you type.
  2. **Destination Airport** -- Enter the destination ICAO code.
  3. **Departure Date/Time** -- Select the preferred departure date
     and time. All times are displayed in UTC with a local time
     conversion shown alongside.
  4. **Return Date/Time** -- If the bid includes a return leg, enter
     the return schedule. Leave blank for one-way charters.
  5. **Flexibility** -- Indicate whether dates are firm or flexible
     (plus or minus one to three days).

  ### Step 3: Specify aircraft requirements

  Define the aircraft capabilities needed for this charter:

  | Field                 | Description                                                                       |
  | --------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
  | **Aircraft Category** | Jet class (light, midsize, super-midsize, heavy, ultra-long-range) or turboprop.  |
  | **Minimum Seats**     | Minimum passenger capacity required.                                              |
  | **Range Requirement** | Minimum range in nautical miles, auto-calculated from the route but editable.     |
  | **Special Equipment** | Required equipment such as Wi-Fi, APU, or specific avionics (e.g., RVSM, RNP AR). |

  ### Step 4: Set passenger details and compensation

  1. **Passenger Count** -- Number of passengers for the charter.
  2. **Estimated Weight** -- Combined passenger and baggage weight in pounds.
  3. **Compensation Type** -- Choose **Fixed Price** or **Hourly Rate** (per flight hour).
  4. **Amount** -- Enter the compensation amount in USD.
  5. **Additional Terms** -- Free-text field for catering, ground transportation, insurance minimums, or other contract terms.

  ### Step 5: Configure visibility and allowed applicants

  Control who can see and bid on this charter:

  | Setting                  | Options                                                                                                                                                                                           |
  | ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
  | **Visibility**           | **Public** (visible to all marketplace participants), **Network Only** (visible only to operators in your trusted network), or **Invite Only** (visible only to operators you explicitly invite). |
  | **Applicant Type**       | **Operators Only** (certificate holders), **Pilots Only** (individual Part 135 pilots), or **Both**.                                                                                              |
  | **Application Deadline** | Date after which no new applications are accepted.                                                                                                                                                |

  ### Step 6: Review and publish

  Review the bid summary card showing all entered details. When
  everything is correct, click **Publish Bid**. The bid receives a
  unique identifier (e.g., `BID-2026-0284`) and appears on the
  marketplace immediately.

  To save without publishing, click **Save as Draft**. Draft bids are
  visible only to your organization and can be published later from the
  **My Bids** tab.
</Steps>

## Review applications

When operators or pilots apply to your bid, the application count
badge on the bid card updates in real time.

<Steps>
  ### Step 1: Open the bid detail page

  From the **My Bids** tab, click the bid card to open its detail page.
  The page displays the bid information on the left and the
  **Applications** panel on the right.

  ### Step 2: Review each application

  Each application card shows the applicant name and organization,
  aircraft offered (tail number, make/model, category), quoted price,
  availability confirmation, operator credentials (Part 135 certificate
  number, insurance status, safety rating), and any application notes.

  ### Step 3: Sort and filter applications

  Sort by **Price**, **Safety Rating**, or **Submission Date**. Filter
  by **Aircraft Category** or **Applicant Type**.
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Click the applicant's organization name to view their public operator profile, including fleet
  details, safety record, and customer reviews.
</Tip>

## Message applicants

You can communicate with applicants directly from the bid detail page
without leaving the marketplace.

1. On the application card, click the **Message** icon.
2. A message thread opens in a slide-out panel on the right side.
3. Type your message and press **Send**. Messages support text
   formatting and file attachments (e.g., insurance certificates,
   route briefings).
4. The applicant receives an in-platform notification and can
   respond from their own marketplace view.

All marketplace messages are stored in the bid record and visible to
both parties for audit purposes.

<Warning>
  Marketplace messaging is tied to the bid lifecycle. Once a bid is closed, awarded, or expired, the
  message thread becomes read-only. Exchange contact information or move to the platform's
  [Messaging System](/en/how-to/ops/use-mail) for ongoing communication.
</Warning>

## Award a trip

<Steps>
  ### Step 1: Select the winning application

  From the bid detail page, click **Award** on the application you want
  to accept. A confirmation dialog shows the applicant details, quoted
  price, and aircraft offered.

  ### Step 2: Confirm the award

  Review the award summary and click **Confirm Award**. The system
  updates the bid status to **Awarded** and performs the following
  actions:

  * Sends an award notification to the winning applicant.
  * Sends a "not selected" notification to all other applicants.
  * Creates a new trip in your **All Trips** list linked to this bid,
    pre-populated with route, dates, aircraft, and compensation from
    the awarded application.
  * Closes the bid to further applications.

  ### Step 3: Finalize the trip

  Navigate to the newly created trip (linked from the bid detail page)
  to complete crew assignment, passenger manifest, and cost estimate
  using the standard [trip creation workflow](/en/how-to/ops/create-trip).
</Steps>

## Cancel or manage a bid

If you want to cancel an open bid, click the **actions menu** (three dots) on the bid card and select **Cancel Bid**. All applicants receive a cancellation notification. If you want to repost a cancelled bid with updated terms, select **Duplicate** from the actions menu. For full status definitions and transition rules, see [Charter Marketplace Reference](/en/reference/charter-marketplace).

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Create a Trip" href="/how-to/ops/create-trip">
    Complete the trip setup after awarding a marketplace bid.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Trip Requests" href="/how-to/ops/manage-trip-requests">
    Manage inbound trip requests from owners and clients.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Charter Marketplace Reference" href="/reference/charter-marketplace">
    Bid statuses, application rules, and marketplace policies.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Use the Messaging System" href="/how-to/ops/use-mail">
    Continue conversations with operators after the bid closes.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>