How do I contact the pilot before the flight?

Through the built-in messaging. It opens once the pilot has accepted your flight: you then talk to them directly, without sharing your personal contact details.

Before acceptance

Until the pilot accepts, messaging stays closed — deliberately. Before acceptance no payment is captured; opening contact would allow arranging a deal outside Volara, where you would no longer be protected. It activates automatically as soon as the pilot accepts.

How does the pilot decide then?

To accept, the pilot relies on your profile — how long you've been a member, flights already taken — not on a prior chat. Once the flight is confirmed, you agree together on the time and meeting point.