Ten Steps to Becoming a Private Jet Traveler

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Tired of modern air travel? Going private might be the right option for you.

Air travel was once exciting and glamorous. Today, flying is typically a burden to be endured, even for aviation buffs. Air travel involves a lot of lines, a lot of walking, a lot of security and a lot of inconvenience. Airports may offer restaurants and shops to pass the time, but better surroundings don’t really change the basic experience.

There is an alternative – private jet travel. Once seen as the domain of the super-rich, private travel is growing in popularity with new options as more and more people look to avoid the airport experience while still enjoying the speed and flexibility of air travel.

Restrictions during COVID-19 lockdowns accelerated the trend further, with limitations in some countries on who could fly commercial. “When people started to fly private, they saw how easy it is,” said Yiannis Christodoulides, director at Zela Jets, a charter broker. “It’s hard to go back.”

If you’ve been thinking of trying out private jet travel, here are 10 steps you’ll want to keep in mind:

1) Are you seeking truly private jet travel, or will semi-private suffice?

The more private you go, the more you’ll have to pay. Here are the most common options:

Private-style air carriers operate public charters, meaning that they contract for the operation of an aircraft to and from a destination and then sell seats. They’re somewhat like a cross between regular airline travel and private jet travel – they operate from private jet terminals not subject to the same ticketing and security rules as large airlines. You’ll have to share the jet with others – but 20-30 others rather than 100+. This will typically be the least expensive option, with some tickets even in the hundreds (rather than thousands) of dollars. These can often be booked online through the carriers’ Websites.
Membership programs or jet cards offer you the option to book available aircraft for your trip based on the number of “credits” for which you prepay. There’s usually an initiation or annual membership fee, too. Some of them will let you split the cost of the charter with other flyers traveling at the same time to the same place. The options for types of flights and types of planes depend on what’s available.
Fractional ownership works somewhat like a timeshare – you buy a “share” in an aircraft for a certain time period that may last several years, plus payment of a yearly maintenance fee. In return, you get a certain number of flight hours. Usually, this is tied to a specific type of plane. If your flying is highly predictable and your aircraft needs are highly consistent, this may be the option for you.
Charters offer the most convenience at the highest cost. When you have a place in mind, you contact a charter broker, who quotes you a price for the destination and aircraft you’re seeking. Unlike membership programs or fractional ownership, there’s no long-term commitment. Often, brokers will work with multiple operators to provide more options. Pricing will vary based on aircraft supply and market demand but expect to pay several thousand dollars per hour.

With those options in mind, consider the following questions to choice the right path for your travel needs:

2) How much time do you plan to spend flying over the next year or two?

If you’re a frequent flyer, membership programs and fractional ownership may work best for you. If you’re expecting to fly less than 10 hours per year, you may want to consider on-demand charters instead.

3) What is your budget?

If you’re trying to make private jet travel work on a commercial air travel budget, airline JSX has some options for you – a round-trip flight from Austin to Las Vegas and back for a May weekend starts at $299. Competitor Aero, promising “all first-class seats,” can get you from Dallas to Aspen one way for as little as $1,000 the same month. On the other end of the spectrum, a private jet charter flight is likely to go into the tens of thousands. Mercury Jets, a charter, quotes prices ranging from about $20,000 (for a turboprop) to $62,000 (for a heavy jet) for a round-trip weekend flight from Houston to Orlando. Be realistic about what you can afford.

4) What type of aircraft will work best for you?

Membership and fractional programs most commonly offer light, midsize and heavy jets. Light jets will usually seat fewer than 10 people and are better for shorter trips. Midsize jets seat as many as 10 people and fly further than light jets – anywhere from 1,000 miles to close to 4,000. Heavy jets typically seat 12-20 people and can fly thousands of miles – enough for international trips. If speed is not a priority, a turboprop (seating 6-10 passengers) may be your best option, but you’re more likely to find those offered by charters.

5) Where will you be traveling most frequently?

Air carriers have limited destinations, and membership programs offer fixed-rate service areas with roundtrip discounts. Some will make more financial sense than others if you can predict your destinations. However, one advantage of private jet travel is that you have access to more airports than with commercial jet travel. According to the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems, there are about 500 airports in the U.S. that serve commercial flights…out of more than 5,000 open to the general public. That offers additional flexibility you should consider when analyzing your options.

6) How many people will be traveling with you?

If you’ll be traveling solo for business, you may not need to consider this, but the range of private jets is affected by weight. Children over the age of two must have their own seat. If you’re planning regular family trips, it may be more cost-effective to expect to fly on larger jets and to plan accordingly.

7) Do you plan to bring pets?

Some private jets don’t accept pets. For those who do, pets count against the weight limit, and a small jet may be uncomfortable for a large pet. However, pets also typically enjoy more freedom on private jets. “For people with pets, it’s the only way to travel comfortably,” said Christodoulides.

8) Which comfort level are you seeking

While most commercial flights now offer wi-fi, not all private jets do. Light and midsize jets usually aren’t quite tall enough to allow adults to stand up fully. Flight attendants may not be available. Consider which bells and whistles are absolutely necessary, and which are nice to have.

9) How flexible are your travel times?

As with commercial air travel, not all private flights are priced equally. Membership and fractional programs will often have “peak days” with extra charges and longer deadlines for booking or canceling. Charters may restrict you from canceling or moving your flight during busy periods, and you may have to pay in full up front. Some days and times will offer more flexibility and lower costs.

If you have a great deal of flexibility, you may be able to find an “empty leg” charter flight, in which an operator is repositioning an aircraft and needs to fill seats at lower prices. Those will be at the times and for the cities that work for the operator, and a cancelation won’t come with a replacement flight, but you may be able to cut your ticket price by as much as 50%.

10) Which refund options are you seeking?

Private-style air carriers offer some refundable tickets (just like commercial airlines). For membership and fractional programs, refund options vary, but you often have the flexibility to re-assign your credits/hours to another flight. If a charter flight is canceled, the U.S. Department of Transportation guarantees you a refund within two weeks, but, as the DOT Website says, with any cancelation on your part, “your right to a refund may be limited.”

Would-be private jet travelers are in luck – there are more options today than ever before if you want to avoid “regular” air travel. However, the perfect option for someone else may not be the right choice for you. Consider all of the factors – monetary and other – when selecting your path forward. As Zela Jet’s Christodoulides warns, “always do your research.”

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