The Pros and Cons of Flying Private
Flying private allows you to get to your destination without the usual hassles associated with commercial air travel. They may appear to be an indulgence, but there are actually situations where chartering a private jet is more practical than taking a commercial flight, particularly when traveling for business or in groups.
Are you considering a private jet charter for the next time you travel?
In this article, we weigh the pros and cons of chartering a private jet to help you decide whether or not it is the best choice for you.
Reasons to Charter a Private Jet
Private jet travel is not reserved for the rich and the famous. It’s for everybody looking to travel in comfort, convenience, and – of course – style.
Here are four good reasons why you should fly private:
1. Significant Time Savings
Those who fly commercial are virtually always in a hurry. You have to be at the airport hours before their flight leaves, so you have enough time for all the security checks. And, sometimes, when you get to the boarding gates, you find out that your flight is delayed. That’s two or three hours that you could have spent working, sleeping, or doing something productive.
When you fly private, you can forget about the long lines and delays. You can simply arrive at the airport a few minutes before your scheduled departure and board the plane. In smaller airfields, you can even drive right up to the jet.
2. Extraordinary Accessibility
After going through many check-in desks, you’re already feeling exhausted by the time you board your commercial flight. Private jets, on the other hand, have exclusive terminals or a separate fixed-base operation (FBO) area, ensuring a stress-free and seamless boarding.
Moreover, due to their smaller size, these planes have the ability to land in airports which are generally not accessible to commercial flights. This gives private jet passengers the advantage of boarding and landing closer to their destination.
3. Control Over Your Flying Schedule
Another significant benefit of chartering a private jet is that it allows you to fly on your own schedule; unlike commercial flights where you are always at the mercy of the airline’s timetable.
With a private jet charter, you can choose a convenient departure time and even reschedule or make last-minute route changes if you need to. This flexibility is one of the main reasons why many celebrities and business travelers prefer to fly private.
4. Comfort and Luxury at Its Best
Private jet travel is well-known for being lavish and luxurious. Most planes are equipped with in-flight Wi-Fi, plush reclining seats, full entertainment system and other amenities you cannot find in commercial airlines. You can even customize your meals or host a party, complete with in-flight catering, if you wish to!
Private jet operators pay close attention to the needs and requests of their clients and ensure that all their crew follow the best workplace practices to ensure an unforgettable and relaxing travel experience.
The Cost of Chartering Private Jet Charter
Now that we’ve discussed the advantages of private jet charters. Let’s take a look at its biggest drawback and the reason why most people are still not flying private: the price.
All that comfort, convenience, and access to exceptional service and amenities come at a cost. Depending on your destination and the size of the plane, a private jet can cost you anywhere between $2,000 – $23,000 per hour. However, if you know where and how to look, there are ways to fly private for less.
- Jet Cards
Jet cards function similarly to prepaid cards in the sense that you’re booking a specific number of hours at a fixed price. They’re usually cheaper than single bookings and you can even choose a plane that meets your requirements. This is one of the best options for people who are always traveling.
- Empty Leg Flights
Empty legs are not revenue flights where the private jet has passengers on-way but would be returning to its home base empty. Operators are often willing to sell empty leg flights at half the price to recoup some of the costs.
- Shared Charters
Many private jet startups operate on an economy-style sharing model, where passengers book a seat on the plane and share the flight with other passengers to maximize efficiency and cut costs. Shared charters may not be as private or exclusive as you’d want them to be, but they still offer the comfort, convenience, and luxury of private jet travel.
Is a private jet charter worth it? Only you can answer that for yourself. Carefully weigh the advantages we’ve mentioned above against the drawbacks to figure out if it is the right choice for you.
About the Author:
Melissa Hull is the Content Marketing Strategist for Aviation Charters, a West Trenton, New Jersey-based private aviation company that provides on-demand aircraft charter, aircraft management, and aircraft acquisition services. Aside from her passion for writing, she loves to travel and read espionage books.
