Planning on charter a private jet? You can rest assured that it’s one of the most luxurious and luxurious ways to travel, with many exclusive benefits such as privacy, comfort, and convenience.
Chartering a private plane is something that many people want to do but don’t follow through with for one reason or another. It can be confusing, overwhelming, and even a little scary to think about how much it costs to charter a private jet.
But if you’re able to relax and break down the process into something more manageable, chartering your private jet will likely become one of the coolest things you’ve ever done.
Types Of Jets
There are essentially two kinds of private jets – light jets, which typically seat 6 to 8 passengers, and heavy jets, which seat nine or more. Most people don’t have enough money lying around for a heavy jet charter (as much as they may love bringing all their friends and extended family), so it’s mainly light jets that we’ll talk about here.
And while you can technically charter anything from a small four-seater Cessna 208 Caravan II up through a Boeing Business Jet BBJ (that one will run you upwards of $100k an hour – ouch), most private jet charters cost between $2,000 and $5,000 per hour (not including taxes and fees). But that doesn’t necessarily mean you should always spend top dollar.
One way to save money on jet charters is by using empty leg flights. These are scheduled flights that have been canceled for one reason or another. Rather than paying for an empty plane to fly back home from Las Vegas, why not rent it and fly someone else somewhere? It’s a valid strategy, but it works best if you’re flying at non-peak times (such as weekends); otherwise, finding seats will be difficult – especially if you need multiple seats or want more time between your destinations.
Potential Fees
When you charter a private jet, you’re essentially paying to use it privately. You can choose to charter your aircraft for as long as you need it and for whatever purposes you like. You can also change your booking at any time, meaning if plans change and you need your plane sooner or later than planned, there are no penalties or fees.
With some companies, if an emergency arises, such as bad weather that would ground an aircraft, they may be able to alter your itinerary without penalty. However, it’s important to know that you can’t simply cancel at any time because most operators have strict rules regarding cancellations and penalties. Read through your contract carefully before signing and ask questions, so there are no surprises later.
Ask about cancellation penalties. While most operators won’t charge fees for changes in itinerary, cancellation fees are much more common. Some companies may also charge additional fees if you need to change the details of your trip at short notice or if you bring more people than agreed. You’ll want to make sure that you know these rules before making your booking so that you can adjust your plans accordingly if necessary.
Price Estimation
The price of chartering a private jet will depend on where you’re going, how long you need it for, and which type of aircraft you choose. Luxury jets are going to be much more expensive than smaller chartered planes.
If you’re looking at chartering a private jet, factor in additional costs like landing fees and passenger charges that come with flying commercially. No matter where or when you fly, remember that each trip will cost significantly more than if your group drove—but it can make sense if everyone saves time by flying together.
You’ll also need to consider your group size and what aircraft you choose. Generally, your trip will cost less per person if you can all fly together on one plane rather than booking multiple seats. Sometimes flying together isn’t possible due to space or timing constraints, but bear in mind that if you choose a larger aircraft, you can sometimes get discounts for groups of 10 or more people
It may seem like an obvious choice at first glance, but keep in mind that chartering means paying for fuel, landing fees, and airport taxes already included in standard airfare prices.
As discussed above, there are a great deal of advantages to flying private, but every party must make their own assessment and decide if it works for them.