Flying private is cheaper than you think — here are 6 airlines to consider for your next flight

Even though I make my living as a travel writer, the job isn’t always as glamorous as it seems. When I need to get my family of four anywhere, I most commonly book a flight on a commercial airline in coach because it offers the best deal.

On the other hand, there are fancier solutions that are available at prices that are reasonable on a case-by-case and route-by-route basis, and no, I’m not talking about first class.

Rather, it is absolutely doable to book a flight on a private or semi-private jet. It may even be less expensive than flying economy, and it eliminates the need to wait in the lengthy lines and packed waiting areas that are typical of big airports. And because passenger’s board in private hangars, and the aircraft can accommodate a far smaller number of passengers, private jets lend themselves more readily to social separation.

I’ve compiled a list of some of the best carriers, from chartering your own flight to booking a publicly available seat on a semi-private jet flight, considering that June had more private flights in the United States than any other month since October 2007, and after having my own positive experiences flying semi-private. This is because June had the most private flights in the United States of any month since October 2007. The most exciting part? They provide costs that are within the means of the typical consumer.

The following is a list of the most reliable and cost-effective private jet companies:

Best overall

Make your reservation with JSX

The first purchase will cost $119. For instance, a recent search revealed that there are numerous options available for $119 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, or for $179 between Oakland and Orange County during off-peak hours. During high-demand times, the price of those same flights could reach into the hundreds of dollars.

Notable among these are: Baggage, animals, food and drink, including alcoholic beverages, that have been checked

Cities and towns served: Reno-Tahoe, Concordia-Napa, Oakland, Monterey, Burbank, LAX, Orange County, San Diego, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Destin, Miami, and New York Westchester County are among the year-round destinations. During certain times of the year, Lajitas/Big Bend, Horseshoe Bay, and

The airport is hassle-free (you just need to check in 20 minutes before your trip), crowd-free (there are no commercial airport terminals and the planes only have 30 seats maximum), and an amazing value (fares start at $119). When travelling on non-holidays or at off-peak times, the pricing is far cheaper than that of many low-cost airlines for specific legs, and the overall experience is significantly more satisfying.

Cons: For the time being, there are only a limited number of routes available, and there is no possibility of connecting to other locations. Additionally, costs for peak dates can reach extremely high levels.

JSX is a private regional airline that gives passengers the impression that they are flying in a luxurious private jet, yet passengers from the general public are able to purchase tickets. JSX flights are limited to a maximum capacity of just 30 passengers and depart from and arrive at privately owned terminals and hangars (officially referred to as “fixed-base operators,” or FBOs), which are located in close proximity to many major airports.

According to a data that was provided by the brand’s internal analytics team, the number of new consumers acquired by JSX from the leisure market increased by 55% between February 2020 and February 2021. I’ve used it a few times, and whenever the prices are competitive with or lower than those of flying commercial, as they frequently are, I go that route instead.

When you fly with JSX, you will not go through a conventional airport at all; rather, you will pass via a private jet terminal. Because JSX utilises TSA Secure Flight, the same TSA-provided background-check methods that are used by major airlines, you won’t have to deal with crowds or wait in line at the TSA checkpoint. However, you can still feel safe.

When travelling on non-holidays or during off-peak times, the price of the airfare is significantly lower than that of some low-cost carriers for certain legs, and the overall experience is significantly more satisfying. This applies to everything from snacks to drinks (both alcoholic and nonalcoholic), checked bags, and pet fees.

Best for design enthusiasts

Make your reservation with Aero.

The starting fee is $1,000 for each direction.

Notable among these are: Personalized concierge service, including assistance with travel before and after flights.

Cities and towns served: Flight service departing from a private airport lounge in Los Angeles to destinations like Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Los Cabos, San Francisco, Sun Valley, Idaho, and Aspen. Flight service to Geneva, Nice, and London inside Europe.

White-glove treatment is provided by Aero from the time of booking until far after the flight has landed, which is somewhat different from the standard experience on a commercial airline. Each and every passenger is provided with a devoted concierge, luggage assistance, curbside welcome, and the ability to schedule car service. In addition to the high-quality design, passengers are allowed to bring their animals with them.

Aero currently only provides service to a few number of locations in the United States and Europe. Additionally, it is a brand new service, which, although thrilling for some tourists, may cause others to experience anxiety.

Aero, which began operations in February 2021, is one of the newest airlines in the country. It provides first-class seating on direct flights between private terminals, utilising jets that have been specifically developed to accommodate 16 people; no trip will have more than 16 passengers.

This kind of shared charter offers the benefits of private flying at a fraction of the cost, including the ability to bypass commercial airport terminals and packed airliners. Additionally, this model provides access to a curated selection of desirable destinations.

Aero provides a seamless experience through its personalised concierge service, which is available to all guests. This service includes hosts giving personalised attention, which includes booking on-ground transportation and localised experiences, curating in-flight amenities, and sourcing special beverages and artisan snacks.

Aero’s very own in-house design team is responsible for the beautiful interiors (not common among startup airlines, where design is typically outsourced). The interior features hand-French-stitched Italian leather seat covers, custom suede sidewalls, and signature ultra-leather piping on the ceiling. It also has dynamic lighting, a custom Bongiovi Acoustic Lab sound system built into the panels of the walls for 360-degree sound, and signature ultra-leather piping on the ceiling.

Best value

Make your reservation with Set Jet.

The membership fee is $99.95 each month (month to month), and flights start at $560 each way as a starting price.

Notable among these are: Baggage that has been checked, food and drink purchases, and pets that have received prior written notice

Scottsdale, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco, and New York are among the cities that are supplied on a year-round basis. Cabo San Lucas and Aspen when the season is right.

Advantages: If you are the first person to book a flight on a route, you get to choose the departure time. And Set Jet is committed to flying even if only a single passenger books their seat. That is top-tier treatment for VIPs.

Cons: Set Jet requires its passengers to have a membership in order to fly, which is beneficial for frequent fliers but less so for those who travel less frequently. There is a monthly membership fee of $99.95, in addition to a one-time payment of $99.95 for a security screening. Members are liable to these fees.

Set Jet is a membership-based private jet charter service with its headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona. The service is only accessible to members who have undergone a security check and been approved in advance. Even while there is a membership fee to pay each month, the value can be fairly substantial for frequent fliers.

Only members are allowed to fly, and in order to join, you need to be a resident of the United States and hold a driver’s licence or passport that was issued within the country.

Set Jet is a private jet charter company that offers nonstop flights between Los Angeles and New York City, seasonal flights to Cabo San Lucas and Aspen, and private jet charters to six of the West Coast’s most popular leisure destinations. Set Jet also offers flights to Aspen and Cabo San Lucas. The service operates through private terminals, so passengers do not have to deal with the hassles that are typically associated with taking commercial flights.

Members fly on specially modified versions of the Bombardier Challenger 850/CRJ 200 and CRJ900 aircraft, which range from 15 to 19 seats depending on the design of the cabin. These planes, which have high-gloss wood, marble inlays, buttery leather, and soft carpeting, and other high-end amenities and finishes, are designed to seem like luxury hotel suites. Pilots are normally highly experienced and skilled jet fighter pilots that have been educated in the military and have spotless records.

Best for luxury

Make your travel arrangements with Wheels Up.

The initial cost of the Connect Membership is a one-time initiation fee of $2,995, with annual dues starting at $2,495 after the first year has passed. Non-members are now able to book on a per-leg basis in addition to the members, who receive discounted pricing and other perks. The cost of renting an entire plane to travel from Burbank to Las Vegas is approximately $7,000.

Notable among these are: Snacks, beverages, pets, checked bags, access to partnerships such as Wine Access services, and discounted rates at resorts are some of the perks that are offered.

Wheels Up is able to assist travellers on any point-to-point trip throughout North America and Europe, as well as anywhere in the world if the trip begins or ends in the United States. Cities served

The community messaging feature of Wheels Up enables passengers to coordinate the sharing of flight legs with other passengers who are travelling the same route, which can make it more feasible for you to take a private flight. There is no need to coordinate a Venmo payment because the airline will bill the other party. Members are also able to book seats on empty-leg trips, which occur when an aircraft is repositioned to a different location, beginning at just $320 per leg.

Negatives: Unlike JSX, for example, you won’t find fares for $119 here. Because the initiation price for the entry-level Core membership is close to $3,000, Wheels Up is best suited for someone who travels frequently and is prepared to make a long-term commitment.

Wheels Up gives travellers the opportunity to book private charter flights at an hourly fee that includes everything. Wheels Up is one of the most important participants in the private aviation industry. The firm was established in 2013, and it became a publicly traded corporation in July 2021. Along the way, Wheels Up has acquired several other companies.

The company’s business model used to be limited to members only, but now anybody can use the app to make on-demand reservations for available flights. There are 1,500 aircraft in the fleet, some of which are the King Air 350i, which is an eight-seater propeller jet; the Cessna Citation Excel/XLS, which falls into the middle category and has a range of four hours; and the ultra-fast and high-flying Cessna Citation X, which has a spacious and plush cabin. It has a nonstop flight time of over six hours.

During a trip that my employer financed between Los Angeles and Napa, I had the opportunity to sample two of these. Wheels Up provides an experience that is comparable to that of an elite private jet service while only having seven to ten passengers in each aircraft (as opposed to, for example, 30 for JSX or up to 19 on Set Jet). When I took a flight on the Citation X, the cabin was outfitted with eight opulent leather seats and even a beautiful toilet that was coated in leather. The ride was calm, serene, and smooth overall, and there was a small lounge area where passengers could get drinks and snacks on demand.

Wheels Up members are eligible for benefits at Wine Access and Waldorf Astoria hotels, as well as a pay-by-the-seat shuttle service between Westchester and Nantucket provided by Nantucket Shuttle Service, AmEx membership discount privileges, and a great number of additional privileges and advantages.

Best subscription service

Make your travel arrangements with SurfAir.

The membership fee begins at $199 per month as the starting point. You can also book by the seat for a starting price of $99. Memberships that allow for unlimited flying begin at $999 per month; flights are, in fact, included with this level of membership.

Notable inclusions: The monthly membership cost for some membership tiers includes an unrestricted number of flights.

Cities and towns served: Both on-demand flights (which passengers can book according to their specifications) and scheduled flights (according to an existing, non-customizable schedule) are available from Surf Air along the West Coast and in Texas. On-demand flights are available to more than 5,000 regional and international airports across the United States.

SurfAir tickets can be purchased for as little as $99 one way or for $199 every month. Because of this, it is far easier to obtain compared to many other subscription-based models.

There is a member initiation charge of $500, which is a drawback.

Members of Surf Air, which has its headquarters in Los Angeles, pay a flat charge each month to gain access to private charter flights.

The primary focus of the service is on regularly scheduled short-haul flights across the states of California and Texas. The service offers frequent flight options in a manner comparable to that of commercial airlines, but with the upscale atmosphere and additional benefits associated with private air travel. Members can plan excursions through an app on their mobile device that is simple to use, and they can then arrive at the airport just 15 minutes before their flight without having to deal with lines or crowds.

A membership can be purchased for an affordable starting price of $199 per month, and members are granted access to all flights on a per-seat basis. Travelers can take as many off-peak flights as they like and have access to purchase anything else for a monthly fee of $999. After then, the prices will increase; but, for $2,999 per month, you will have unlimited flying across the entire network.

The superior choice for a diverse array of aircraft

Make your reservation on Blade today.

The price will start at: Travelers in New York City can take advantage of Blade’s $195 round-trip fare to fly between Manhattan and JFK six days a week. From that point on, prices for charter flights and flights over larger distances go substantially. For instance, the cost to get from Manhattan to the Hamptons is approximately $795.

Notable among these are: Lounge access, complimentary food, and drink

Cities and towns served: Through Blade Anywhere, you may book a private flight to any destination in the world.

Pros: App-based booking makes it possible to book private flights, in addition to regularly scheduled flights and crowdsourced flights. Because they have helicopters, seaplanes, and jets in their inventory, Blade is able to provide passengers with a wide variety of travel options.

Cons: If you are unable to book a seat on a regularly scheduled aircraft, you will have to pay a very high price for a charter trip.

Travelers are able to book by the seat on regularly scheduled flights around the Northeast and West Coast, as well as charter or crowdsource a flight to any destination in the world. For maximum adaptability, the fleet not only consists of jet aircraft but also of helicopters, turboprops, and seaplanes. As a result of this, they are able to provide a wide variety of options for travellers at a variety of price ranges, and the diversity of the Blade fleet is unprecedented in the industry.

You do not need to be a member in order to fly Blade. Users need only download the app or make their reservations online in order to take scheduled flights. Additionally, passengers are able to utilise the application to reserve their very own private charter, a crowdsourced charter, or individual seats on a regularly scheduled aircraft.

As an alternative to braving the gridlocked streets of New York City to get to JFK Airport in order to connect to major airlines, this mode of transportation has becoming increasingly common.

FAQ: Cheap private jet flights

How much does it set you back to take a private jet?

It is dependent on the airline that you select to go with. The ones on this list that are simply semi-private start at $119 for a single flight, and there are no membership fees required.

However, if you want to take a completely private flight, you should be prepared to pay thousands of dollars for the privilege.

Which private jet charter business offers the best deals?

If you avoid booking your trip during the busiest times of the year, JSX can provide excellent value on a per-flight basis because their tickets are quite modest.

However, if you fly rather regularly, it may be more cost-effective for you to sign up for a membership with a private airline that operates on a subscription model, such as Set Jet or SurfAir.

Where can I obtain information on private flights?

Start with this list that we have available. On the websites of several of these firms, as well as through their mobile apps, it is possible to make reservations for reasonably priced private flights.