The Ultimate Guide to Flying Privately

In this article, we discuss our four preferred alternatives, which include jet cards, membership programs, fractional ownership programs, and charter flights.

There is no other mode of transport that comes close to matching the time savings, sense of privacy, and overall ease of flying in a private aircraft. Get to the airport as soon as possible. As the flight attendants carry your luggage, you should assist yourself in boarding the aircraft. Your shoes are to remain in place. Items belonging to the individual, including technological devices, are kept confidential. After that, you must board. Ready for departure, captain. However, what is the most effective approach to take advantage of that convenience?

The common perception is that in order for aircraft ownership to be financially beneficial, an annual flight time of at least 350 hours is required. Fortunately, the aviation industry has a multitude of additional possibilities for gaining access to private aircraft. Many of these choices have a lower threshold for admission and do not involve the majority of the difficulties that are associated with outright ownership.

In this article, we discuss our four preferred alternatives, which include jet cards, membership programs, fractional ownership programs, and chartering flights.

Charters

No other mode of transportation gives the same degree of flexibility as chartering a plane, which requires a commitment that lasts only as long as the journey itself. This makes it the best choice for passengers who only occasionally or infrequently require private air travel. And the customer has access to a vast selection of options, ranging from single-engine piston aircraft all the way up to “bizliners,” which is industry lingo for commercial airliners that have been converted into private aircraft, such as Airbus Corporate Jets and Boeing Business Jets. The charter operator is responsible for providing the airplane, the flight attendants, and all of the other flying services that are outlined in the agreement. There is neither an initial commitment charge nor a membership fee, nor are there any monthly dues. You book each task individually and pay based on the flight hour as well as the wait time between the outgoing and incoming legs of the journey.

JetSuite

The commitment-free charter business is at the heart of JetSuite’s operations, and the company provides charter services to locations both in the United States and around the world. The all-Embraer fleet of JetSuite includes the manufacturer’s two light jets, the Phenom 100 and Phenom 300, as well as the large-cabin Legacy 650, which has a 13-passenger cabin and the largest galley, lavatory, and baggage-storage space in its class. The company plans to increase the size of its fleet in the year 2020.

No matter which aircraft you select, every flight comes with a generous selection of amenities, such as a signature scent from the Parisian fragrance brand Diptyque, Eternity Roses from Venus et Fleur, aromatherapy kits, and special amenities for your pets. These amenities are standard regardless of which aircraft you select. In response to customer demand for additional one-of-a-kind experiences, the firm recently launched JetSuite Experiences in collaboration with the Virtuoso travel agency Embark. Guests can participate in activities such as learning to cook at Thomas Keller’s renowned restaurant, The French Laundry, in Napa Valley, California, or going on outdoor excursions in Aspen, Colorado. jetsuite.com

Victor

Since its inception in 2011, Victor has grown into a renowned fixture in the world of private aircraft charter, and it now conducts business all over the world from its bases in London, New York, and Santa Barbara, California. There are no membership fees, hidden fees, or initial payments required to play on Victor. Because it connects its customers directly to aircraft operators, it is able to offer a level of openness that has never before been seen in the industry.

Before finalizing a reservation, members of Victor’s community can compare several aircraft possibilities based on identified operators, actual floor plans, and photographs of the actual aircraft, complete with a precise tail number, thanks to the fact that Victor’s quotes are completely transparent. Victor collaborates with a network of more than 200 dependable partner operators located all over the world. These partners provide him access to thousands of planes and locations. In addition, Victor offers customers support for their end-to-end travel requirements with a flight management staff that is the industry leader. flyvictor.com

Memberships on Private Aircraft

The relatively recent option of charter memberships emerged as a result of efforts to ease and reduce the cost of entrance into the world of private aviation in order to entice a greater number of customers. Enrolling in a charter membership program does not demand a significant upfront expenditure or a continuous, long-term financial commitment like fractional share or aircraft leasing programs do. This makes it perhaps the best value for admission for less regular flyers. Users purchase a membership and agree to pay annual dues under the terms of a charter membership, which is typically for a period of at least one year. Members have the ability to buy fly time on the company’s fleet whenever it is needed, but they only have to pay for the hours that they actually use—and at a very reasonable price.

Wheels up

You are in need of an airplane, but you would also like some options in terms of the types of aircraft available. Sometimes you need to be quick, and other times you need to be flexible on the runway. You also don’t want to deal with the inconvenience of arranging individual charter appointments, do you? When businessmen Kenny Dichter and Bill Allard established Wheels Up in 2013 as a membership company, they did so with the intention of serving people like you. The Beechcraft King Air 350i twin turboprop and the Cessna Citation Excel/XLS were the first aircraft models that Wheels Up purchased. Both of these aircraft had seating for eight passengers.

Wheels Up currently provides its members with access to more than 115 different planes. Wheels Up assures availability with as little as 24 hours’ notice, which may be provided over the phone or using the app that is exclusive to subscribers. Additionally, it provides ground-side services that are on par with those offered by pure charter companies. These services include catering, private vehicle service, and entrance to sporting events and concerts via its Wheels Down program. Connect, Core, and Business are the three different tiers of membership available. Both the Core and Business memberships are geared toward meeting the requirements of regular fliers, and the company grounds its aircraft in a number of different locations across the country to provide convenient access. wheelsup.com

Magellan Jets

Do you need something that is reliable and dependable, while still being friendly and comfortable? There are multiple entry points available for membership with Magellan Jets. Its Elevate membership begins with a risk-free, 30-day satisfaction guarantee, which is supported by clear and transparent pricing: There are no surcharges for fuel or peak days, and there are no expenses associated with switching planes. The end result is pricing that is constant and aircraft-specific throughout the entire year.

The bewildering selection of aircraft that may be chartered by Magellan Jets includes everything from a very light jet with a range of more than 500 miles called the Eclipse to a long-range Gulfstream G650 large-cabin jet and Dassault Falcons. Both of these jets have huge cabins. There is also a Sikorsky S-76 executive helicopter available through the company. Magellan takes great pride in its personalized service, which shines through on board with gourmet catering and a jet pre-stocked with your preferred beverage brands, such as champagne or your favorite Scotch whisky. Magellan also takes great care to ensure that your jet is spotlessly clean at all times. magellanjets.com

Shared or divided ownership

The tax benefits associated with fractional ownership are essentially identical to those associated with full aircraft ownership; however, the difficulties associated with full ownership, such as hiring a crew and arranging for maintenance and storage, are eliminated. After handling the challenges of daily operations and routine maintenance, the companies that own the aircraft sell shares in them. Shares can be as tiny as 1/16th of a jet, which provides a total of 50 hours of flight time, or as large as a whole plane, which provides an annual total of 800 hours of flight time. Adding to the versatility and desirability of fractional ownership is the fact that many fractionals allow owners to enjoy the use of aircraft that are either larger or smaller than the aircraft in which they hold a share.

Although fractional ownership affords the greatest tax benefits due to the fact that ownership is split among multiple people, flying privately in any capacity results in significant tax advantages when flown for business purposes. When an aircraft is used solely for personal reasons, the tax benefits associated with it can be confined to the depreciation of the aircraft as a personal asset.

NetJets

You need adaptability in order to do personal travels with your family, but you also need a jet that is more business-oriented in order to accommodate any work excursions that may arise. If years of service and a wide range of options are factors that are important to you when selecting an aircraft, you should keep NetJets in mind as the industry leader among fractional programs. The world’s largest operator of private jets is none other than NetJets. The firm flies a broad global fleet in practically every size, from light aircraft like the Cessna Citation XLS to heavy jets like the Gulfstream G450s, and it continues to invest in a wide variety of planes for every task.

In the thirty-two years since it first introduced its shared-ownership program, NetJets has grown to the point where it now provides services to more than 7,000 owners on an annual basis. The company operates more than 750 aircraft that make 300,000 flights between 3,200 airports located in 150 different countries. In addition, owners enjoy access to private NetJets parties at some of the top events in the world, such as the PGA Tour, The Masters, Snow Polo World Cup, Auction Napa Valley, Cayman Cookout, Art Basel, and the Super Bowl. netjets.com

Flexjet

As a branch of Bombardier Aerospace, Flexjet joined the market for fractional jet ownership in 1995. The company was able to survive the Great Recession that began in 2008. Flexjet, which is now a subsidiary of Directional Aviation and provides services to more than 2,200 owners all over the world. There are currently three plans that Flexjet advertises, but the fractional ownership scheme is the company’s flagship offering.

In addition to offering ordinary shares, it initiated the Red Label program in 2015. This program began assigning a specific flight crew to each aircraft that enrolled in the program, which gave the impression that the participants owned the aircraft altogether. In addition, Flexjet’s expansion continues. Since 2015, it has taken delivery of 95 jets, ranging from light Embraer aircraft to super-midsize Bombardier aircraft. These jets come in a variety of configurations. Flexjet has placed orders for twenty brand new Aerion AS2 supersonic business jets. This aircraft will have a top speed of Mach 1.4, which is equivalent to 1,000 miles per hour. The first flight of this aircraft is anticipated to take place in 2023. flexjet.com

PlaneSense

PlaneSense’s aircrafts transport you as close as possible to your destination at a sharing cost that is among the lowest in its field, regardless of where you’re going, whether it’s a dude ranch or a country-club airfield in the middle of a city. In addition to this, it operates one of the youngest fleets in the industry, which is comprised of two different generations of Pilatus aircraft: 36 PC-12 propjet singles and five PC-24 jet twins (more to be delivered in 2020). These two different variants of the Pilatus aircraft provide PlaneSense with an operational advantage in the form of greater runway performance. Both versions perform exceptionally well on runways that are both short and unimproved, which enables access to thousands of airfields that are inaccessible to larger aircraft. Jet speed is something the PC-24 can give, but the PC-12 is the champion of landing on a short runway.

You can bet on having a comfortable ride and having your privacy respected no matter the aircraft: Despite the smaller aircraft sizes, this fleet still provides all of the contemporary amenities that one would anticipate from a private aircraft. These amenities include refreshment centers, a private lavatory, generous legroom and headroom, and flat floors for passengers as well as their four-legged traveling companions. planesense.com

A jet card

It’s been said that having a few different things to do keeps life interesting. There are times when you need an airplane that can fly across the continent, other times when you need something for a short journey, and still other times when you need an airplane that can operate well on a short runway that has not been modified. How best to fulfill such various needs? A jet card is an access tool that is pre-paid and designed to provide its holders with flexibility in aircraft, guaranteed aircraft availability, and financial stability with known expenses. Many people believe that jet cards are the answer to their problem.

Those who travel between 25 and 50 hours per year should consider the economical benefits of purchasing a jet card. The majority of jet card programs offer set costs, which is one of the primary selling points of these cards along with their ease, the wide range of aircraft options available, and the accompanying operational flexibility. There are some companies that offer jet cards that use dynamic pricing, which necessitates getting a price for each each flight. As a result of the fluctuations in the market, dynamic pricing may provide a price that is lower than the average. However, if you want the most control over your spending, your best strategy is to buy a jet card that offers both guaranteed availability and fixed hourly prices. Take a look at these well-known competitors.

Delta Private Jets

The services provided by Delta Private Jets are based on the reliability and route network provided by Delta Airlines’ 5,000 airports; however, they also include the adaptability and wider airport access provided by a private aviation operation. This is all organized in a manner that is simple and flexible, like a jet card. Customers can choose their preferred aircraft category for each and every flight, and can even combine their private flight with a Delta commercial segment if this better matches their requirements.

In addition to its commercial fleet, Delta Private Jets operates more than 70 different types of aircraft, including many light jets (mostly Cessna Citations), a mixed collection of midrange jets, super-midsize jets, large-cabin jets, and long-range jets, and its commercial fleet. Deposits for private jet membership start at $150,000, and Delta Private Jets allows cardholders to lock in fees for up to two years at rates that include the cost of fuel and any applicable federal excise taxes. In addition to that, it gives you the choice of rolling over any remaining amount onto the subsequent card you buy or getting your money back. deltaprivatejets.com

Theodore Nicholas Air

Nicholas Air provides three distinct jet card solutions for customers who are interested in making only a modest initial financial commitment. There is a membership called the Blue Card, in which members can pre-purchase their hours in increments of 15, 30, 60, and 100 hours at any time, and there are no applicable initiation or membership costs associated with this membership. The Blue Card is designed for pilots who anticipate mostly using a single aircraft model but who wish to maintain the flexibility to switch between models as circumstances dictate.

The Rise Card membership is a program that requires members to make a deposit in order to participate. This program is designed for members who desire the option to choose any aircraft in the company’s fleet. Initial deposits required of new members might range anywhere from $200,000 to $1 million when they sign up. The Smart Card membership, on the other hand, is tailored to the needs of members who would rather pay for their services on an as-needed basis. The first cost is a non-refundable fee of $10,000, which grants them access to Nicholas Air’s complete fleet. This allows Smart Card users incredible flexibility. nicholasair.com

VistaJet

You may require something regional one day, something worldwide the next, and on occasion, you may require something that spans oceans and continents. This sounds like a job for VistaJet, which boasts that it is the “first and only global private aviation firm.” VistaJet might be interested in this opportunity. This assertion is supported by a review of the company’s scope, which is as follows: VistaJet services 96 percent of the world, has visited 187 countries and over 1,900 airports, and operates over 70 jets with custom branding, which include Bombardier Global 6000s and 5000s, in addition to Challenger 850s, 605s, and 350s.

The organization takes care of the specific flight arrangements necessary for each trip, irrespective of where the journey begins or finishes, and guarantees that passengers have a smooth experience while traveling in luxurious surroundings that have the feel of a home away from home. The Program option from VistaJet is a personalized flight-hour subscription plan, and the firm markets it as the most effective means of accessing the company’s full fleet. Customers that use the Program will never have to worry about making a capital investment or accounting for depreciation, and the hourly rate will be predetermined right from the beginning. VistaJet has in its roster of client services programs that are catered specifically to the needs of business travelers, as well as programs that are catered especially to the needs of children and pets. There is even a comprehensive global wine program that was developed especially for travelers on VistaJet that can be found at vistajet.com.