So, you want to charter a jet. You are a busy traveler, tired of the long lines and the invasive techniques of airport security. You’ve had one or two terrible experiences on board the commercial aircraft carriers and now you’re ready to charter your own private jet. How do you get started?
Getting started depends on a number of factors. The most important factor is the frequency of your flights. If you only fly a few times a year, using an on-demand service or booking an empty leg is the most economical and convenient way to fly.
The empty-leg option is the least expensive way to book private jet flights. It essentially works like this: when a one-way charter jet is booked, it often has to return to it’s home airport with no passengers. In other words, it flies empty. This is not cost effective for the jet owner, so they often sell these “empty legs” at a handsomely discounted price. If your travel dates are flexible, this is the best way to book jet flights.
On the other hand, if you travel extensively (once per week or more), you may want to consider investing in what is referred to as fractional ownership. Fractional ownership is very similar to the concept of a time-share in the real estate industry. You invest in a minimum of 1/16th of the aircraft’s operational costs (called the acquisition fee), which include everything from maintenance to the luxurious amenities that you typically find on board a private jet. Above and beyond these fees, you also pay a monthly maintenance fee, a flight-time fee, taxes and surcharges.
Acquisition fees generally start at around $400,000.
Another option for frequent fliers is the JetCard. The JetCard is a prepaid flight card that stores a specific number of flight hours. It allows you to board your private jet with as little as ten hours’ notice. A good perk of this method of air charter is that you are only charged for the time you actually spend in the air–there are no monthly maintenance fees, and you don’t pay for empty legs or fuel surcharges. But this pay-for-what-you-use bonus is compensated for by the cost of the flight hours–in some cases, you are paying double the price of a traditional on-demand charter service.
It is possible to escape the burdens of traditional air travel and begin to fly in comfort and style. You do not need to make millions of dollars a year to use charter aircraft. You simply need to understand the options available to you, know your own travel habits and be ready to take wing on a luxurious private jet.
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