Charter flights offer an alternative to flying commercially. Rather than booking a flight with a pre-set departure time and destinations, when you charter a flight, you are in total control. Private jet charter such as these are still regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and meet all the safety standards required of a commercial flight but can offer a whole host of benefits compared to flying commercially.
How Private Jet Charter Works
If you’re thinking about chartering a private jet, there are two ways to do this. You can charter a plane for a single trip or, if it’s a service you will use regularly, you can take out private jet membership.
Before you rent a private jet, you should decide how many passengers you need to accommodate and how much space you’ll require for their luggage. You’ll also need to know where you wish to fly from, your destination and whether you want a direct flight or need to make a stop along the way.
Once you have all the details, you then schedule your flight with the private charter company. This is relatively straightforward and the process of booking, checking in for your flight and security checks are all streamlined for convenience.
What Are the Benefits?
The main benefits of private jet charter are the convenience and flexibility it offers. Unlike commercial airlines, with charter flights, you get to decide when your plane will depart and where you’ll fly to. You don’t have to worry about not being able to get a seat if you need to fly at the last minute, whether it’s for a crucial business meeting, family emergency or a spontaneous getaway.
Renting a private jet also allows you to control who boards the flight, whether it’s just you or you’re travelling with family, friends or colleagues. Chartered flights typically offer a luxury, personal experience to their passengers, for example, you may have the option of catered meals, high-spec in-flight entertainment and the freedom to move around when on board without disturbing other passengers or vice versa. You can also avoid the hassle of busy crowds, long security lines and luggage delays that can be common when using commercial airlines.
How Much Does It Cost?
Private jet rental prices start at around $1,300 per hour for smaller jet planes, however, if you need a larger aircraft to seat more people, you can expect to pay more and the cost of chartering a heavy jet can reach six figures.
Private jet membership programs can reduce the overall costs for frequent flyers and offer a more affordable alternative to private jet ownership but with all the convenience of having your own private plane on standby.
Who Is It For?
Chartering flights is fairly common in the corporate world, as the freedom and flexibility it offers are attractive to those with busy schedules who need to travel for work and want to be able to conduct business while in the air without being disturbed by other passengers.
Private jet chartership is also used by those wishing to travel alongside family and friends. For people travelling in a large group, chartering a flight can make more sense than booking individual tickets with a commercial airline for each person. It also guarantees you can all sit together and enjoy your flight and reduces the stress for families travelling with young children or even pets!
Other private jet passengers include celebrities and athletes who travel frequently for work or leisure and enjoy the privacy and comfort that private jet charter offers.