Booking a Private Jet: Making Luxury Travel Accessible
If you’ve ever glanced upwards, catching sight of what might be a private jet lining the sunset and wondered what it would be like to trade your economy class ticket for an indulgence of luxury, you’re not alone.
In actuality, flying private may not be as inaccessible as you think. Let’s dive right in.
The Process Unveiled
How do you go about booking a private jet? In essence, the process is comparable to booking a standard commercial flight, with added options for customization. The prerequisites include details about your departure location, chosen destination, and preferred flight dates.
Brokerages Vs. Operators
There are two main avenues when looking to book: jet brokerages and jet operators. Brokers liaise with numerous operators to provide you with an extensive pool of aircraft to select from. Meanwhile, operators have direct control over a certain fleet of jets.
Book Through An App
With advancements in mobile technology, booking a private jet can now be as convenient as a few thumb taps. Applications like PrivateFly, JetSmarter, and VistaJet bring the luxury of private aviation to your fingers, enabling real-time booking on-demand. Plus, these apps often handpick the best operators for an optimal in-flight experience.
The Cost Explained
The cost of hiring a private jet varies, influenced by factors such as the type of aircraft chosen, the number of passengers, distance, and the duration of the trip. However, the average hourly rental rate for a light jet can range from $4,000 to $8,000.
Beyond The Ticket Price
Taking a private jet offers unparalleled benefits that go beyond the ticket price, including time efficiency, privacy, and increased flexibility. You’ll bypass the hands of time spent lingering in long airport lines, not to mention the fatigue from noisy passengers or interruptions.
Go the Fractional Ownership Route
If frequent private air travel is your preference, consider becoming a fractional shareholder in a jet. Companies such as NetJets are leading the frontier in fractional ownership, allowing you to buy a portion of a specific aircraft model, guaranteeing a certain amount of flight hours per year.
Charter Cards for Frequent Fliers
Jet Membership Programs or ‘Charter Cards’ are another viable option if traveling privately forms a major part of your lifestyle. Through this upfront payment model, users have instantaneous access to a diverse fleet, with guaranteed aircraft availability depending on the program complexity.
Empty Leg Flights: A Cheaper Alternative
If spontaneity is a distinctive character trait of yours, consider an empty leg flight. These are flights planned to return an aircraft to its home base or bring it to another location to pick up passengers. The pricing of such flights could be a fraction of the original charter price.
The Future of Private Jetting
As the sector pulses with undeniable potential, captivating trends have begun circling the horizon of private aviation. The introduction of Blockchain is offering exciting prospects for digital bookings and smart contracts. Electrification, too, is making giant leaps conspicuously with innovation in private jet models like Eviation’s all-electric Alice.
Let’s Break the Stereotype
It’s high time we relinquished the persistent cliche that private jets are reserved for the elite. With an array of easy booking channels, innovation in cost-effective models, and rising demand for personalized travel experiences, the private jet industry is on the verge of mass accessibility.
