Private jet travel is the ultimate experience in terms of convenience, safety, and of course, luxury. Recent times have seen a surge in people switching from chaotic and unpredictable commercial services to private jet services that specially cater to your needs. So, if you are thinking of switching to chartered flights, renting a private jet can be more economical than buying one. Here are some factors you need to know before renting one.
Here is how private jets are better than commercial flights:
Comfort
This may not be on the top of the list for reasons to charter a private jet, but one cannot ignore it either. Although commercial flights have first-class, it still gives only gives you more legroom, larger seats, and some extra services. However, renting a private jet means you have the aircraft to yourself. Moreover, it has bedrooms and WiFi for onboard entertainment. It also has lower cabin altitudes and quieter cabins.
Safety
This is one of the most important factors that may convince one to rent private jets. Private jet terminals see lesser footfall than commercial airports. Even when onboard, a private jet has only the pilots and cabin crew, and the aircraft is wiped and cleaned more often when compared with commercial planes.
Time-saving and scheduling
This is the primary reason why people are considering switching to private jets. Flying in a private jet saves time and lets you schedule air travel at your convenience. You are no longer restricted to the times decided by the airlines. Moreover, private jets have access to smaller airports that commercial planes may not have. This allows passengers to fly to the nearest airports to their destination.
Estimate your flying hours
This is an important factor to consider when thinking of renting private jets for your air travel. Figure out the approximate cumulative hours you will be flying in the next 12 to 18 months. There are numerous private jet flight time calculators available online for the same. The rule of thumb suggests going for on-demand charters if you are flying under 10 hours. For flight times of more than 10 hours, there are numerous providers offering jet cards and membership programs.
Flying costs
Flying costs completely depend on the nature of renting a private jet. There are usually three ways to rent a private jet:
- On-demand charter
This is the most common means of renting a private jet. The on-demand charter allows you to book a flight individually. Each trip is priced dynamically. The estimated price is per hour depending on maximum range and speed (knots). Typically, an on-demand charter can charge anywhere between $2,000 to $18,000 per hour. - Jet cards and memberships
These enable you to join various programs for as little as $25,000 and choose a specific aircraft for a limited flying time. These work best for people who fly more than 10 hours a year. Many card programs offer fixed one-way hourly rates. The prices can be the same as on-demand charter. However, the difference is you get guaranteed delivery even if you reserve a flight outside the booking deadline. - Fractional ownership and leases
This generally requires purchasing 50 hours of annual flight time for at least three years. Hence, these work best if your flight patterns remain consistent over the duration of the contract. Fractional ownership allows you to buy a share of the aircraft, which is costlier compared to renting an aircraft. For instance, if a full share is pegged at 800 hours and you are buying 25% of the share (200 hours), you would be required to pay 25% or $5 million for a $20 million private jet. Although you get a residual value back after the contract ends, you also pay a monthly management fee, fuel surcharge, and other costs.
Assigned management team
Once you have decided on the factors mentioned above, it is important to know more about the assigned management team. Before finalizing or shortlisting a private jet service, ask them about companies in charge of aircraft maintenance and its staffing. Make sure the team is federal compliant, and they prioritize passengers’ safety, convenience, and comfort, as these are the factors you have chosen.
Parking protocols
As discussed above, private jets allow you to land at the smaller airports nearest to your destination. However, make sure they are aware of parking protocols for hassle-free boarding and deboarding.
Safety ratings
This is yet another important factor to consider when renting a private jet. Most private jets’ safety is audited by independent bodies like Argus and WYVERN. So make sure the private jet operator you are choosing is present in the database of either one of these safety auditing bodies.
Fly with the best
Based on all the factors mentioned above and customers’ reviews, some of the best private jet providers include NetJets Inc., Flexjet, Wheels Up, XO, Sentient Jet, and VistaJet.
