New private jet flyer research reveals jet card, fractional trends

The annual research from Private Jet Comparisons surveys consumers who are current private jet flyers and those considering private flying.

By Doug Gollan, October 30, 2024

The most comprehensive research on private aviation consumers contains more trend data and insights into key jet card and fractional providers than ever before.

Over 1,000 private users and consumers considering private aviation provide the basis for the findings outlined in The Jet Card Report by Private Jet Card Comparisons 2024/25.

The fourth annual edition provides a road map for companies that sell fractional ownership, jet cards, memberships, on-demand charter, and jet-sharing programs.

The research is also critical for companies that sell services to jet card, memberships, and fractional providers.

Brokers and operators contemplating programmatic offerings also benefit.

Investors and analysts in business aviation will find the research helpful in assessing the market and understanding how consumers view the products and providers.

Over 800 Decider Custom Analysis requests and survey responses from 594 of the buyer’s guide paid subscribers to provide the data.

Decider Custom Analysis requests are what subscribers want when they are in the buying process.

The requests are from September 2023 through August 2024.

The annual survey was conducted in the field from mid-July through mid-September to ensure that singular news events did not impact the results.

Results are projectable within a +/- margin of error.

Table of Contents

Part 1 – What Private Aviation Buyers Want 

Methodology

Section 1 – What they want – Overview

1.0 Overview 17
1.1 How many hours do you expect to fly in the next 12 months? 18
1.1 a Do you expect to fly privately 50+ hours per year for the next 3 years? 19
1.2 What type of aircraft do you want? 19
1.2.a Open to Turboprop Flyers – Also Use 21
1.2.b Very Light Jet Flyers – Also Use 22
1.2.c Light Jet Flyers – Also Use 23
1.2.d Midsize Jet Flyers – Also Use 24
1.2.e Super Midsize Jet Flyers – Also Use 25
1.2.f Large Cabin Flyers – Also Use 26
1.3 What’s the minimum lead-time before departure you want for booking flights? 27
1.4 Are your plans likely to change in the last 72 hours? 28
1.5 Are you flexible to avoid peak days by moving your trip a day or two? 29
1.5.a How many days are you willing to move your trip to avoid peak days/blackout dates? 30
1.5.b What are the reasons you avoid peak days? 31
1.6 Do you want to upgrade or downgrade the size of aircraft based on need? 32
1.7 What type of pricing do you want? 33
1.8 Do you ever need more than one airplane at the same time? 34
1.9 Are you open to flying turboprops to save money? 35
1.10 Do you require a fully enclosed toilet? 36
1.11 Are you open to working with boutique/smaller providers? 37
1.12 Will you be flying unaccompanied minors? 38
1.13 Do you need guaranteed WiFi? 39
1.14 Are you interested in shared private flights/buying individual seats on private jet flights?
1.15 Are you bringing pets? 41

Section 2 – Focus on the Very Light Jet Flyer 

2.1 How many hours do you expect to fly in the next 12 months? 43
2.2 What aircraft types – additional to very light jets? 44
2.3 What’s the minimum lead-time before departure you want for booking flights? 45
2.4 Are your plans likely to change in the last 48 hours? 46
2.5 Are you flexible to avoid peak days by moving your trip a day or two? 47
2.5.a How many days are you willing to move your trip to avoid peak days/blackout dates?
2.5.b Reasons for avoiding peak days 49
2.6 Do you want to upgrade or downgrade the size of aircraft based on need? 50
2.7 What type of pricing do you want? 51
2.8 Do you ever need more than one airplane at the same time? 52
2.9 Are you open to flying turboprops to save money? 53
2.10 Do you require a fully enclosed toilet? 54
2.11 Are you open to working with boutique/smaller providers? 55
2.12 Will you be flying unaccompanied minors? 56
2.13 Do you need guaranteed WiFi? 57
2.14 Are you interested in shared private flights/buying individual seats on private jet flights?
2.15 Are you bringing pets? 59

Section 3 – Focus on the Light Jet Flyer 

3.0 Focus on the Light Jet Flyer 61
3.1 How many hours do you expect to fly in the next 12 months? 62
3.2 What aircraft types – additional to light jets? 63
3.3 What’s the minimum lead-time before departure you want for booking flights? 64
3.4 Are your plans likely to change in the last 48 hours? 65
3.5 Are you flexible to avoid peak days by moving your trip a day or two? 66
3.5.a How many days are you willing to move your trip to avoid peak days/blackout dates? 6
3.5.b Reasons for avoiding peak days 67
3.6 Do you want to upgrade or downgrade the size of aircraft based on need? 68
3.7 What type of pricing do you want? 69
3.8 Do you ever need more than one airplane at the same time? 70
3.9 Are you open to flying turboprops to save money? 71
3.10 Do you require a fully enclosed toilet? 72
3.11 Are you open to working with boutique/smaller providers? 73
3.12 Will you be flying unaccompanied minors? 74
3.13 Do you need guaranteed WiFi? 75
3.14 Are you interested in shared private flights/buying individual seats on private jet flights?
3.15 Are you bringing pets? 77

Section 4 – Focus on the Midsize Jet Flyer 

4.1 How many hours do you expect to fly in the next 12 months? 79
4.2 What aircraft types – additional to midsize jets? 80
4.3 What’s the minimum lead-time before departure you want for booking flights? 81
4.4 Are your plans likely to change in the last 48 hours? 82
4.5 Are you flexible to avoid peak days by moving your trip a day or two? 83
4.5.a How many days are you willing to move your trip to avoid peak days/blackout dates?
4.5.b Reasons for avoiding peak days 85
4.6 Do you want to upgrade or downgrade the size of aircraft based on need? 86
4.7 What type of pricing do you want? 87
4.8 Do you ever need more than one airplane at the same time? 88
4.9 Are you open to flying turboprops to save money? 89
4.10 Do you require a fully enclosed toilet? 90
4.11 Are you open to working with boutique/smaller providers? 91
4.12 Will you be flying unaccompanied minors? 92
4.13 Do you need guaranteed WiFi? 93
4.14 Are you interested in shared private flights/buying individual seats on private jet flights?
4.15 Are you bringing pets? 95

Section 5 – Focus on the Super Midsize Jet Flyer 

5.1 How many hours do you expect to fly in the next 12 months? 97
5.2 What aircraft types – additional to midsize jets? 98
5.3 What’s the minimum lead-time before departure you want for booking flights? 99
5.4 Are your plans likely to change in the last 48 hours? 100
5.5 Are you flexible to avoid peak days by moving your trip a day or two? 101
5.5.a How many days are you willing to move your trip to avoid peak days/blackout dates?
5.5.b Reasons for avoiding peak days 103
5.6 Do you want to upgrade or downgrade the size of aircraft based on need? 104
5.7 What type of pricing do you want? 105
5.8 Do you ever need more than one airplane at the same time? 106
5.9 Are you open to flying turboprops to save money? 107
5.10 Do you require a fully enclosed toilet when flying on light jets, VLJs and turboprops?
5.11 Are you open to working with boutique/smaller providers? 109
5.12 Will you be flying unaccompanied minors? 110
5.13 Do you need guaranteed WiFi? 111
5.14 Are you interested in shared private flights/buying individual seats on private jet flights?
5.15 Are you bringing pets? 113

Section 6 – Focus on the Large Cabin Jet Flyer

6.1 How many hours do you expect to fly in the next 12 months? 115
6.2 What aircraft types – additional to midsize jets? 116
6.3 What’s the minimum lead-time before departure you want for booking flights? 117
6.4 Are your plans likely to change in the last 48 hours? 118
6.5 Are you flexible to avoid peak days by moving your trip a day or two? 119
6.5.a How many days are you willing to move your trip to avoid peak days/blackout dates?
6.5.b Reasons for avoiding peak days 121
6.6 Do you want to upgrade or downgrade the size of aircraft based on need? 122
6.7 What type of pricing do you want? 123
6.8 Do you ever need more than one airplane at the same time? 124
6.9 Are you open to flying turboprops to save money? 125
6.10 Do you require a fully enclosed toilet when flying on light jets, VLJs and turboprops?
6.11 Are you open to working with boutique/smaller providers? 127
6.12 Will you be flying unaccompanied minors? 128
6.13 Do you need guaranteed WiFi? 129
6.14 Are you interested in shared private flights/buying individual seats on private jet flights?
6.15 Are you bringing pets? 131

Section 7 – Opportunities for the Turboprop market 

7.1 How many hours do you expect to fly in the next 12 months? 133
7.2 What aircraft types? 134
7.3 What’s the minimum lead-time before departure you want for booking flights? 135
7.4 Are your plans likely to change in the last 48 hours? 136
7.5 Are you flexible to avoid peak days by moving your trip a day or two? 137
7.5.a How many days are you willing to move your trip to avoid peak days/blackout dates?
7.5.b Reasons for avoiding peak days 139
7.6 Do you want to upgrade or downgrade the size of aircraft based on need? 140
7.7 What type of pricing do you want? 141
7.8 Do you ever need more than one airplane at the same time? 142
7.9 Are you open to flying turboprops to save money? 143
7.10 Do you require a fully enclosed toilet when flying on light jets, VLJs and turboprops? 144
7.11 Are you open to working with boutique/smaller providers? 145
7.12 Will you be flying unaccompanied minors? 146
7.13 Do you need guaranteed WiFi? 147
7.14 Are you interested in shared private flights/buying individual seats on private jet flights?
7.15 Are you bringing pets? 149

Section 8 – Opportunities for Boutique/Small Providers

8.1 How many hours do you expect to fly in the next 12 months? 151
8.2 What aircraft types? 152
8.3 What’s the minimum lead-time before departure you want for booking flights? 153
8.4 Are your plans likely to change in the last 48 hours? 154
8.5 Are you flexible to avoid peak days by moving your trip a day or two? 155
8.5.a How many days are you willing to move your trip to avoid peak days/blackout dates?
8.5.b Reasons for avoiding peak days 157
8.6 Do you want to upgrade or downgrade the size of aircraft based on need? 158
8.7 What type of pricing do you want? 159
8.8 Do you ever need more than one airplane at the same time? 160
8.9 Are you open to flying turboprops to save money? 161
8.10 Do you require a fully enclosed toilet when flying on light jets, VLJs and turboprops?
8.11 Are you open to working with boutique/smaller providers? 163
8.12 Will you be flying unaccompanied minors? 164
8.13 Do you need guaranteed WiFi? 165
8.14 Are you interested in shared private flights/buying individual seats on private jet flights?
8.15 Are you bringing pets? 167

Section 9 – The Last Minute Flyer – 24 hour call-out less

9.1 How many hours do you expect to fly in the next 12 months? 169
9.2 What aircraft types? 170
9.3 What’s the minimum lead-time before departure you want for booking flights? 171
9.4 Are your plans likely to change in the last 48 hours? 172
9.5 Are you flexible to avoid peak days by moving your trip a day or two? 173
9.5.a How many days are you willing to move your trip to avoid peak days/blackout dates?
9.5.b Reasons for avoiding peak days 175
9.6 Do you want to upgrade or downgrade the size of aircraft based on need? 176
9.7 What type of pricing do you want? 177
9.8 Do you ever need more than one airplane at the same time? 178
9.9 Are you open to flying turboprops to save money? 179
9.10 Do you require a fully enclosed toilet when flying on light jets, VLJs and turboprops?
9.11 Are you open to working with boutique/smaller providers? 181
9.12 Will you be flying unaccompanied minors? 182
9.13 Do you need guaranteed WiFi? 183
9.14 Are you interested in shared private flights/buying individual seats on private jet flights?
9.15 Are you bringing pets? 185

Section 10 – The Planners -Book at least 7 days in advance 

10.1 How many hours do you expect to fly in the next 12 months? 187
10.2 What aircraft types? 188
10.3 What’s the minimum lead-time before departure you want for booking flights? 189
10.4 Are your plans likely to change in the last 48 hours? 190
10.5 Are you flexible to avoid peak days by moving your trip a day or two? 191
10.5.a How many days are you willing to move your trip to avoid peak days/blackout dates?
10.5b Reasons for avoiding peak days 193
10.6 Do you want to upgrade or downgrade the size of aircraft based on need? 194
10.7 What type of pricing do you want? 195
10.8 Do you ever need more than one airplane at the same time? 196
10.9 Are you open to flying turboprops to save money? 197
10.10 Do you require a fully enclosed toilet when flying on light jets, VLJs and turboprops?
10.11 Are you open to working with boutique/smaller providers? 199
10.12 Will you be flying unaccompanied minors? 200
10.13 Do you need guaranteed WiFi? 201
10.14 Are you interested in shared private flights/buying individual seats on private jet flights? 202
10.15 Are you bringing pets? 203

Section 11 – The Connected Flyer – Must Have WiFi 

11.1 How many hours do you expect to fly in the next 12 months? 205
11.2 What aircraft types? 206
11.3 What’s the minimum lead-time before departure you want for booking flights? 207
11.4 Are your plans likely to change in the last 48 hours? 208
11.5 Are you flexible to avoid peak days by moving your trip a day or two? 209
11.5.a How many days are you willing to move your trip to avoid peak days/blackout dates?
11.5b Reasons for avoiding peak days 211
11.6 Do you want to upgrade or downgrade the size of aircraft based on need? 212
11.7 What type of pricing do you want? 213
11.8 Do you ever need more than one airplane at the same time? 214
11.9 Are you open to flying turboprops to save money? 215
11.10 Do you require a fully enclosed toilet when flying on light jets, VLJs and turboprops?
11.11 Are you open to working with boutique/smaller providers? 217
11.12 Will you be flying unaccompanied minors? 218
11.13 Do you need guaranteed WiFi? 219
11.14 Are you interested in shared private flights/buying individual seats on private jet flights? 220
11.15 Are you bringing pets? 221

Section 12 – Flight Sharing

12.1 How many hours do you expect to fly in the next 12 months? 223
12.2 What aircraft types? 224
12.3 What’s the minimum lead time before departure you want to book flights? 225
12.4 Are your plans likely to change in the last 48 hours? 226
12.5 Are you flexible to avoid peak days by moving your trip a day or two? 227
12.5.a How many days will you move your trip to avoid peak days/blackout dates? 228
12.5b Reasons for avoiding peak days 229
12.6 Do you want to upgrade or downgrade the size of aircraft based on need? 230
12.7 What type of pricing do you want? 231
12.8 Do you ever need more than one airplane at the same time? 232
12.9 Are you open to flying turboprops to save money? 233
12.10 Do you require a fully enclosed toilet when flying on light jets, VLJs and turboprops?
12.11 Are you open to working with boutique/smaller providers? 235
12.12 Will you be flying unaccompanied minors? 236
12.13 Do you need guaranteed WiFi? 237
12.14 Are you interested in shared private flights/buying individual seats on private jet flights? 238
12.15 Are you bringing pets? 239

Section 13 – The 50+ hour flyer

13.1 How many hours do you expect to fly in the next 12 months? 241
13.2 What aircraft types? 242
13.3 What’s the minimum lead-time before departure you want for booking flights? 243
13.4 Are your plans likely to change in the last 48 hours? 244
13.5 Are you flexible to avoid peak days by moving your trip a day or two? 245
13.5..a How many days are you willing to move your trip to avoid peak days/blackout dates?
13.5.b Reasons for avoiding peak days 247
13.6 Do you want to upgrade or downgrade the size of aircraft based on need? 248
13.7 What type of pricing do you want? 249
13.8 Do you ever need more than one airplane at the same time? 250
13.9 Are you open to flying turboprops to save money? 251
13.10 Do you require a fully enclosed toilet when flying on light jets, VLJs and turboprops?
13.11 Are you open to working with boutique/smaller providers? 253
13.12 Will you be flying unaccompanied minors? 254
13.13 Do you need guaranteed WiFi? 255
13.14 Are you interested in shared private flights/buying individual seats on private jet flights? 256
13.15 Are you bringing pets? 257

Section 14 – The Entry Flyer – 15 hours or less in the next 12 months 

14.1 How many hours do you expect to fly in the next 12 months? 259
14.2 What aircraft types? 260
14.3 What’s the minimum lead-time before departure you want for booking flights? 261
14.4 Are your plans likely to change in the last 48 hours? 262
14.5 Are you flexible to avoid peak days by moving your trip a day or two? 263
14.5..a How many days are you willing to move your trip to avoid peak days/blackout dates?
14.5.b Reasons for avoiding peak days 265
14.6 Do you want to upgrade or downgrade the size of aircraft based on need? 266
14.7 What type of pricing do you want? 267
14.8 Do you ever need more than one airplane at the same time? 268
14.9 Are you open to flying turboprops to save money? 269
14.10 Do you require a fully enclosed toilet when flying on light jets, VLJs and turboprops?
14.11 Are you open to working with boutique/smaller providers? 271
14.12 Will you be flying unaccompanied minors? 272
14.13 Do you need guaranteed WiFi? 273
14.14 Are you interested in shared private flights/buying individual seats on private jet flights? 274
14.15 Are you bringing pets? 275

Part 2 – What They Bought, Their Experiences, and Future Plans 

15.1 Newcomers – How do you expect your private flying to change after post-Covid? 278
15.2 Existing Flyers – How do you expect your private flying to change post-Covid? 279
15.3 All Flyers – Post-COVID-19 flying compared to prior pre-COVID-19 280
15.4 How have airline and airport delays and cancelations impacted your use of 281
private aviation?
15.5.a Impact of Airport Delays and Cancelations – Considering Private Aviation 282
15.5.b Reasons to Choose Private Aviation – All Flyers 283
15.5.c Reasons to Choose Private Aviation – Considering Private Aviation 284
15.5 Reasons to fly privately 285
15.5.a Reasons to Fly Privately – New Flyers 286
15.5.b Reasons to Fly Privately – Pre-Covid-Flyers 287
15.5.c Reasons to Fly Privately – Considering Private Aviation 288
15.6 What are your current private aviation solutions? 289
15.6a Fractional Owners – What are your current private aviation solutions? 290
15.6b Whole Aircraft Owners – What are your current private aviation solutions? 291
15.7 Approximately how much was the deposit of your last jet card/membership purchase
15.8 Satisfaction with Current Provider 293
15.8a Had Service Issues 294
15.8b Fractional Ownership 295
15.9 As private flying has reached record levels in the past year, have you experienced any delays, cancelations, or service lapses?
15.10 Are you considering changing providers? 297
15.10.a New Flyers 298
15.10.b Pre-Covid Flyers 299
15.10.c Fractional Ownership 300
15.10.d Had Service Issues 301
15.11 Which of the following are most impacting your decision to seek another private 302
aviation provider?
15.12 What was negotiated? 303
15.13 By how many days would you move your flight to get a 10% discount on your 304
flight price?
15.13.a Considering Private Aviation 305
15.14 Financial Stability of Providers 306
15.14.a Considering Private Aviation 307
15.14.b Fractional Ownership 308
15.15 All Flyers: Importance of Sustainability Programs when Choosing and Program 309
15.15.a Considering Private Aviation 310
15.15.b Fractional Ownership 311
15.16 Personal Financial Outlook 312
15.16.a Lifestyle Interests 313
15.17 Provider Engagement 314
15.18 Total Active Jet Card/Fractional Customers 315
15.19 First-Time Jet Card/Fractional Customers 316
15.20 Considered, But Didn’t Purchase 317
15.21 Pipeline (Didn’t buy/Still considering for the future) 318
15.22 Leavers: % of clients who left a provider as a % of total clients 319
Section 15 – Section II 320
15.23 What is your overall satisfaction level with your current provider(s)? 321
15.24 Over the past 12 months, have you experienced any delays, cancelations, or 322
service lapses?
15.25 Are you considering changing providers? 323
15.26 Which of the following are most impacting your decision to seek another private 324
aviation provider (Five largest only)?
15.27 Historical Satisfaction 325
15.27.a NetJets 325
15.27.b Sentient Jet 326
15.27.c Wheels Up 327
15.27.d FlyExclusive 328
15.27.e Flexjet 329

15.28 – Analysis of Key Issues 

15.28 – AI Analysis of Comments 330
15.28.a Benefits for Private Aviation 331
15.28.b Impact of Airlines and Airports For Private Jet Usage 337
15.28.c Financial and Stability Concerns 341
15.28.d What Was Negotiated 344
15.28.e Sustainability Comments 348
15.28.f Full Private Jet Owners Speak 351
15.28.g Ad Hoc Charter Comments 355
15.28.h How Are Price Increases Impacting Consumers 359

15.29 – Analysis of Flight Provider Comments

15.29.a NetJets 364
15.29.b Sentient Jet 366
15.29.c Wheels Up 368
15.29.d FlyExclusive 370
15.29.e Flexjet 372
15.29.f Nicholas Air 374
15.29.g XO 376
15.29.h Jet Linx 378
15.29.i Jets.com 380
15.29.j Magellan Jets 382
15.29.k OneFlight International 384
15.29.l PlaneSense 386
15.29.m Fly Alliance 388
15.29.n Vistajet 390
15.29.o Airshare 392

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