December 3, 2024
You get the emails and calls. We publish them as well. But here’s what you need to consider so your jet card deal isn’t a dog.
‘Tis the season for jet card deals, although in some cases, every month is a deal. Yet, there are some excellent reasons not to act on impulse. We always recommend you fill out a Decider Custom Analysis request before buying.
First of all, they always sound good.
Two free hours when you buy 25 hours is an 8% discount.
A three-hour first-flight free on a 25-hour card is 12% off.
Against a spend of roughly $200,000, you are saving $16,000 to $24,000 sounds good.
Sounds goods?
Virtually all deals have the standard terms and conditions of regular jet cards, although some have additional restrictions.
Typically, incremental restrictions include longer callouts or restricting the area you can fly.
That’s usually straightforward, although it is not always mentioned in those blasts.
The biggest reason to compare before buying is that if you are looking to switch, it’s essential to understand—as you probably do—that the terms between providers are not uniform.
We compare 65 different variables that can make a difference.
We often find folks coming from one program they’ve been with for a while and assume that the key elements of that program will carry over.
So, what are some of the reasons to fill in a Decider Custom Analysis request before buying:
The primary and extended service areas where guarantees for availability and rates vary widely. Some programs only include certain U.S. states, whereas others cover Hawaii, the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, and Intercontinental.
For most of the over 500 options we track, the lead time to book flights varies from 8 to 120 hours. For many people, that last-minute flexibility adds value to a jet card.
While some jet cards allow you to cancel without penalty up to 24 hours before departure, some are like ad hoc charters, where you cannot change or cancel after booking.
The number of peak days ranges from single digits to over 100, and based on the program, they carry surcharges, different booking and cancelation terms, and the ability to move your departure by as much as half a day. All of these can impact your usage – and enjoyment of flying privately.
Not all guaranteed rate jet cards guarantee pets at those rates.
Daily minimums of up to 120 minutes on light jets and 240 minutes on larger aircraft can dramatically reduce perceived savings on shorter flights. The same goes for segment minimums if you have multiple short flights in a single day.
From deicing to catering, WiFi, and even guaranteeing a fully enclosed lav, what’s included and what costs more can take a big chunk of those free hours and flight credits.
While there is more, the key message is that we’re happy to help.
Just fill out the Decider Custom Analysis Request.
Remember, it’s essential to fill it out completely.
Let us know if there is a specific deal you are looking at and your current program.
That way, you can see how the deal fits your current program and what you want.
The key is to enter a new program with your eyes wide open, which can be tough when contracts can run dozens of pages and fine print matters.
The Decider Custom Request analysis enables you to compare the deal to what you want and may already have.
Find the perfect solution for your private aviation needs
Save Time. Buy Confidently.
Receive an apples-to-apples comparison of programs that meet your needs from more than 500 jet card and fractional options covering 65 points of differentiation and over 40,000 data points.
