January 22, 2025
A starter’s guide to the five ways to fly by private jet: Full Ownership, Fractional Ownership, Jet Cards, On-Demand Charter, Shared Flights.
If you want to escape the treacheries of big airport terminals and crowded airlines, there are five ways to access private jet flights. Like every beautiful rose, each option has its thorns. Here, we compare the five basic options – full ownership, fractional ownership, jet cards and memberships, on-demand or ad hoc charters, and the shared jet and by-the-seat.
Since you’re busy, let’s quickly look at the five ways to fly privately, presenting the good and the bad in some easy-to-ready tables.
Some handly links will give you a deeper dive into each option.
Annual Usage: 200 + hours
Duration: Typically multiple years
Aircraft Access: The one you buy
While most private jet owners hire a management company to manage their private jet, owning a plane can best be compared to owning a business with employees, expenses, and decisions you must make.
Aircraft brokers say it’s a win if you find an aircraft that fits 80% of your missions.
That means you will likely have a supplemental solution even if you buy a jet.
The supplemental solution covers when your aircraft is down for maintenance, unavailable for other reasons such as crewing, or doesn’t work for your mission from range to seating.
The good part is the flexibility you have in terms of controlling your schedule.
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Since it’s your airplane, you can leave equipment and luggage in it when you are making a stop.
Depending on the aircraft type, you can change the configuration.
Aircraft ownership, when used for business, can have tax benefits.
Depending on your business, Your jet can even be a flying billboard.
You may also be able to offset some expenses by making your aircraft available for charter when you aren’t using it.
However, the extra flying can mean more maintenance driven by hours and cycles – landings and takeoffs.
Hiring a professional broker and an experienced aviation attorney is highly recommended.
The International Aircraft Dealers Association is a good place to start.
READ: 40 Steps To Buy A Private Jet
Annual Usage: 50 + hours
Duration: 5 + years
Aircraft Access: Specific model and possibly other models in the fleet
Fractional ownership is designed to provide many benefits of full ownership without the headaches of ownership.
You buy a share in a specific aircraft, which may have tax benefits.
Most providers pay a monthly management fee regardless of how much you fly.
You then pay a contracted hourly rate plus a fuel variable for the time you are in the aircraft, so long as you fly within the primary or extended service area.
In other words, you don’t have to pay for repositioning.
You get a monthly invoice for your flights and additional charges.
Pro tip: Check your invoices for mistakes!
You don’t have to worry about what the pilots should do while you’re in Aspen for five days.
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While fuel is typically re-rated month-to-month, fractional ownership also gives you cost predictability.
The best part of fractional ownership is that a fleet of aircraft owners shares; when a pilot gets sick or there is a maintenance issue (which happens more often than you think), your provider is responsible for bringing a replacement aircraft.
READ: Private Jet Fractional Ownership and Leases – A Complete Guide
You also don’t pay extra for what is termed the recovery flight.
The most significant negative is the commitment.
Generally, you are locked for three years, and there are penalties for exiting before five years.
If your provider fails, you may also receive extra bills—money owed to service providers for your specific aircraft that has yet to be paid.
Hiring a professional broker and an experienced aviation attorney is highly recommended.
READ: Jet It Lessons: What happens when your private jet provider fails?
Annual Usage: 10 + hours
Duration: 6 + months
Aircraft Access: Category or Fleet Access to Specific Aircraft Type
Jet cards and membership fill the gap between on-demand charter and fractional or full ownership.
The significant differences are lower financial and duration commitment and less flexibility – more peak days with different terms and longer windows to book or cancel.
Still, jet cards and memberships that offer fixed/capped hourly rates with guaranteed availability make reserving flights as easy as calling, texting, or emailing.
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Some jet cards enable you to switch cabin categories from trip to trip.
While some jet cards give you a specific aircraft type, others are like a box of assorted chocolates.
If you are new to private aviation, it can be a good way to sample a variety of aircraft types.
READ: Where does your jet card private jet come from?
While jet cards are often a gateway to full or fractional ownership, many flyers use them as their end game because they allow for easier exit.
Downsides include the ability to change terms on short notice via force majeure provisions.
Also, if your provider fails and your funds aren’t in a secured escrow account, you will be an unsecured creditor.
Lastly, remember that not all jet cards or memberships provide fixed or capped hourly rates; instead, use dynamic pricing, similar to on-demand charter.
READ: Six reasons not to buy a jet card
Annual Usage: As needed
Duration: When needed
Aircraft Access: Specific aircraft type you want
Chartering ad hoc or on-demand enables you to ensure you are getting a specific aircraft type, vintage, and even configuration.
Some people don’t want specific aircraft types because of cabin dimensions, range, or baggage capacity.
You can also charter using specific Argus, Wyvern, or IS-BAO safety ratings.
While jet cards will promote those standards, in the fine print, they often only guarantee an aircraft operated under Part 135.
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The fewer requirements you have – vintage, specific make, and so on, the more likely you will be able to beat jet card rates.
If you are looking for the lowest prices and flying between two airports with lots of private aviation activity, again, you are more likely to be able to beat jet card rates.
The empty leg repositioning flights must be factored into your charge.
Same-day or next-day return roundtrips can also be more cost-effective via ad hoc charter.
A downside of ad hoc charter is that virtually everything from WiFi to catering and deicing is charged extra.
Some jet cards include them.
Other disadvantages of an ad hoc charter are wiring funds each time, cancelation terms, requotes when you need a recovery flight, and the time it takes to negotiate a flight.
The significant variable is different pricing every time.
The availability of what you want can be an issue, especially during peak periods or at the last minute.
READ: 16 Reasons to use a broker for on-demand charter flights
Annual Usage: As needed
Duration: When needed
Aircraft Access: Specific routes or being able to find somebody to share with limited options
There are two types of shared private jet flying.
The commonality is that with both, you are using private jet terminals, streamlining your airport experience.
By-the-seat scheduled options enable you to buy seats on flights planned online like an airline ticket.
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Prices range from the low hundreds to thousands of dollars.
A key drawback is limited routes and schedules.
Another drawback is you could be at an airport without other options if there are delays or a mechanical.
Jet sharing or crowdsourcing enables you to save money by coordinating travel plans and splitting costs.
The By-The-Seat tab on the Excel Comparison Spreadsheet provides an overview of current options.
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