Private Jet Card Comparisons - Know Before You Buy
Compare over 250 private jet card membership programs by 65 variables in 1 place
So you want to find the lowest price to fly by private jet? With all the recent program changes, we’ve run the numbers from the Private Jet Card Comparisons’ database (Update 107 for 2021) of over 50 jet card providers to give you the cheapest flight costs for short flights, from light jet to large-cabin aircraft. You can also compare jet card pricing to on-demand charter quotes.
So you want to fly by private jet to South Florida?
You want to minimize COVID-19 contact, so you are looking into the cost of a private jet rental as an alternative to the airlines. And you want to find out how much it will cost if you charter a private jet on a one-off basis?
It may surprise you that calling brokers and getting quotes is not the only option if you are looking into private flights to South Florida.
Jet card programs, which begin with deposits of just $25,000, or in some cases paying a membership fee, and then paying until you fly, can also be a cost-effective option.
Most folks who do one-off charters, end up flying privately again. You can’t beat the experience, particularly the convenience and time savings. They then find they probably should have considered multiple private flight solutions from the start.
Below you can compare some of the benefits of using jet cards and memberships compared to booking private jet flights on a one-by-one basis.
| What you get | Jet Cards* | On-Demand Charters |
| Fixed Pricing | Yes | No, Varies by trip |
| Booking Window | 4 to 120 hours before departure | At time of booking |
| Cancelations | 4 to 120 hours before departure | Varies: Need to verify with each quote, every trip |
| Guaranteed Service Recovery | Yes | Customer pays extra charges |
| Catering | Yes | Extra charge |
| Deicing | Yes | Extra charge |
| WiFi | Yes | Extra charge |
The biggest advantages of using jet cards include fixed one-way pricing, booking and cancelation terms, and guaranteed service recovery.
Fixed one-way pricing means you only pay for your actual flight time, and don’t have to worry about repositioning
With an on-demand charter, typically, you have to pay when you book, and in many cases, you can’t cancel, and it’s non-refundable. By contrast, jet cards allow you to book at your guaranteed pricing with as little as 4 to 120 hours.
And if your plans change, cancelation windows, which look at all jet card policies, vary by provider and program, range from 4 to 120 hours.
Other benefits included with some jet cards include catering, deicing, which can run in the thousands of dollars, and WiFi.
One reason many longtime on-demand charter customers switch to memberships is Guaranteed Service Recovery. With ad hoc charters, if the operator cancels your flight because of a mechanical, the pilot is sick, or the airplane owner changes his or her mind, you have to pay the extra expense for the replacement flight. Of course, you have the option not to travel.
With virtually all fixed-rate jet cards, your provider will get you an equal or better private jet at their expense if there is a problem with your designated aircraft or crew. They may even offer compensation for the delay.
Below is lead pricing from the more than 50 providers in the Private Jet Card Comparisons. Compare your on-demand charter quotes to jet card pricing, and see if you should consider a jet card membership. Flight pricing is directly from our exclusive QUICK COMPARE FLIGHT PRICING tool available to paid subscribers for $250.
| Private Jet Size | Flight Cost | Booking Deadline (in hours) | Cancelation Deadline (in hours) |
| Light Jet | $14,704 | 72 | 48 |
| Midsize Jet | $17,552 | 72 | 48 |
| Super Midsize | $19,941 | 4 | 48 |
| Large Cabin | $28,050 | 24 | Not Permitted |
Jet Card pricing is based on a one-way flying time of 175 minutes, the average of the southbound and northbound legs with seasonal winds. It includes all additional fees, including 7.5% Federal Excise Tax. Lower pricing is available for roundtrip trips of 3 days or less.
| Private Jet Size | Flight Cost | Booking Deadline (in hours) | Cancelation Deadline (in hours) |
| Light Jet | $13,440 | 72 | 48 |
| Midsize Jet | $16,029 | 72 | 48 |
| Super Midsize | $18,040 | 4 | 48 |
| Large Cabin | $26,840 | 5 | 72 |
Jet Card pricing is based on a one-way flying time of 158 minutes, the average of the west and eastbound legs with seasonal winds. It includes all additional fees, including 7.5% Federal Excise Tax. Lower pricing is available for roundtrip trips of 2 days or less.
| Private Jet Size | Flight Cost | Booking Deadline (in hours) | Cancelation Deadline (in hours) |
| Super Midsize | $29,750 | 24 | 24 |
| Large Cabin | $40,312 | 120 | 120 |
Jet Card pricing is based on a one-way flying time of 291 minutes, the average of the west and eastbound legs with seasonal winds. It includes all additional fees, including 7.5% Federal Excise Tax. Lower pricing is available for roundtrips of 5 days or less.
| Private Jet Size | Flight Cost | Booking Deadline (in hours) | Cancelation Deadline (in hours) |
| Super Midsize | $29,750 | 24 | 24 |
| Large Cabin | $40,362 | 120 | 120 |
Jet Card pricing is based on one-way pricing with a flying time of 273 minutes, the average of west and eastbound legs with seasonal winds. It includes all additional fees, including 7.5% Federal Excise Tax. Lower pricing is available for roundtrips trips of 5 days or less.
| Private Jet Size | Flight Cost | Booking Deadline (in hours) | Cancelation Deadline (in hours) |
| Light Jet | $13,217 | 72 | 48 |
| Midsize Jet | $15,760 | 72 | 48 |
| Super Midsize | $17,662 | 4 | 48 |
| Large Cabin | $26,335 | 5 | 72 |
Jet Card pricing is based on one-way pricing with a flying time of 155 minutes, the average of north and southbound legs with seasonal winds. It includes all additional fees, including 7.5% Federal Excise Tax. Lower roundtrip pricing is available for trips of 3 days or less.
If you have already spoken to jet card companies or received quotes from charter brokers, we can help you identify the best fit for your private travel needs. We don’t sell private jet charters or jet cards. We are an independent private aviation research site that enables you to make the best choice as an educated consumer. Find out more information here.
The best way to fly by private jet is to do a bit of research first. Get quotes from brokers or operators for your single trip. Make sure you read the fine print! Know the cancelation terms.
Make sure to ask if the quote is based on a confirmed flight, or if it is an empty leg.
Empty leg flights are repositioning flights before or after a full revenue charter. If you are getting quotes that are 30% below what you see above, ask if you are being offered a ferry flight.
When the person on the other end of that flight changes his or her plans, the empty leg is likely to get changed or canceled. That could be your flight! If that happens, it’s up to you to find your way wherever you are going, either through buying a full-price charter flight or booking an airline seat. If you have non-refundable hotel reservations or need to be somewhere at a specific time without much buffer, avoid empty legs.
Flying to the South Florida area also means choosing an airport that is most convenient to where you are headed.
You want to rent a private jet?
In industry lingo, it’s typically referred to as charter. But chartering a jet comes in different formats.
On-demand, or ad hoc charter, refers to renting a private jet on a trip-by-trip basis.
Jet cards and memberships provide another way to charter. Unlike on-demand charters, where each trip is priced when you book it, private aviation memberships and cards often offer one-way fixed rates with guaranteed availability.
What does it mean to have fixed one-way rates and guaranteed availability?
When you book private jet charter flights on a trip-by-trip basis, you typically go out to several brokers who based on your request, return with three of four options. Each option represents a different private jet and often different operators. Each option is likely not only to have a different price but different terms, including cancelation. Worked into the rate is the need to position the aircraft to pick you up or return to base after your flight.
Jet cards with one-way fixed-hourly rates give you a price per hour that refers to only the time you are in the aircraft. In other words, the cost of any repositioning is not charged. It’s baked into your guaranteed rate.
The guaranteed availability refers to how far in advance you need to contact your provider and make a reservation to get that contracted hourly price.
Notice periods for jet cards range from as few as 4 hours to 96 hours with similar cancelation windows. With ad hoc charter, you have to pay when you book to lock in the rate. Also, with COVID-19 most lead prices for on-demand charters are non-refundable after you book.
In other words, if you book your trip two weeks before then find you need to cancel your private jet rental, you risk losing all your money, per your contract. That said, if you are a high-volume client, your broker may give you different terms.
Another key difference is Guaranteed Service Recovery. With most jet cards your provider has to get you a similar or better aircraft at their expense.
With ad hoc charters, even if the operator cancels because of a mechanical or the pilot gets sick, if the alternatives cost more, if you want to travel, you have to pay the difference.
Private Jet Card Comparisons doesn’t sell private jet charter flights or jet cards. We help you find the right options for your needs. Below you can compare lead pricing and terms for jet cards against on-demand charter quotes.
You may then want to subscribe, and we can help you figure out the best way for you to buy private travel.
If you have already spoken to jet card companies or received quotes from charter brokers, we can help you identify the best fit for your private travel needs. We don’t sell private jet charters or jet cards. We are an independent private aviation research site that enables you to make the best choice as an educated consumer. Find out more information here.