How To Book a Private Plane for Less Than You Think

For most, the very idea of the type of person who can charter private jets conjures up images of the ultra-rich. The elite gather for a party in the sky, where they and other jet-setters with glamorous lives sip Champagne and relax as they soar past the earthbound hordes crammed inside economy class. But what if it didn’t have to be that way? What if flying private could be accessible to the rest of us?

The truth is that industry shifts, new technologies, and a little strategic planning mean that taking to the skies in a private plane needn’t send your travel budget into orbit. Whether you’re making a special journey, hate crowds, or want a little Champagne high life, here are the secrets of how to charter private jet travel without a six-figure price tag.

Booking Tips

Seek Out Empty Leg Flights

Empty legs are one of the great untold travel stories out there. An empty leg flight is simply a flight that an operator is doing as part of a jet’s repositioning. Flights typically occur after the plane has dropped off a client or is moving to a new place to pick one up.

Operators hate flying their jets empty, so they often offer these flights at discounted rates of up to 75% off. This means you won’t have complete flexibility in terms of timing or destination. Still, if you’re open on your schedule, it’s a dream to book a private plane.

Share the Cost with Friends or Colleagues

One thing many people don’t realise about chartered jets is that they come with multiple seats. Most private jets have between six and eight seats, and light jets are not uncommonly equipped with eight to ten.

This means that if you split the charter private jet costs, you may be looking at a per-person price that is on par with or less than what you would pay for first-class tickets.

If you’re considering a group getaway, destination wedding, or work retreat, chartering a private jet becomes more practical when you spread the cost over time. Plus, you all skip the airport queue and get the party started early.

Try Subscription-Based Services or Jet Cards

If you travel frequently or have flexible travel needs, jet card memberships or subscription-based services can be an attractive entry point into private travel.

Jet card memberships enable travellers to pay a fixed amount per flight hour in advance, locking in a rate for the duration of the membership,…