If you’ve experienced private air travel once or twice and are ready to take things up a level, you may have begun to research private jet card comparisons. How do jet card prices stack up against chartering or aircraft ownership, and how do memberships vary between private aviation companies?
Each option can give you a more comfortable and convenient alternative to flying commercially − but there are key differences to think about before you climb on board. Read our handy jet card cost comparison below to help find the right travel solution for you.
The main differential is that jet card memberships such as our Program allow you to know exactly what you’ll pay in advance as they’re based on fixed rates. But charter pricing can change from one flight to another, even when making the same journey.
With our luxury Program, you only pay for the time you’re on board. One-way pricing saves you the cost of the return journey if you don’t need it. Many private charter prices include extras however, such as repositioning or ‘ferry’ fees, crew wait time, and landing fees.
Empty leg charters can offer better value than a membership flight − but only if you have a flexible schedule. These are flights with pre-defined departures and destinations dictated by a plane’s next booking, so you can still fly in luxury but without the same level of control.
Private jet ownership comes at cost that will be too high for most. There’s the upfront purchase fee, storage, depreciation, and asset risk to factor in. Over time you’re also likely to face expensive repairs to keep your aircraft in top condition.
Much like jet ownership, you’ll still pay an upfront fee for jet card membership. This is to provide you with a yearly allocation of flight time or mileage.
If you’ve decided that a jet card-style membership is the route you want to take, there are still some considerations to be made. Few programs are the same, so here are some things to include in your jet card comparison research.
Most jet card companies charge an hourly rate based on actual or estimated flight time. Some charge by mileage. Hourly rates with one-way pricing can be the best value as you won’t pay extra to get the plane and crew to you for departure, or back to base afterwards. You may also come across jet cards with dynamic pricing which can go up and down for the same journeys.
Some providers include fuel surcharges and taxi time in your overall cost. You’ll also want to check the Primary Service Area (PSA) associated with your jet card membership. This is the geographic area where common features such as guaranteed availability and fixed rates apply. Outside of this you might not enjoy the same privileges – but the good news is VistaJet’s Program is truly global.
It’s important that your private aviation solution offers the value you need it to. You can use our cost calculator to assess how our Program membership could work out for you, or contact our team for help with your private jet card comparisons.
