Elite Traveler Winter 2019

INSPIRE TOP JETS

The Best Ways to Fly Privately

Nothing compares to the time efficiency, privacy and pure convenience of traveling aboard a private jet. Arrive at the airport. Go to the plane. The crew loads your luggage. Your shoes stay on. Personal items remain private — including electronics. Then, you board. Ready for departure, captain. But what is the best way to access that convenience? Conventional wisdom says that aircraft ownership only makes financial sense when you fly 350 hours, or more, annually. Fortunately, aviation offers numerous other ways to access private aircraft, with many of these options providing a lower barrier of entry and without most of the complexities that accompany outright ownership. We detail our four favorite options here: fractional programs, jet cards, membership programs and chartering flights.

by Dave Higdon

Charters For the flyer with only an occasional, irregular need to fly privately, no option offers the flexibility comparable to chartering an aircraft —with a commitment only as long as the trip itself. And the user enjoys a huge array of choices spanning the spectrum from single-engine piston aircraft all the way up to ‘bizliners’ — industry slang for commercial airliners outfitted and flown as private aircraft: think Airbus Corporate Jets and Boeing Business Jets. The charter operator supplies the aircraft, cabin crew and all of the flight services listed in the contract. There are no upfront commitment fees, membership fees or monthly dues. You book job-by- job, and pay by the flight hour and wait time between outbound and inbound legs.