Demystifying Private Jets
Flying privately is the fastest, most efficient way to travel. And in a time when privacy is paramount, travelers are keen to understand the world or private aviation. If buying your own jet isn’t in the cards, chartering is the way to go, whether you’re looking to take a one-hour jaunt upstate or a multi-week trip across the country. If you’ve ever been curious about private aviation, but don’t know where to start the charter process, we’ve got all the answers to your questions. Welcome aboard, private jets demystified.
How does the private jet industry operate?
There are three modes of private jet chartering
On demand private jet charter
Fractional jet ownership
Jet cards
On demand private jet charter is very straightforward—this is an a-la-carte trip by trip solution. Similar to chartering a yacht, it’s possible to charter a private jet inclusive of crew for anything from a short 1-hour trip to a long-haul flight across the globe. The challenge here is navigating the broker world, which can be complicated, time-consuming, and difficult to assess quality-wise. This is where Local Foreigner comes in. We have longstanding relationships with a short list of brokers around the globe, some of whom do not work with the general public. When a Local Foreigner client has a request, we do the legwork to source the best options from our trusted brokers. The brokers we partner with have a keen interest in offering competitive rates and quality service to Local Foreigner clients, who supply a steady stream of business. Once the charter is booked, we serve as clients’ main contact and liaise directly with the jet team and ground transportation, ensuring a seamless process from booking to departure to arrival.
Fractional jet ownership requires a long-term commitment. Fraction jet owners purchase a certain number of shares, giving them on-demand access to a fleet of aircraft for a reciprocal number of hours. NetJets pioneered this model in 1986, and continues to lead the fractional jet ownership industry. Think of NetJets as the Four Seasons of jet companies, you’re paying more for flying on a controlled closed fleet operated entirely by NetJets staff— which means continuity of product and service. Full disclosure: Local Foreigner is a NetJets preferred partner and the recommended travel agency NetJets owners.
Similar to fractional ownership, jet cards also require a long-term commitment and large upfront investment. But jet cards operate similar to prepaid gift cards— flyers pre-purchase a chunk of flight hours to be utilized over a certain period of time.
Chartering a jet through the Local Foreigner provides clients with competitive pricing, trusted quality, and a seamless planning process.
What are the differences between private aircraft?
The larger the aircraft, the longer it can be in the air. So longer journeys require larger aircraft to avoid extra stops for fuel. The shorter runways of smaller airports can only be accessed by smaller jets and propeller planes. Here is a breakdown of jets by type, number of passengers, and flight time range along with aircraft models:
Light/Super Light Cabin
Seats
6-7
Range
2.5-4 hours
Aircraft Models
Hawker 400XP, Phenom 300, Citation XLS, Lear 75
Midsize Cabin
Seats
7-8
Range
4.5-5 hours
Aircraft Models
Hawker 800/900XP, Legacy 450, Citation Latitude, Citation Sovereign
Super Midsize Cabin
Seats
7-9
Range
5.5-7 hours
Aircraft Models
Hawker 4000, Challenger 350, Citation Longitude, Gulfstream G280
Large Cabin/Ultra Long Range
Seats
up to 14
Range
7-14 hours
Aircraft Models
Gulfstream IVSP/G400/G450/GV/G650, Falcon 2000/900EX/7X, Global Express 5000/6000
How does pricing work?
For on-demand jet charters, pricing is dynamic and is based on several factors including equipment, route, duration, flying hours, and for round-trips—length of stay. But pricing is also subject to the law of supply and demand. If you’re flying out of NYC’s Teterboro airport to Aspen on a Tuesday in October, it’s likely there will be a healthy supply of jet options since Teterboro is home to an extensive fleet. If your origin airport is off the beaten path, then it may be necessary to reposition an aircraft (aka fly an empty plane from another city) to pick you up. Additionally, peak travel days can tack on an additional cost. Check out the table below for sample pricing on popular flight routes from New York City and San Francisco.
NYC-Aspen ~ 4 hours
Light N/A
Midsize 24-26K
Super Midsize 28-30K
Large 35K+
SFO-Aspen ~ 2 hours
Light 10-12k
Midsize 13-15k
Super Midsize 15-17K
Large 20K+
NYC-Miami ~ 2.8 hours
Light 12-14K
Midsize 16-18K
Super Midsize 18-20K
Large 24K+
SFO-Miami ~ 5.6 hours
Light N/A
Midsize N/A
Super Midsize 28-30K
Large 32K+
NYC-Cabo ~ 5.4 hours
Light N/A
Midsize N/A
Super Midsize 30-33K
Large 35K+
SFO-Cabo ~ 2.8 hours
Light 14-16k
Midsize 18-20K
Super Midsize 20-22K
Large 24K+
What’s the experience like?
Chartering a private jet is the fastest, most efficient, and most private way to fly. Let’s walk through the process step by step:
Skip the Airport Hassle
When flying privately, you can skip the main airport facilities reserved for commercial airlines and head straight for your FBO (Fixed Based Operator aka private jet terminal). Expect a very simple security process with no line followed by a short wait in the departure lounge. You can arrive to the FBO 15-30 minutes before your scheduled departure. At some airports, you can even be pre-cleared for security and be driven straight onto the tarmac to your awaiting plane.
Take Off In Minutes
Once you board your plane, you’ll be in the air within minutes. The crew will include a pilot and co-pilot, and sometimes a flight attendant. Your plane will be stocked with your favorite drinks and pre-ordered catering. (We’ve even arranged In-and-Out Burger on request).
Arrive in Style
Upon landing, immediately exit the aircraft and proceed to the FBO. Some airports allow your awaiting driver to pick you up at the gate. No airport, no crowds, no waiting for luggage and no long immigration lines.
Some destinations, usually island destinations like St. Barth’s or Mustique, have very small runways and can only accommodate light and/or turbo-prop aircraft. In this case, your private jet will land at a nearby tarmac with a larger runway and you will transfer to a smaller plane for the final short jaunt. When transferring between private jets, a ramp transfer can be arranged, whereby you go from one jet directly to the other, barely stepping foot on the ground.
Flying privately is the fastest and most efficient way to travel. But don’t just take our word for it.
What do TLF clients have to say about chartering private jets?
“So chartering a jet for the first time -- it’s exciting and at the same time a bit daunting. Obviously you want a safe plane, but you also don’t know what the classes of jets are, what sizes are appropriate, and really what your general needs are. Then, once you get a quote, you have to wonder if you’re getting ripped off or if its worth it. The beauty of having Local Foreigner as a fiduciary in your travel experience is that those questions get answered by someone that is looking out for you and your travel party only. Ultimately, you get to have the peace of mind knowing that you got the safest, right-sized jet, flown by a great crew, at a competitive price. Chartering through Local Foreigner makes the experience for first timers much easier, and instead of fretting over details, you just get to enjoy the trip. “ - Michael K, Local Foreigner client