For those who regularly hop from country to country, whether that’s for business or for pleasure, getting from A to B in the most efficient way possible is a constant concern.
In the midst of a global pandemic, things have got even tougher; commercial flights are currently running at limited capacity, and check-in and verification procedures can take a prohibitively long time. To mitigate some of these issues, an alternative option for those keen to fly independently and flexibly once various global travel restrictions are lifted would be to travel in chartered private jet flights.
According to Air Partner, the interest of people looking at and booking private jets have soared since the start of the Pandemic. The company told This is Money that it ”believes this is down to the unique safety and convenience benefits that it claims commercial airlines cannot offer” and that “the demand has been primarily from leisure travellers and critical business flights, when Zoom just won’t cut it.”
Charter flights don’t require the restriction of a timetable or the hassle of airport security. Should you be blessed with buckets of money but you’re short on time, then you could save yourself some trouble by chartering a private jet. Doing so allows you to travel at your own time and pace without the need for bookings and check-ins. With this in mind, here’s some of your questions on chartering a private plane answered.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Chartering a private jet depends largely on the size of the aircraft and the number of seats required. According to Forbes Magazine “If you are looking for the most cost-efficient solution, the type of aircraft that fits your mission is going to depend not only on number of seats, but the number of adults, children under the age of two, size of your pets, amount of luggage, and total weight. The number of seats along with weight, weather and winds will impact the type of private jet best suited for your flight.”
This is Money recently asked Air Partner how much it costs to charter a Flying from London Luton or London Stansted to a few popular European destinations, and the results were interesting:
“A party of four would pay around £11,400 for Nice, France (numbers crunched before the travel restrictions), £12,300 for Pisa, Italy – a gateway into Florence – and £20,900 for Mykonos, Greece, which is quite a bit further than the previous two destinations. Per person, this works out at £3,800, £4,175 and £5,225 respectively. When you move to a party of 12, Nice is £16,700, Pisa £19,600 and Mykonos £31,100 – or £1,392 each to France, £1,633 to Pisa or £2,592 to Mykonos. Prices include all taxes, Air Passenger Duty, insurance, catering and fixed-base operator handling. If you wish to fly from a far smaller airport, such as Farnborough, it is typically £2,000 more expensive per flight”.
WHAT’S THE AVERAGE COST?
According to AFAR Magazine, considering the average cost per hour for a chartered private jet, ‘’you can expect to pay between $1,300 and $3,000 per flying hour to charter a turboprop or smaller jet plane, which typically seats 4 to 6 passengers; between $4,000 and $8,000 per flying hour for a midsize jet, which typically accommodates up to 9 passengers; and between $8,600 and $13,000 per flying hour for larger private jets, which usually seat from 14 to 19 passengers’’.
CAN I FLY WHENEVER I WANT?
You can set the departure date and time to whatever schedule you like. However, your choices will impact the cost of the trip. Always let your provider know if your travel times are flexible – this can shave thousands of pounds of the cost of your flight.
WHAT TYPE OF PLANES ARE USED?
Charters, and the type of plane used, are generally tailored to suit passenger numbers and the route you’re flying. These planes come in all shapes and sizes – commercial airliners to regional turboprops, so it wouldn’t be wise to have your heart set on one particular type or model of plane.
WHAT DOES EMPTY LEGS MEAN?
As the guys at the Atlanta jet charter service BitLux tell us, you can save money by travelling in ‘empty leg’ flights flying to your destination. These empty leg flights refer to the return leg of a one-way flight booked by another person; essentially, this return journey would be otherwise empty, and is therefore offered at a huge discount of around 50% or sometimes more. If you’re keen to seek the security of private air travel in a post-COVID world, then this might be a sensible option.
Read: 8 of the top trending destinations for travellers to explore in 2022
SHOULD I GET JET CARD MEMBERSHIP?
If you travel regularly and are a regular customer of a private jet company, then it might be worth considering a membership card, which brings special discounts and perks. For instance, Jet Card membership allows you to save money by paying hourly flight rates; you can even enjoy complimentary catering and other allowances.
If you need to travel on a particular route frequently, you can avail yourself of a Fixed Route Program. In this program, you pay in advance for a fixed number of flights so that you don’t need to pay every time you travel. You also get to enjoy other perks involved in the Jet Card Membership program.
WHAT’S A QUALIFYING ROUND TIP?
Some jet card programs offer round trip discounts of up to 40%. We suggest you ask your air provider how you get this discount.
DO I HAVE TO GO THROUGH CHECK IN AND SECURITY ?
Generally, the check in and security process are expedited. This doesn’t mean you can pack a bag with contraband and glide through customs unbothered, however; you’ll still likely get caught.
WHERE CAN I FLY FROM?
Private jets can, surprisingly, access a much broader scope of airports than your regular commercial flights. As such, you can usually choose which airport you want to fly from, small or big.
WHAT ABOUT MY CARBON FOOTPRINT?
It should be pointed out here that the carbon footprint of such private aviation is huge. Should you care about your environmental impact, it might be worth investigating alternative means of travel or considering simply staying put for now.
THE BOTTOM LINE
It’s important to note that in the UK, as of 15th February, anyone entering the country must provide a negative COVID test and stay in hotel-based quarantine for ten days. To leave the country, you must have a valid, legally permitted reason to do so. Fortunately, doing business abroad could fall under this category.
If you’re keen to fly flexibly, privately and free from stress in a post-pandemic world, but don’t want the enormous financial outlay of buying a private jet, then chartering might be the best option for you. However, it’s important to consider possible COVID-19 restrictions, both here and at your destination. Bon voyage!