If you’re a frequent private flyer or have ever explored private jet flight options, you’ve likely been inundated with invitations to join various jet card and fractional ownership programs. While these programs, often offered by private jet companies, can be a fantastic choice for many, there’s an alternative that might better suit your needs. On-demand private jet chartering offers the convenience of flying on a flight-by-flight basis, providing a level of flexibility and control that ownership programs can’t match.
When it comes to selecting a charter broker, it’s crucial to choose a top-tier professional. These brokers, much like the best travel advisors, have an intimate understanding of your preferences and needs. They possess a wealth of knowledge about the industry, including insights you may not even realize you need. Their expertise is your invaluable asset in the world of private jet chartering.
They understand that the range guides published by aircraft manufacturers don’t apply in real life with multiple passengers, luggage, and weather conditions. They also know the baggage capacity of various models—not just for roller bags but also for golf clubs and skis.
Most importantly, they know the operators. They know who is dependable. And they know all Citation Latitudes or Challenger 300s aren’t created equal. There’s often a reason a quote on the same aircraft type from one operator is lower than another. They know what you don’t.
Moreover, good brokers have relationships with the operators that come from booking their aircraft on an ongoing basis. Consider how you treat your best customers versus somebody who buys occasionally based on price.
Good brokers take care of all the details, from pre-flight to the day of departure. Having observed the sausage being made, I can tell you it is not just clicking buttons on an app.
Why does it make sense to charter on a one-off basis, knowing it takes a bit more time to exchange quotes and that each quote and contract will likely have different terms for cancellations and extra fees?
Firstly, if you want an aircraft of a particular vintage, say less than five years old, or a specific configuration, such as a Challenger with a divan in the rear instead of club seats, most programmatic offerings won’t guarantee those specifics.
If you are going out and back on the same day or making a multi-stop trip condensed over a couple of days that can be served by a single aircraft and flight crew, booking on an ad hoc basis will likely save you money and enable you to leave luggage and personal effects on the airplane while you are at your meetings.
If you value having the airplane positioned at your airport the night before to ensure you are not delayed – for instance, if you have an important doctor’s appointment-while programs will do their best to ensure you arrive on time, they typically won’t position aircraft early or have a hot spare unless you are a significant customer. However, with ad hoc chartering, you have the power to make such arrangements, even if it means paying a little extra. This level of customization puts you in the driver’s seat of your travel plans.
Another reason to charter on-demand is if you have specific connectivity needs that go beyond, yes, there’s Wi-Fi.
If you find yourself frequently flying between two airports with a high volume of private jet activity, such as Teterboro and Palm Beach, and you have the flexibility to adjust your departure dates, you can often make significant savings compared to jet cards. This smart move can help you keep your travel expenses in check.
That’s because chances are there won’t be repositioning legs on either side. Repositioning legs refer to the flights that are necessary to move the aircraft from its current location to the departure airport and from the arrival airport to its next destination. These costs are built into the cost of on-demand charters and baked into the one-way pricing of jet cards and fractional providers. Good brokers also can take advantage of empty legs and must moves, saving you money.
If you are flexible enough to go to a nearby airport, you can save a couple of thousand dollars. You have to tell your broker what you are looking for. For example, you want to leave Palm Beach, but the aircraft is at Boca Raton Airport. If you are willing to go the airplane instead of having it come to you, you might save $2,500 in repositioning costs.
More than 40% of my Private Jet Card Comparisons members use ad hoc solutions. In fact, some use them exclusively, asking us once or twice a year to compare them against the programmatic options to ensure they make the right decisions.
This leads me to a final thought. You—as many folks do—can use both a program and charter ad hoc based on what best suits your needs for those trips.
