Swaths of the country are reopening in the coming weeks and months. As stay-at-home orders recede, getting where you need or want to be is set to change dramatically.
Airlines are cutting flights as much as 90% for the foreseeable future. It’s unsure how soon networks and frequency will be restored. Before the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, those flights took millions daily to important business meetings, family visits, long-awaited vacations and short-weekend getaways.
Hub flights to smaller cities will be the last to normalize, predicted David Best, a senior vice president of General Dynamics’ Jet Aviation. He was speaking yesterday morning during an online panel hosted by Corporate Jet Investor for industry executives.
About 80% of U.S. private flights are under two hours, driven by the efficiency of flying nonstop instead of connecting.
“85% percent of the over 600 business aviation executives are very or fairly optimistic about their company’s future”
Then there’s the issue of not getting sick when you travel. With over 45,000 COVID-19 deaths in the U.S., until there is a vaccine or cure, social distancing and minimizing situations where we are in large groups of people will be paramount.
An observatory study done by European private jet charter operator Globe Air found that transiting passenger terminals at airports and flying on a commercial airliner creates around 270 possible person-to-person interactions where one could be exposed to Coronavirus versus less than 20 on private flights.
Nicholas Air customers like actress Nicole Kidman are likely to see more consumers turn to private … [+]
That research doesn’t even account for bacteria, germs, and fungi that could be lurking on the surfaces on aircraft cabins. It’s not just your tray table. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation found your headrest had the most filth. Its report noted nearly half of the surfaces swabbed on airline flights contained levels of bacteria or yeast and mold that could put a person at risk for infection.
All of the above leads many in private aviation to expect an influx of new fliers. Eighty-five percent of the over 600 business aviation executives on the Corporate Jet Investor webinar said they are very or fairly optimistic about their company’s future, even though business for many is off by as much as 80%.
“Flying privately won’t add years to your life, but it will add years of enjoyment to your life.”
Whether it’s health risk concerns or just getting where you need to be, people and companies that have the means to fly privately, but had previously eschewed it, are now looking going to be looking at the options.
If you’re a person who may have flown privately a few times, or not at all, and never justified the time savings, privacy and efficiency, but are taking a fresh view, this guide is designed to point you in the right direction.
Where do I start?
Excellent question, and one that believe it or not, alpha successful folks don’t always consider as they charge in. The most common source of new customers for private aviation providers are referrals from current customers. Some even offer current customers incentives to recruit new ones.
Knowing your friend flies with X and he or she is happy is good to know. That said, your friend’s travel needs maybe different from yours, so the solution that works well for them, may not be a fit for you.
What are the best private jet options for me?
One-off charters are the typical entry point. In industry lingo this is called on-demand. The next option is some sort of jet card or membership program. It’s another form of charter. In the U.S. alone, there are more than 60 providers with policies and benefits varying widely. In fact, I’ve identified over 65 variables that can impact which program is right for you.
Famously frugal Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett became such a strong believer in … [+]
Fractional ownership and leases are also popular and bring you many of the same perks as owning your own jet, but come with commitments of three to five years. Then of course, you can own your own aircraft, and here the choice is not only type, but new versus used.
It’s often said under 25 hours per year, charter on-demand. For 10 to 100 hours, look at jet cards and memberships. From 50 to 400 hours, fractional shares or lease might be right, and over 200 hours per year, full aircraft ownership is a realistic consideration. However, your needs might guide you down a path outside these generalities.
Be careful of friends who offer to share ownership or deals to fly on their private aircraft. You could be entering into an illegal charter.
How do I choose?
The biggest mistake I see with first-time buyers or private aviation is thinking you only need to choose one. While you may find a single provider that meets all your needs, think of your private aviation solutions likes cars in your driveway.
You may need more a couple different types. Chances are you aren’t going to drive the Rolls Royce to the mountain house in the winter.
So let’s review the options, and how they might fit for you.
On-demand Charter
This is by far the place most people start, and even here you have choices. You can book your flight with an operator, the company that will be flying you, or a broker, an intermediary who reviews options from a variety of operators, and then presents you with those best fitting the needs you articulated.
Think of it like going to Prague for the first time. You could spend hours reading reviews of different hotels, and then book direct, or you can get a good travel advisor who takes the time to figure out what you want, and then matches you to a hotel that best meets your needs.
Not to get too far in the weeds, but since you will find out anyway, who owns the airplanes you charter varies. In some cases the operator owns or leases the aircraft. In others, they serve as a management company for owners who rent out their private jets when they aren’t using them.
The latter is important, because when receive quotes back, payment, cancelation and usage terms can vary, even if two are from the same operator. That’s because two individual owners may have different stipulations in their contracts with the same management company.
With on-demand charter you book trip by trip, and your broker prices out each trip per your request, so you don’t have to worry about long-term commitments.
Still, for novices, it can be confusing. Why do two Bombardier Challenger 350s, each with eight seats, each manufactured in 2015, have different charter prices?
It could be the rates the owners want based on their cost structures. One may have three full-time pilots to rotate through vacations and sick days, while another uses contract pilots. All charter operators have to meet government requirements articulated in the FAA’s 14 CFR Part 135 rules, however, some have more rigorous standards.
Argus, Wyvern, and IS-BAO each provide third party safety ratings awarding different levels of achievement, however, not all include on-site audits. While they provide directional insight, a good broker knows the reputation of the operators. From experience, a good broker stays away from operators that cancel flights at the last minute, those with high turnover or other warning signs.
Industry lore is that most people call several brokers to request quotes, so if you go the on-demand charter route, you will probably spend several hours not only soliciting quotes, but then reviewing the terms and conditions of each. Once you find a broker who knows what you want and is able to deliver, you’ve hit the jackpot.
Friends who charter regularly are a good sounding board, as most folks who charter have had gone through a few brokers and operators before finding the ones they count on. Argus and Wyvern both certify brokers both and the lists are worth reviewing.
Downsides of On-Demand Charter
Downsides of on-demand charter include that each brokerage or operator prices trips differently, so you might see two brokers or a broker and operator offering the same jet for the same trip at different prices.
You may also get quotes for your trip that include empty legs. These are repositioning flights to get an aircraft where it needs to be for a revenue flight or back to base. If the person paying for the full-priced flight changes plans, your empty leg can be canceled on short notice. If you see prices that are markedly lower than most quotes, make sure to ask if they are these ferry flights. With limited airline options, or if you are flying from an airport without airline service, you’ve been warned.
That brings me to the other consideration with on-demand charter. For the most part, if your flight is canceled because of a mechanical or the pilot is sick or can’t get there, you are on your own so to speak.
While the operator or broker will likely help you find a replacement, you are responsible for any extra cost unless it is otherwise stipulated. It may meaning paying the new provider while waiting for a refund from the one that couldn’t provide service. Wiring $30,000 on the spot might not be easy.
You’ll also find additional services such as catering and deicing is a la carte. There may also be extra charges for using WiFi. Not all aircraft accept pets and some have restrictions on oversize luggage, so make sure you provide the broker or operator with all relevant information. Don’t just show up and assume you it won’t be a problem to bring along your eight French Poodles.
Key Players
There are 573 Part 135 charter operators in the U.S. with at least one business jet available for charter, although some work mainly through brokers. Over 70% have five or fewer jets in their fleet. While some or the larger players have floating fleets, an operator at your local airport might make sense, so size doesn’t necessarily matter, particularly if you do a lot of same-day returns.
Air charter brokers aren’t regulated or licensed. All you need is a laptop, WiFi connection, slick website, and subscription to some of the databases that show availability of aircraft from various operators. Before you buy, make sure you know who the owner is. Google to see if there is a history of complaints or lawsuits.
Some of the larger brokers include Air Charter Service, Air Partner, Apollo Jets, PrivateFly, Fly Victor, and XO. Many jet card providers (list below) also sell on-demand charters. That said, it’s less about the company than the person you are working with, so make sure there is fit.
And yes, there are online booking portals, which can be great educational tools for those of you who are new to the market. However, I highly recommend you pick up the phone and talk through your requirements initially.
Jet Cards and Private Jet Memberships
Jet cards and private jet memberships are a form of charter, so you have the same choice between operators and brokers. In fact, some programs are a mix, and during peak periods, many operator programs go off-fleet to meet extra demand. The good news is you will typically get an upgrade to a larger jet to soften the blow.
Many jet cards give you benefits of full or fractional ownership, namely guaranteed access, fixed pricing, and consistent standards of aircraft, sans the long-term commitment.
You can buy blocks of time starting at $25,000 or 10 hours of flight time. If you need more, you buy more. If you don’t, you’re not stuck with a bunch of expensive metal.
Typical jet cards users spend $75,000 to $500,000 per year on fights. However, some companies spend millions. They either don’t want to have jet ownership listed in their public financial reports or simply want an easy out if their needs change suddenly.
Jet cards and private jet memberships have changed quite a bit, so today’s programs have more variables, meaning you really need to do your homework before choosing.
Some use dynamic pricing, so similar to on-demand charter, except they typically offer service recovery guarantees, sourcing standards and other perks.
Six-figure deposits are no longer a necessity. Pay-as-you-go programs charge you an annual membership, then you are billed on a flight-by-flight basis. You can even use a credit card on file so you don’t have to worry about transferring funds for each trip. Don’t forget to amortize the cost of the membership across your anticipated flight hours to understand your true cost.
I believe the two strongest benefits of card programs are the combination of guaranteed availability and fixed one-way rates.
Guaranteed availability means that if you book outside the deadline, typically between eight and 48 hours on non-peak days, you are guaranteed an aircraft.
Combining it with fixed one-way rates means you know how much you will pay in advance, and your hourly charge is based only on the flight hours where you are onboard. You don’t pay for the empty repositioning flights.
Many programs offer efficiency discounts for qualifying roundtrips, typically two billable flight hours per day. For example, if you made a three hour flight from your base to somewhere on Friday and came home Sunday, your six flight hours of flying time divided over the three days you were away would earn you the discount. Roundtrip discounts from the more than 250 programs I’ve analyzed range from zero to 40%. In other words, the fine print can save – or cost you tens of thousands of dollars.
Other perks of card programs can include being able to upgrade or downgrade size of the aircraft based on need, again at fixed rates with guaranteed availability, or having multiple aircraft at the same time. In other words, for $100,000, you can have your own flight department on call. In fact, many aircraft owners use jet cards when their birds are in the shop or if they need a different type for specific missions.
Dino Gatto of Rao’s, NFL star quarterback Russell Wilson and Kenny Dichter, Wheels Up founder and … [+]
Unlike on-demand charter, jet cards usually have service recovery guarantees. You won’t have to pay extra for replacement aircraft, and you might even get credits based on length of delay. Since they vary, another reason the fine print matters.
Once you find the right program and know the rules and policies – something you should spend the time to compare before you buy – you can book in seconds, often online, by calling, or even text message.
Some card programs include deicing, gourmet catering or catering credits, free WiFi and other perks like discounts and special offers with luxury partners.
Downsides of Jet Cards and Memberships
Depending on where and when you are flying, you might beat your program rates with on-demand charter. Then again, when you buy a jet card, you aren’t getting married. If there are trips you feel you can do better from the open market, there’s nothing stopping you from getting broker quotes, and then choosing the best option for that journey.
Most programs have peak days, and often it’s like two separate programs. Lead time for bookings can stretch to 14 days in advance, and in some cases you can’t cancel without penalty after you make your reservation. Surcharges can range up to 40%, and I’ve seen cards with over 100 peak days per year. At the same time, there are others that don’t have surcharges or even peak days, and where booking windows are only 48 hours.
Just like airlines, private aviation companies – brokers and operators – go bust. Take the time to figure out who is behind that website. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is still trying recover $200,000 from a company that went closed down. I recommend if you have any questions, use programs that offer escrow accounts.
Key Players
NetJets – Executive Jet Management (Berkshire Hathaway)
While most people think of NetJets for fractional ownership, its jet card business makes up around 20% of flights and is a key source of share customers who get a taste for the benefits of private flying through its Marquis Jet and Elite programs. You can select specific aircraft types from the Embraer Phenom 300 light jet up to the Gulfstream G450, which has the range to fly nonstop to Europe. Executive Jet Management offers flights on aircraft it manages for corporations and wealthy individuals.
Sentient Jet (Directional Aviation)
Inventor of the jet card, Sentient Jet is part of Directional Aviation, which includes Flexjet, PrivateFly, Constant Aviation, Nextant Aerospace, and other business aviation related companies. It’s one of the most transparent programs, publishing pricing and terms, eschewing extra charges for deicing and fuel. Its service area includes the Caribbean and Mexico. There are only 21 peak days and the surcharge is just 5%. It also guarantees WiFi on midsize, super midsize, and large cabin aircraft. Programs start at 25 hours and it offers an extensive array of lifestyle partners.
VistaJet – XO (Vista Global Holdings)
Part of Vista Global Holdings, VistaJet and XO have a combined fleet of approximately 120 super midsize, large cabin, and ultra-long-range private jets. VistaJet focuses on the luxury segment and its version of a jet card requires at least 50 flight hours per year and a three-year commitment. The flagship is Bombardier’s Global 7500, and with the ability to fly 16 hours nonstop, most customers are buying 100 + hours per year.
Vista Global Holdings’ founder Thomas Flohr offers customers an array of non-ownership options from … [+]
On the other hand, XO’s Elite Access program offers a 3.5 hour rate cap on its Challenger 300s and Citation Xs. In other words, a six hour flight from New York to Los Angeles is only billed at 3.5 hours, plus taxi time. There are also options to share flights and buy single seats on flights started by others. Its fixed rate program starts at $100,000, and is refundable.
Wheels Up – Delta Private Jets (Wheels Up Group)
With the acquisitions of Delta Private Jets, TMC Jets and Gama Signature LLC in the past year, Wheels Up group is now the largest Part 135 operator in the U.S. The second membership company founded by Kenny Dichter (he started Marquis Jet Partners in 2001 before selling it to NetJets in 2010), it offers a variety of programs, including pay-as-you-go, deposit options, and jet sharing.
Jet Linx Aviation
While the Omaha-based management company has been around for two decades, in recent years it has been on an expansion binge. Its pay-as-you-go jet card members can fly anywhere, however, it only serves customers in 18 markets where it operates its own private terminals providing an extra level of separation from others.
More U.S. programs with fixed one-way pricing and guaranteed availability
Air Charter Service; Air Partner; Airshare; Airstream Jets Inc.; Alliance Aviation; Concord Private Jet; Dominion Charter, Ltd.; Dreamline Aviation, Dumont Aviation; Exec 1 Aviation; ExpertJet; Flexjet; International Jet; Jet Algo; Jet Aviation Flight Services, Inc.; Jet Linx Aviation; Jet the World; JetSet Group; Jets.com; Luxury Aircraft Solutions; Magellan Jets; Nicholas Air; Northern Jet Management; ONEFlight International; Outlier Jets; Priester Aviation; Private Jet Services Group (PJS Group); Prive Jets; Quantum Jets; Silverhawk Aviation; Solairus Aviation; Starflight Aviation; Vault Jet, and Velocity Jets.
Fractional Ownership and Leases
Created by NetJets founder Richard Santulli in the 1980s, and then popularized after Warren Buffett bought the company in the 1998, the idea of buying shares of private jets vastly expanded the market of regular users, filling the wide chasm between full ownership and on-demand charter. Jet cards were only invented in 1999.
Whether you go for a lease or buy a share often has to do with tax implications. Contracts are typically for three to five years. A 1/16th share, the starting point for most programs, is equal to 50 flight hours per year.
The way it works, a quarter share of a $20 million jet is $5 million upfront, which can be financed. You then pay a monthly management fee, and when you fly, an hourly rate, plus variable fuel surcharge updated monthly or quarterly. You get both guaranteed availability and fixed one-way rates. At the end of your contract, you get the residual value of your share back.
Lead time for reservations can be as little as four hours and for certain aircraft and programs, the service area where you can fly without ferry fees includes everything from Europe, to Africa, Asia, and Australia.
You can often switch from the type of aircraft you bought to another type in the fleet with an interchange fee. Upgrading to a larger jet is sometimes as available.
Fractional ownership and leases are popular with corporate flight departments needing supplemental and don’t want to add to their existing fleets. You also don’t have to worry about hiring a new pilot after yours quit or replacing that $50,000 windshield after a birdstrike.
Downsides of Fractional Ownership
The biggest downside of fractional ownership is the commitment. You need to manage your use of hours, as they are allocated on an annual basis, although there are rollover provisions. If you aren’t flying regularly, you still pay the monthly management fee. Lastly, you don’t know your true cost until you sell your share at the end of the contract. A lease will give you a fixed price, however, you lose the tax benefits of ownership.
Key Players
NetJets (Berkshire Hathaway)
NetJets is the world’s largest private jet operator, and has a separate subsidiary in Europe to service clients there and in the Middle East. Its wide range of aircraft options include the Phenom 300, Citation XLS (a midsize jet NetJets sells as a light jet), Citation Sovereign, Citation Latitude, Challenger 350, Citation Longitude, Challenger 650, G450, Global 6000 and 7500.
Flexjet (Directional Aviation)
If NetJets is Hertz, then the second largest provider, Flexjet, plays the role of Avis, as in “We Try Harder,” if you remember those classic commercials. Its chairman Kenn Ricci is considered one of the industry’s most innovative executives. His Nextant Aerospace remanufactures aircraft. Constant Aviation quickly moved into providing bio-protection treatments after the COVID-19 outbreak.
Kenn Ricci, Principal of Directional Aviation, presented the Kenn Ricci Lifetime Aviation … [+]
Flexjet has worked to provide a different approach with its Red Label fleet of fashion-forward interior designs. Pilots stay with the same aircraft, so it’s more likely to run across the same flight crews during your travels. Flexjet also has an order for next generation supersonic business jets.
Instead of selling it G650 program by the traditional hours per year metric (1/16th = 50 hours, 1/8th = 100 hours), you buy days. It’s a good idea. For that multi-city trip to Europe, you can keep the same aircraft with you for the entire trip, even if you are in Paris for a couple days. If you want to keep a couple suitcases on the plane, you don’t have to clear out all your stuff at every stop.
Other U.S. Fractional Providers
After the Great Recession, fractional programs took a backseat to jet cards as folks who got caught short decided they might prefer private aviation options without the multi-year commitments.
There are several interesting significant boutique providers. Airshare also uses a by-the-day formula featuring Phenom 100s and 300s in select markets, mainly in the Midwest, Colorado, and Texas.
Nicholas Air is a bit of a hidden gem. Privately owned by founder Nicholas Correnti, it offers a rapidly growing national program on a diverse fleet consisting of Pilatus PC-12 turboprops, Phenom 100s and 300s, Citation CJ3 and Latitude types, and the Challenger 300. With the ability to carry nine passengers, its Phenom 300 provides an economical option for trips that might normally require a super midsize or even large cabin aircraft. Its fleet age averages under five years.
Members I’ve spoken with give it high marks for service. Notable fliers include actress Nicole Kidman, two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Eli Manning, and PGA golfer Steve Stricker, a 12-time victor and the 2020 US Ryder Cup Captain.
PlaneSense, which uses the PC-12 and more recently the jet PC-24s, is moving its footprint from the east and midwest towards the Pacific. Northern Jet Management serves customers in Michigan and Floria. In Canada, AirSprint is the big player. You will also find cottage fractional share programs on a local market basis.
Full Aircraft Ownership
As big wealth is achieved at a younger age, there has been an influx of first time owners. In other words, today’s new private jet owner might have been sleeping on a couch in their dorm less than a decade ago.
While you can enter into charter and jet card contracts using your own lawyer, when it comes to fractional and full ownership, it is strongly advised to have professional advice. As good as your corporate counsel is, he or she probably isn’t an expert on the minutia of business aviation law.
One of the first questions is to think about new versus used. You will also want to interview management companies, unless you plan to set up your own flight department.
Instead of being repetitive here, I suggest reading “40 Steps You Need To Know Before Buying A Private Jet.”
There are many advantages to owning your own jet. You fly under the less restrictive Part 91 rules. That means access to more airports which meet OEM specifications, but fractional and charter operators won’t serve. You also can design the interior to suit your tastes, including seating layouts. You can smoke a cigar or let your pet ferrets roam freely in the cabin.
When you own an aircraft, get ready for all sorts of bills. Most owners also buy jet cards or charter when their planes are down for maintenance. And, if your needs change, you might find your current aircraft no longer is a fit. On the other side, are possible tax benefits. You can also offer your jet for charter when you are not using it to reduce overall expenses.
IADA, the International Aircraft Dealers Association, includes just 3% of dealers that collectively account for 60% of all pre-owned transactions globally. Each must go through an accreditation process every three years.
Closing Thoughts
If you can afford to buy a jet, or even drop 20,000 bucks on a charter, you are smart enough to have figured out how to earn more money than most people. The biggest mistake newbies make is not dedicating the time up front to figure out the solutions that are best for them. The other mistake is not engaging professionals to assist them.
One thing I can assure you is once you start flying privately, you’ll understand its value and wonder why you waited so long. I like to say, flying privately won’t add years to your life, but it will add years of enjoyment to your life.
