Anyone can rent a plane. What may seem an outrageous expense is not. What may appear complicated has been made simple.

Private air charter is more affordable than most people realize, especially when you can charter the plane most appropriate for your needs. Renting a plane does not need a long-term financial commitment. There are no membership requirements or vast up-front investments. Everyone can fly private. Here is how.

Calculating the Cost of Renting a Plane

Luxury is the most common misconception about the air charter industry. Renting a plane is rarely luxurious. You do not charter opulent aircraft owned by celebrities and ex presidents. The reality is more mundane. Air charters are certainly more comfortable than going business class on a commercial flight, but the focus is on ease and flexibility rather than luxury. The reality is that the luxury of private jets is the time you can save.

To calculate the cost of renting a plane you must calculate the value of the time you can save.

Calculate the Time Saved

Private aircraft can use almost airport or airstrip. They can take off from shorter runways, use out of the way private airports, and land closer to your final destination. This saves time.

On a private flight you will use an airport FBO. This is a private airport terminal with expedited processes for passengers. You do not need to queue or arrive two hours before a flight. Usually you only arrive 15 minutes before a flight. At some airports you can drive on the runway to the waiting aircraft. Again, this saves time.

The greatest time saver when renting a plane is flying direct. You will travel from A to B without routing through C. Commercial flights work on a hub and spoke model. Private air charters fly directly to your destination. Just think about the time saved. How much is it worth to you and your business?

Before considering the cost a plane, first calculate how much your time is worth. Imagine how much you could get done when six hours of total travel time is reduced to less than two. Think of the productivity when a six day business tour by road becomes a one day business tour by air. Consider the cost savings when you do not need to stay overnight, but can be back home with the family, thanks to an air charter.

Calculate the Value of Flexibility

Commercial flights rarely leave at the time you want them to. Rent a plane and you choose the departure. Fly anywhere, anytime. The travel works around you, rather than needing you to adapt to timetables and schedules.

Most commercial flights are spent waiting for the plane to land. With a private air charter you can use aircraft that have been specifically tailored for your needs. For example, choose a plane with boardroom style seating to get business done during the flight. Or rent one with beds so you actually sleep, rather than drift off with a crooked neck and pain in your shins.

Also consider the ease of visiting multiple locations in a single day. With a private air charter you have the flexibility of getting more done. Naturally, this helps to save more time.

Then there is the flexibility of rearranging a flight. If you are late the aircraft will wait. You can make alterations at anytime. So when a meeting overruns or there is change in schedule, an air charter has you covered. How much is this flexibility worth to you and your business?

Rent a Plane on a Flight by Flight Basis

Memberships and pre-investment are two popular preconceptions about the air charter industry. If you have never rented a plane before, the general belief is that you need a jet card membership or some form of long-term commitment. This is absolutely not true. The cheapest and easiest means of renting a plane is on a flight by flight basis.

Jet card membership schemes require an upfront payment that is converted into a set number of hours on a specific type of aircraft. 25 flying hours is usually the minimum and most schemes start at USD 100,000. That is a serious expense when you do not know what you need, or even whether you will benefit from renting a plane. These jet card membership schemes also have a number of restrictions and additional fees, such as surcharges for peak dates and de-icing.

Fractional jet ownership requires an even greater pre-investment, upwards of USD 500,000. They should only be a possibility when you understand exactly what you need from a private aircraft.

Private jet brokers can organize a private aircraft on a flight by flight basis. So how do you find a qualified jet broker (there is no industry qualification or certification) and how do you get a good deal?

Airvel’s propriety technology allows you to search for private air charters on a flight by flight basis. You can rent a plane directly from the operator, without any upfront fees or broker commission.

Maximize the Choice

Maximize the choice and you maximize the time and money saved.

Every flight is different. Usually there will be a different route and different number of passengers. The cheapest plane to rent is the plane that meets your needs, but does not exceed them. For example, why charter a 19-seat plane when you have six passengers? Why book a mid-sized jet when a turboprop can fly the same route at half the price?

Membership schemes will tie you into a specific aircraft size, and often a specific geographical region. However, when flying in Florida it always makes sense to use a Florida based aircraft operator. This will remove repositioning fees and maximize the your flexibility. For almost all flights, a local operator can offer the best prices.

With Airvel you can search over 4000 aircraft and fly to over 2500 airports in the US, along with transatlantic and other international destinations. Airvel offers more choice than any jet broker or membership scheme. Maximize the choice and you get to realize all the benefits to renting a plane. Simply search for the flight you want then compare aircraft and their prices.

Find the Best Deals

These articles can assist in reducing the cost of your air charter. They will guide you through different options and help you understand the possibility that is available.

• Aircraft for charter guide – understand the types of aircraft and what is best for your flight.
• Guide to getting the best prices on jet charter quotes.
• How much is a private jet flight? Learn how the price is calculated and where you can save money.
• Last minute private jet charter – how to book and tips from the experts.
• Air charter for beginners – key questions answered by the experts.
• FAA Part 135 charters – all air charters are governed by FAA Part 135 and this article will help you understand the legal and safety basics in a few minutes.
• This article explains the forthcoming changes to FAA Part 135 operations and it may be useful for you to see how the air charter industry is evolving.

Fly With Airvel

Airvel is the world’s leading booking engine for private air charters. We believe that anyone can rent a plane, and anyone can fly where they want, when they want.

With Airvel you only pay for the flights you book. This flight by flight model offers maximum flexibility and removes the upfront costs.

There are no additional fees. The price you see is the price you pay. The transparent search engine enables you to calculate the cost of renting a plane. You can then compare these costs against jet card memberships or aircraft operators.

Airvel can also search for your flights. We offer a 24-7 concierge service as standard. Contact us with your flight requirements and we will search all the available options.

Everyone can rent a plane with Airvel. Give it a try you will find that the price can be similar to flying business class, just with all the added benefits of time saved and flexibility.