We show you how to drastically reduce your private jet costs with 15 easy to implement tips. So think twice before deciding you can’t afford to charter a private jet.

Private Jet Costs - 15 Easy Ways To Save Money

Images of overflowing champagne glasses are part of the standard private jet repertoire, suggesting out-of-reach luxury for most. But you can fly on a private jet for a similar price as business or first class on a commercial airline. You also save time by using private terminals and touching down at regional airports.

Here are 15 easy ways to slash your private jet costs. For some passengers they move private jets into the realm of possibility. For others they’re more like common sense strategies to save money in an industry that’s far more affordable than people give credit.

1. Air Charter On Demand

The cheapest way to fly private is to fly on demand. That way you only pay for the flights you use and aren’t subject to any membership or other outrageous fees. It doesn’t make sense to be restricted when the benefit of a private charter is flexibility.

2. Look for Transparent Private Jet Costs

Every flight has a price. But what does that price include? Landing fees, ramp fees, segment fees, changes in fuel price, wait time fees, short leg fees, reposition fees, one-way fees, and the 7.5% federal excise tax. What seems like a good deal may not translate to a good deal, so make sure you book a charter that has a transparent single price.

3. Compare Flights Online

Every operator is going to charge a different price for the flight you want. That’s dependent primarily on your choice of aircraft, but also all manner of other things you can’t control. Try one operator and you get one price. Try two operators and you get double the choice. Search through hundreds of operators and thousands of aircraft and you dramatically reduce your private jet costs.

4. Private Jet Costs Are Lower With Smaller Aircraft

Private jet costs are mostly dictated by the size of the aircraft. The bigger the plane the more you will pay. So look for the smallest aircraft necessary for the distance and number of passengers.

5. Empty Leg Flights

Empty leg flights can be restrictive as you must fly between predetermined locations. However, they offer huge discounts on private jet costs and can be very useful when flying on popular routes between major cities.

6. Fill the Seats

Charter a plane and you pay for the plane, not the seat. Fill those seats and the cost per passenger comes down. If you don’t want to pay for the plane upfront, you can pay for a seat and send an invite to fellow passengers. Once everybody has paid the private jet is chartered. This isn’t possible directly through FAA Part 135 operators but is possible through a marketplace like Airvel.

7. Airport Choice

Airports have different landing and handling fees, so some are much cheaper to use than others. Changing airport could mean cheaper private jet costs. Unfortunately there’s no easy go-to guide for airport costs. Airvel’s Customer Experience team can search private jet flights for you, using their industry knowledge to provide alternative airports and routes.

8. Minimizing Positioning Costs

If an aircraft is currently in Los Angeles and you want to book it from New York, you’ll be charged for getting that aircraft from Los Angeles to New York. That’s an extreme example to illustrate positioning costs, usually it’s a much shorter hop to get in position. But you can reduce these positioning costs to zero. Airvel’s proprietary technology considers positioning costs to give you the best private jet costs. By comparing deals you can select the cheapest aircraft, usually those based at the airport you are departing from.

9. Consider Props for Short Distances

Not piston props, but turbo-props, a cost-effective alternative to light or mid-sized jets. They are cheaper to operate and those cheaper jet costs are passed on to you.

10. Consider Older Aircraft

All aircraft available for charter are subject to strict FAA Part 135 regulations. Just because an aircraft is a decade old doesn’t mean it is unsafe. If the aircraft is available for charter then it must have passed FAA Part 135 regulations. If it’s on Airvel then it’s subject to further safety checks.

11. Avoid Jet Cards

The easiest way to spend more than you need is to get a jet card. This article has everything you need to know about private jet cards. They require significant pre-investment and tie you into specific aircraft, before charging additional fees like annual memberships and peak-time surcharges.

12. Sidestep Jet Brokers

Brokers charge a percentage. That percentage gets passed on to you. For cheaper private jet costs it’s better to book to avoid them.

13. Keep it Functional, Not Luxurious

Private jets don’t need to be luxurious. Luxury is provided by the time that you save. So keep it functional rather than opulent.

14. Add Up the Cost of Time Saved

Okay, so this doesn’t mean cheaper private jet costs, it just helps you visualize the value of the flight you are taking. How much is a five-hour time saving worth to you? Or to those who pay your salary? While the cost of a private jet may initially appear to be more than a business class flight, throw in the time savings and you can be looking at an exceptionally good deal.

15. AIRVEL

The cheapest private jet costs and an unrestricted choice of aircraft, they are the main advantages of Airvel. It’s the leading marketplace for private air charter.

• Search over 4000 aircraft and fly to over 2500 locations
• Enjoy 24-7 concierge support as standard
• Completely transparent on-demand air charter pricing
• No membership fees or other added costs
• Compare aircraft and prices instantly; choose the deal that’s best for you
• Split the costs of a flight with other passengers you invite
• An unrestricted choice of FAA Part 135 aircraft for charter
• The widest choice means the best deals