Private flight can be extravagant, but the price doesn’t have to be! Even if we ignore the time you save at the airport in lines or waiting to take off, or how you can land closer to your final destination with the numerous private airports throughout the US, or even the benefit of being able to work while onboard and arrive less fatigued – flying privately has many other benefits that can be highly valuable for frequent flyers.
One of the most common questions we hear, and one of the first queries our new clients have for us, is “how much does it cost to charter a private jet?”
This is a great question as it can hugely depend, which is probably why there is so much confusion surrounding the subject. But Vault Aviation wants to be transparent, informative, and offer both quality and value. So, how much does it cost to charter a private jet? Let’s break down some of the factors and find out.
The Price Tag on Private Jets
Private jets are pricey, everyone knows that, with a Cessna CJ4 coming in at just under $10 million. And then there is the maintenance, repairs, depreciation, repositioning fees, and other factors that make outright ownership less-than-desirable for most.
But if you still want the flexibility, luxury, and ease of private flight, without all the hassle and cost, then private jet charters can be a great option. But many people don’t know what price range is even possible. Just like everyone knows that the cost of owning a private jet is high, almost no one knows the cost of chartering a private jet!
Some of this confusion is due to the vast differences in the length of the flight, size of the plane, amenities, dates, and more. But that doesn’t mean you have to go in blindly! Vault Aviation finds you the best jets at the best prices with the best amenities – every time.
The Cost of a Charter Flight on a Turboprop and Light Jet:
If you are planning on going to a big game, a special dinner, afternoon meeting, or another quick trip, then you will probably want to use a turboprop or a light jet.
This is one of the most economical choices, for example, if you want a weekend in the Hamptons on a smaller plane – then you could find a round trip private jet charter on a turboprop from New York for about $7,000.
If you want a jet instead a turboprop for your round trip, then the price for a light jet may go up to around $10,000.
Light jets are an affordable option for shorter trips, like LA to Las Vegas, or weekend getaways with a few friends, in fact, the above flight course would only take about an hour and get you and your additional passengers to Sin City and back for around $10,000 as well.
As a general rule of thumb, before taxes, turboprops and light jets cost about $3,000-5,500 per hour and can hold up to 7 passengers. So, this roughly comes out to under $1,000 per hour, per passenger.
The Cost of a Charter Flight on a Midsize Jet:
Now, let’s say you are looking for a longer flight, further destination, larger plane, or more passengers and luggage – what price should you expect then?
If you want to go from Seattle to New Orleans, then you’ll have a flight time of around 4 hours. For a round trip with 7 passengers on a midsize jet, you may be looking at a price near $35,000 – or $5,000 total per passenger, around $1,250 per person, per hour.
However, if you go an hour farther on a midsize jet, with 8 passengers, your total may move to $40,000, or around $1,000 per passenger, per hour.
This means that a round trip on a midsize jet that can hold up to 8 passengers will cost around $1,000-1,250 per person, per hour.
The Cost of a Charter Flight on a Super Midsize Jet:
If you are looking for an even longer flight (6 or 7 hours) on a larger plane, then you may be looking for a super midsize jet. This could be for an international flight (from Boston to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico) or across the United States from coast to coast.
Flights this long require larger jets in order to not need a stop for refueling – which costs more time and money. These longer flights can cost you from $65,000-75,000, or around $10,800-12,500 total per hour.
Most super midsize jets carry from 9 passengers, making these flights hover right around $1,200-1,500 per hour, per passenger.
The Cost of a Charter Flight on a Heavy Jet:
Long-haul flights are best handled by heavy jets as they are more comfortable and offer the additional perks of a bigger cabin, luxurious amenities, and flight attendants.
Something like a flight from Los Angeles to London for 12 passengers would cost around $135,000 ($11,250 per passenger). While New York to Shanghai, around 15 hours in-flight time, for 16 passengers could reach upwards of $175,000 (under $1,000 per passenger, per hour).
Heavy jets can carry from 10 to 20 passengers! Meaning the range in price per passenger, per hour, can range from $1,000 to $2,000.
With such a wide range, it is highly important for heavy jet rentals to be assisted by a well-connected private jet broker, like Vault Aviation. We have no contracts or deals with the jet owners or carriers, meaning we are only committed to finding you the best jet at the best price.
Private Jet Charter Costs Should Include:
- Fuel for the distance you travel. These prices constantly change, so a surcharge is often added to make up the difference between the projected cost on your private jet charter quote, and the actual cost of flying.
- Landing fees are calculated on the size and weight of your aircraft. These vary from airport to airport and go towards maintaining airport facilities, like a toll road.
- On a return journey, ramp fees are charged when a plane is parked at an airport overnight or for other lengths of time.
- Airport fees are charged for managing an aircraft on the ground by a Fixed Based Operator (FBO) or Aircraft Handling Company. This includes servicing the aircraft’s toilets, arranging fuel and passenger transport to and from the terminal, and rest facilities for the crew.
- Other costs of multi-leg journeys can include overnight accommodation for private jet charter crew members and their taxis to and from the hotel to the airport during stop-overs.