Private Jet Charter | Business Jet Rentals

Before the advent of fractional jet ownership and shared-ride memberships, flying privately was a privilege and convenience afforded only to government officials and the ultra-rich. But today, many of those who have settled for flying commercially would be pleasantly surprised by alternatives that have become available.

Two main alternatives to flying mass commercial airliners are fractional jet ownership and shared-ride membership. Each option is described below.

1. Fractional jet ownership is a time-share model that emerged in the late 1980s and remains popular today. In a typical fractional jet ownership arrangement, each participant owns between 1/16^th and ½ of an aircraft. Management expenses are divided, as are fuel and flight fees. In exchange for putting funds on deposit, fliers are guaranteed fast access to a jet of a certain quality – often within just four hours of giving notice that a jet is desired.

Private jet ownership is generally considered to be cost-effective for those who fly more than 50 hours annually. Agreements require the customer to use hours within a given time period, although some management companies grant partial refunds. Typical agreements include 100 hours of flight time per 1/8 share. Each share is pro-rated according to market rates for the jet size in which an owner is primarily interested. Prices generally start at around $100,000 for 25 hours of flight time, but they of course vary with the aircraft involved.

1. Shared-ride membership, a more cost-conscious alternative, has recently become popular in the eastern U.S. With shared-ride membership, people who prefer to bypass major airports and large crowds may share a small plane with like-minded passengers. Compared with jet membership, shared-ride membership costs are especially lean; members’ ticket prices sometimes rival those offered to the masses by larger carriers. Passengers also tout the fact that a single shared flight brings less environmental impact than if each flier were to charter a jet alone.

Whether you’re looking for elite private jet ownership or a more affordable alternative to mass carrier travel hassles, today’s private jet charter companies offer some appealing options.