More and more people are beginning to see the benefits of traveling privately for either business or personal reasons. The private jet price can be very expensive, but there are ways around this.
There are multiple ways to travel via private jet on a budget, and some of these methods and tips are far easier than you might think.
1- Avoid the Airport
The first thing you should do is avoid using a private charter that uses hub airports. You can think of it as buying a hotdog at a baseball game; they cost 4-times the price just because they are at the stadium, not because they are better.
Every major city in the world has at least one smaller airfield that small charter companies and private pilots use. More often than not, the price of flying will be lower at these airfields.
2- Travel in a Group
Much like a road trip, traveling by private charter will be cheaper if you do it as a group. Whether for business or a group holiday, fill the plane up, as every empty seat is more money you have to spend.
3- Fly the Empty Legs
Almost all commercial flights are considered “in use” at any time, as they fly to one location with passengers and then fly back with different passengers. Private jets work a bit differently, as return flights aren’t common.
Flying on the empty leg means flying when the jet is coming back to its home airfield or relocating to a different one. Since this is a flight it would have to do anyway, it is usually cheaper but a bit trickier to organize.
4- Choose Smaller Jets
There is no need to travel on the biggest jet you can find, and the difference in price between the largest and smallest jets can be mind-blowing. There is often no need to travel in a large jet unless you have an equally big group.
5- Avoid Peak Times
This is a tip that applies across all air travel. The cheapest times to fly are when no one is flying, and this can be especially true for private jets. Since they aren’t used as much as commercial airlines, you can find a good deal more often than not.
While you may have to wake up a few hours earlier or go to bed really late, these off-peak flights are almost always cheaper.
6- Book in Advance
Another tip that works across all air travel is to book in advance. This is a double-edged sword in commercial travel but can save you a lot of money in private travel. There are two main benefits of booking a private flight early.
The first is that you can choose which aircraft you fly on, meaning you can choose the cheapest option. The second is you can select your in-flight experience; you have all the options open to you.
7- Choose Prop Planes
Prop planes often have a reputation of not seeming as safe as a regular turboshaft or turbojet engine. However, not only is this the furthest thing from the truth but prop planes are also much cheaper to fly on.
Prop planes are also cheaper to maintain and operate, meaning costs are lower across the board. The safety question isn’t an issue either, as there is no real difference in safety between prop and turbojet planes.
8- Older Can Be Better
Older aircraft are not only much cheaper to charter, but often offer all the same things you would get on a brand new plane. Commercial and private planes are refurbished regularly, and a craft that is ten years old can have the interior and finishes of one that is a few months old.
It’s important to remember that many fleets aren’t brand new, and unlike in the world of cars, for example, an older aircraft doesn’t mean an unreliable one.
9- Avoid Extras
Finally, there is often no need to have a fully stocked champagne bar and a 6-course meal waiting for you on the jet. Unless you want to live the life of a millionaire on your flight, rather choose not to add all of these extras.
It is also important to note that private jets have far more extras than a regular flight, and more often than not you can choose not to have any. Make sure you know what these extras are before you book, as you can save yourself a ton of money right off the bat.
