A private jet is an aircraft that is designed to transport a small number of people from one location to another. As the name suggests, private jets are owned privately, either by an individual or company rather than being owned by a commercial airline. Private jets are typically used by business professionals, athletes, celebrities and other high-profile individuals, as well as families and large groups of friends travelling together. If you’re a business owner—or an entrepreneur—looking to streamline your operations, a private jet might be the perfect solution.
Buying vs Chartering
When it comes to flying by private jet, there are two options. You can buy your own private jet, in which case you will own the jet outright giving you total freedom and control, however, you will also be responsible for all the overhead costs too, such as jet maintenance, hiring your flight crew and hangaring your jet when not in use.
Alternatively, you can charter a private jet. If you are a business or a business owner, this is the best option. Chartering is essentially renting a private jet as and when you want to use it. This doesn’t involve the upfront outlay that buying your own jet entails, instead you’ll pay when you fly or take out a membership to guarantee access when you need it.
For most businesses, chartering is the more convenient option of the two and makes more economical sense, however, you should consider your circumstances and check private jet prices before making your final decision.
The Speed
If speed is of the essence, private jets are certainly the way to travel, especially for business purposes. As private jet users, you and your employees won’t need to deal with long delays and cancelled flights or never-ending security checks, you’ll simply pass through a scaled-down version of check-in before boarding your plane and you can expect to be in the air within minutes rather than hours of your arrival at the airport. This can turn overseas meetings and business trips into a much more relaxed experience for your employees. A private jet can also be booked and caught within a matter of a few hours if you have a reliable provider, making it an ideal option if you need a last-minute flight for an important meeting.
The Range of Locations
Private jets are smaller, meaning they can land at a wider range of airports than commercial aircrafts, affording you more flexibility on the location. This is perfect for businesses as rather than being tied to larger commercial airports, you’ll have a far greater choice so you can get your business trip off to a good start without worrying about long and tiring transfers when you land. Your private jet provider will be able to discuss destination options with you and you’ll be surprised at the amount of choice available. If you’re looking for a casual business trip, private jets frequently fly to Barbados, the Philippines, Sicily and the Cayman Islands.
Etiquette
Private jets offer a significantly higher level of in-flight comfort and services compared to commercial airlines, making them ideal for harnessing some productivity. This means you’ll be free to get on with important work without the interruptions commonly seen on commercial flights. However, it’s important to remember that when you charter a private jet, you are effectively renting out someone else’s plane, so you should always treat the cabin and the flight crew with respect.
James Allen is a content writer from the UK with an interest in business, entrepreneurship and marketing.