Paramount Business Jets - the pioneer of transparent private jet pricing since 2010. See exactly what you pay on every flight. 4.9 stars. 4,000+ aircraft worldwide.
A first in private aviation. Paramount Business Jets is the pioneer of transparent private jet pricing - the first charter broker in the industry to publicly itemize its management fee on every client quote. We introduced this model in 2010, formally announced it in 2014, and have not changed it since. At the time, most brokers wouldn't even answer the question. Many still won't.
The best private jet card is one that shows you exactly what you're paying - operator cost, taxes, and the broker's fee - on every quote, before you commit to a single dollar. Most programs don't do this. Paramount Business Jets pioneered this model in 2010, becoming the first private jet charter broker to itemize its management fee on every client quote. The result for corporate travelers, high-net-worth individuals, and first-time private flyers: the fairest price the charter market can offer - with no hidden markups, no inflated base rates, and no guesswork. The Paramount Private Jet Card Membership agreement guarantees you will receive a fair and transparent price on every trip. A level of transparency that the majority, if not all, private jet companies are not able to provide.
Quick answer: What makes Paramount the best private jet card? Three things: full pricing transparency (operator cost, taxes, and Paramount's fee itemized on every quote - a practice Paramount pioneered in 2010), active ARGUS Gold safety enforcement on every flight with zero exceptions, and genuine client advocacy - including fighting cancellation fees and service failures on your behalf. Backed by 20 years in business, a 4.9-star in Trust Pilot and 5.0 stars in Google - average across nearly 400 reviews.
The Pioneer of Transparent Private Jet Pricing
In 2010, while every other private jet charter broker in the industry was bundling their commission into opaque base rates, Paramount Business Jets did something that had never been done before: they started showing clients exactly what the broker earned on every single quote.
Not a range. Not an estimate. The actual number - operator charter cost, applicable taxes, and Paramount's management fee - line by line, on every trip, before the client signed anything.
When Paramount formally announced this as its Trust and Transparency model in 2014, the reaction from competitors was telling. Brokers who had built their margins on opacity were openly hostile to the idea. Asking a broker how much they marked up a charter was considered offensive. Paramount answered the question anyway - and published the answer on every quote they sent.
That was not a marketing tactic. It was a founding conviction.
Today, thanks in part to Paramount's advocacy through ACANA - the industry's broker association, where founder Richard Zaher served as Chair - transparency in charter broker compensation is now a federal requirement under DOT New Rule 295. Paramount didn't follow that standard. They set it, years before it existed.
"The industry told me transparency would cost me, clients. Twenty years later, it's the reason we have them." - Richard Zaher, Founder & CEO
What Is a Private Jet Card - and Why Does Transparency Matter?
A private jet card is a prepaid program that gives you access to charter aircraft without owning or leasing a plane. You deposit funds and draw down that balance flight by flight. Most programs quote a fixed hourly rate. The problem: that fixed rate almost always conceals a broker markup of 20-40% over what the operator actually charges.
For a $50,000 domestic charter, that hidden markup can cost you $10,000-$20,000 more than you need to pay. On a $200,000 transatlantic flight - say, New York to London - the difference can exceed $40,000. The client never sees it because the markup is baked into the hourly rate before the quote is ever generated.
Paramount's jet card has worked differently since 2010. Every quote shows three separate line items:
- The operator's actual charter cost - what the operator charges Paramount
- Applicable taxes and fees - itemized, never bundled
- Paramount's management fee - fixed by your card tier, disclosed upfront, never inflated per-trip
You know exactly what you're paying and exactly what Paramount earns. No other broker offered this when Paramount introduced it. It remains the clearest pricing model in private aviation today. See full pricing details or use the cost estimator to ballpark your trip.
Paramount Jet Card vs. Typical Fixed-Rate Programs
When evaluating any private jet card, the single most important question is: Do you see what you're actually paying for? Use our free aircraft comparison tool to evaluate options by category, range, cabin size, and pricing.
Feature | Paramount Jet Card | Typical Fixed-Rate Card |
Operator cost disclosed | ✅ Yes - every quote | ❌ No - bundled into rate |
Broker fee disclosed | ✅ Yes - fixed by tier | ❌ No - built into markup |
Pricing pioneered | ✅ Industry first - since 2010 | ❌ Opaque markup standard |
Taxes itemized | ✅ Yes - line by line | Sometimes |
Aircraft options | 4,000+ worldwide - all categories | Operator's own fleet only |
Safety standard | ARGUS Gold - enforced every flight | Varies by program |
Safety check timing | Before every departure - crew verified | Varies |
Client advocacy | ✅ Active - cancellations, safety, service | Limited or none |
Pricing model | Dynamic market + fixed management fee | Fixed hourly (markup hidden) |
Deposit | Fully refundable - no expiry | Terms vary |
Blackout dates | Zero | Often restricted |
Years in business | 20 years (est. 2005) | Varies |
Independent reviews | 4.9–5.0 stars · 400 reviews | Varies |
Who Should Use the Paramount Jet Card?
Corporate Travelers and Executive Teams
For companies whose executives fly regularly - New York to Los Angeles, New York to Miami, or transatlantic to London or Dubai - a transparent jet card eliminates the CFO's least favorite question: why did this trip cost 30% more than last quarter? Every Paramount flight generates an auditable quote - operator cost, taxes, management fee - that finance teams can review, approve, and file with confidence. No surprises at settlement. Explore corporate charter flight solutions.
Paramount's Platinum ($500K) and Black ($1M) card tiers carry progressively lower management fee rates - designed specifically for high-frequency corporate programs where annual spend justifies the commitment. Because Paramount pioneered the transparent fee model, every corporate client has always known exactly what they pay for the service, not just the flight. The DOT's New Rule 295 - which Paramount helped develop - now mandates broker-fee disclosure industry-wide. Paramount has enforced this standard voluntarily since 2010.
High-Net-Worth Individuals Flying 10-50+ Hours Per Year
If you currently charter on demand and spend more than $150,000 per year on private aviation, a Paramount Jet Card gives you two things most brokers still won't: the certainty you're not overpaying, and a team that fights for you when something goes wrong. Access covers all aircraft categories - from light jets for short hops to ultra-long-range heavy jets for transatlantic missions. The team actively negotiates with operators on every trip, including evaluating whether two one-way legs or a full round-trip delivers better value for a specific itinerary.
Read what clients say - nearly 400 independently verified five-star testimonials on Google and Trustpilot, averaging 4.9–5.0 stars.
First-Time Private Flyers
The Ultimate Guide to Private Jet Travel is the best starting point if you've never chartered a private jet. Paramount's transparent model removes all friction: you see the full cost breakdown before you commit, and if anything falls short - a crew issue, a service failure, a cancellation dispute - Paramount's team handles it on your behalf. Use the private jet cost estimator to ballpark your trip before you call.
The Paramount Jet Card: Four Tiers, One Pricing Standard
Paramount offers four jet card tiers, each built on the same transparent pricing foundation we introduced to the industry in 2010:
• Emerald Card – Entry-level tier for travelers beginning their private aviation journey
• Gold Card ($250K deposit)
• Platinum Card ($500K deposit) – Lower management fee rate; ideal for frequent domestic and international flyers
• Black Card ($1M deposit) – Lowest management fee rate; designed for corporate programs and ultra-frequent flyers
All four tiers include access to our 4,000+ aircraft network, fully itemized pricing on every quote, ARGUS Gold safety enforcement, zero blackout dates, and a fully refundable deposit with no expiry date. The tier you choose affects only the management fee rate — never the quality of service, level of access, or the transparency of your quote. Get a charter quote to see how it works on your specific route.
Why True Transparency Matters in Fixed-Hourly Jet Cards
Fixed-hourly jet card programs come with significantly higher rates because clients are prepaying for the provider’s risk on one-way trips and on empty return legs.
However, most programs offer almost no transparency. Clients are simply assigned an aircraft from a broad category without seeing actual pricing, aircraft options, age, interior quality, or availability.
This lack of transparency creates two common issues:
• When using their own fleet, providers are incentivized to push their own aircraft, even if better options exist in the market.
• When sourcing from the open market, providers can quietly select the cheapest available aircraft and keep the margin difference without the client knowing what else was available.
True transparency changes this. It reveals real aircraft costs and options, allowing clients to make informed decisions — whether that means choosing a better aircraft for a small premium or taking advantage of the best deal available in the market.
Safety Standards That Don't Bend: ARGUS Gold on Every Flight
Private jet safety is not uniform across the industry. Every operator is FAA Part 135-certified, but audit ratings - ARGUS Gold and Wyvern - vary significantly and reflect the true depth of an operator's safety culture. Full details on the Paramount safety page.
Paramount requires all operators to meet or exceed ARGUS Gold standards - verified via an ARGUS TripCHEQ and/or Wyvern PASS report run before every departure. Approximately 10% of pre-flight crew checks return a flag, most commonly a Second Officer whose time-in-type falls below the required minimum.
When that happens, Paramount does not negotiate or make exceptions. The operator provides a qualified crew, or Paramount books a different aircraft immediately. The client's trip proceeds on time. Operators who refuse to provide safety documentation are permanently blacklisted by Paramount's in-house Safety Manager.
Only 27% of operators worldwide meet Paramount's vetting requirements. View full safety accreditations and download a sample ARGUS TripCHEQ report on the safety page.
Strategic Client Advocacy: What Happens When Something Goes Wrong
No charter program can guarantee a perfect flight every time. What separates Paramount from other private jet brokers is how it handles when something falls short. Paramount's advocacy is active and documented:
- Service failures: if a crew member is unprofessional, catering falls short of the agreed standard, or anything on board fails to meet the agreed standard, Paramount contacts the operator and requests remediation, using its position as a high-volume client as leverage.
- Cancellation disputes: Paramount reviews actual aircraft repositioning data to verify whether the operator genuinely incurred claimed costs before accepting any cancellation fee. When operators are fair, clients are told. When they're not, Paramount pushes back.
- Fuel surcharges: verified against the ARGUS Jet Fuel Index with a zero-markup pass-through policy.
- Safety non-compliance: operators unable to meet ARGUS Gold standards are replaced immediately, then blacklisted. See the full safety policy.
Read what clients say about this advocacy directly - nearly 400 five-star reviews on Trustpilot and Google. View all client testimonials.
Fly Anywhere: Domestic and International Routes
Paramount's 4,000+ aircraft network covers domestic US routes and international destinations across six continents. Browse all private jet destinations or explore popular routes with estimated pricing:
- New York to London - Large jet from $93,000
- New York to Los Angeles - Super-midsize from $35,000
- New York to Miami - Light jet from $15,000
- Miami to Las Vegas - Super-midsize from $42,000
- Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas - Light jet from $25,000
Estimated rates exclude fuel surcharges of 10-15% depending on route and region.
Browse featured countries, featured regions, featured routes, and airports worldwide. Calculate environmental impact with the carbon offset calculator.
20 Years of Ethical Brokerage: The Track Record
Paramount Business Jets was founded in 2005 by Richard Zaher - with $5,000 and a mission to build the opposite of the brokerage he had just left. Learn the full story on the company page. Two decades of doing it right, in numbers and perfecting private jet card pricing.
- Pioneer of transparent private jet card pricing - first in the industry to itemize broker margin on every client quote, beginning 2010
- Inc. 5000 - Four-time honoree (2013, 2014, 2018, 2022), America's fastest-growing private companies
- 400 independent reviews - 4.9 stars on Trustpilot, 5.0 stars on Google
- BBB A+ Accredited - Uncompromising ethics since 2005
- 90%+ jet card client satisfaction rate
- Founding contributor to DOT New Rule 295 - the federal regulation mandating transparency for all US charter brokers
- Mentioned in The New York Times for charging $75,000 for Japan tsunami relief flights when competitors charged $125,000
- 2026 World Travel Awards Nominee - North America's Leading Private Jet Charter
"We are living proof that when a private jet charter broker does things ethically and treats people fairly, it's not just the right thing to do - it's the smartest way to build a successful, sustainable business." - Richard Zaher, Founder & CEO
Beyond the Jet Card: Paramount's Full Range of Services
While the Paramount Jet Card is designed for repeat clients who value transparency and long-term partnership, the company offers a full suite of private aviation services:
- On-Demand Private Charter - Any aircraft, any route, as little as 4 hours' notice
- Corporate Charter Flight Solutions - Dedicated programs for executive and business travel teams
- Group Charter - Sports teams, music tours, and large corporate groups
- Empty Leg Flights - Discounted repositioning flights for flexible travelers
- VIP Airliner Charter - Boeing Business Jets and large-cabin airliners for major delegations and groups
- Air Ambulance & Medical Flights - Urgent medical transport with specialized equipment
- Helicopter Rental - Short-range transfers and city connections
- Traveling with Pets - Pet-friendly charters with no hidden restrictions
- Concierge Services - Ground transport, catering, hotel, and experience coordination
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Paramount Business Jets really the first to offer transparent jet card pricing?
Yes. Paramount began itemizing its management fee on every client quote in 2010, years before transparency became an industry talking point. When Paramount formally announced its Trust and Transparency model in a 2014 press release, no other private jet charter broker disclosed its margin on client quotes. Most brokers at the time refused to answer the question. Paramount's advocacy through ACANA and its direct contribution to DOT New Rule 295 ultimately helped private jet brokers gain FAA and DOT acceptance for the entire industry. The record is verifiable through online history.
What is the best private jet card for corporate travel?
The best corporate jet card provides full pricing transparency, a third-party safety check, and a fixed management fee structure that aligns the broker's interests with the client's. Paramount's Platinum and Black-tier cards are built for corporate programs, with management fee rates that decrease with commitment level and full auditability for every flight quote. See corporate charter solutions.
How does Paramount's transparent pricing actually work?
Every Paramount quote shows three line items: the operator's actual charter cost, applicable taxes and fees, and Paramount's management fee - fixed by your card tier, never inflated per-trip. No additional markup. No bundled surcharge. Full pricing details here. Use the cost estimator for a ballpark figure before you call.
Is Paramount available for international private jet charter?
Yes. Paramount's network covers domestic US and international destinations, including Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. Popular routes include New York to London and Miami to the Caribbean. Browse all destinations.
What safety standards does Paramount require?
Paramount requires all operators to meet or exceed ARGUS Gold standards - verified via ARGUS TripCHEQ and/or Wyvern PASS reports before every departure. Full details on the safety page.
How does Paramount compare to fractional ownership programs?
Fractional ownership programs require purchasing a share of a specific aircraft, typically with long-term contracts and management fees tied to that aircraft's costs. Paramount's jet card gives you access to 4,000+ aircraft worldwide with no ownership commitment, a fully refundable deposit, zero blackout dates, and the transparent pricing model that fractional programs don't offer. Use the aircraft comparison tool to evaluate aircraft types. The Ultimate Guide to Private Jet Travel covers all private aviation models side by side.
How do I compare private jet aircraft before booking?
Use Paramount's free aircraft comparison tool to evaluate models by range, cabin size, passenger capacity, and cost per flight hour. Browse the full private jet fleet or check the aviation terminology glossary for definitions of aircraft categories, safety ratings, and charter terms.
How do I get started with a Paramount Jet Card?
Contact Paramount's team 24/7 at paramountbusinessjets.com, call +1-877-727-2538, or request a charter quote online. An advisor will recommend the right card tier and walk through the transparent pricing model before you commit. Read the full FAQ page for more.
The Bottom Line
The private jet card market is crowded, and most programs look identical on the surface while claiming transparency. The difference is what you don't see: whether your broker is showing you the real cost or protecting a hidden margin. Paramount Business Jets answered that question in 2010 - becoming the first broker in the industry to itemize their fee on every quote - and has answered it the same way every day since.
For corporate travel managers who need auditability, high-net-worth individuals who demand fairness, and first-time private flyers who simply want to understand what they're buying, that two-decade record of consistency is exactly what makes Paramount the best private jet card in the market.
Get a quote or call +1-877-727-2538 - available 24/7.
