You can book & pay for flights as you go, buy a private jet card membership, or choose fractional ownership. Read on to see which method is best for you.

Choosing between a private jet card membership, on-demand charter flights, and fractional jet ownership comes down to how often you fly, how flexible your travel needs are, and how much upfront investment you're comfortable with. Here's what you need to know:

  • Jet card memberships offer a streamlined way to fly with fixed or capped pricing, ideal for those flying 25–100 hours per year.
  • On-demand jet charter is best for occasional flyers who want maximum flexibility with no upfront commitment.
  • Fractional ownership may suit ultra-frequent travelers flying over 100 hours annually, but it comes with high costs, long-term contracts, and limited flexibility.
  • Still unsure? Scroll down to the “Which is Best for Me” section for a quick summary.

Private Jet Card or On-Demand Charter: Which is Best for You?

As far as your options for private jet travel go, you can book and pay for flights as you go (charter flights), purchase a private jet card membership, or choose fractional ownership. Read on and find out which method might be best for you.

If you’re not sure which option is best, we can help. We’ll explain the differences, the pros and cons of each private jet acquisition method, and which method might be ideal for your travel needs.

What Is the Difference Between On-Demand Charters vs. Jet Cards vs. Fractional Ownership?

What is a private jet card, exactly? Put simply, private jet cards offer a pre-payment system for flights and simplify the booking process while saving you time and adding convenience. Jet card memberships often provide priority booking access, consistent levels of service, and fixed or capped pricing structures, depending on the provider. This makes them ideal for frequent private travelers.

With on-demand private jet charter, you book and pay for flights as you need them. This approach offers maximum flexibility, but booking a flight can take time, and ideal aircraft options can sometimes get booked by others, particularly during peak travel seasons.

Let’s look more closely at the advantages and disadvantages of each chartering method and explore where fractional ownership comes into play.

Private Jet Card Memberships

There are two main types of private jet cards: flight access hours cards (hour-based) and deposit jet cards (fund-based).

Flight Access Hours Cards give you access to a specified jet category or model for a set number of flight hours. Some cards start from 10 hours, but typically, you buy 25 hours and pay a high fixed hourly rate to cover the operator’s maximum possible costs every time.

Deposit (Cash) Jet Cards allow you to deposit a certain amount of money (e.g., $250,000) to pre-pay for flights. The cost of each flight you take is debited against the funds on the card using a fixed, low, and transparent markup. Pricing can be dynamic and capped.

The Advantages of Private Jet Cards

Private jet cards vary in what they offer. You should always consider your future flight needs and read the terms and conditions carefully before choosing one. However, the benefits of most private jet cards include:

  • Priority access to aircraft. This can be valuable, especially at peak times and for people who often need to book flights at short notice.
  • A higher level of service, consistent customer care, and sometimes, additional membership benefits.
  • Access to discounted empty leg flights.
  • Best pricing for every flight, so you’ll always know the exact cost before you fly.

The Disadvantages of Private Jet Cards

Many jet cards do come with disadvantages. We’ve listed the main ones here, but read on to discover how we’ve carefully designed Paramount Business Jets Private Jet Cards to eliminate as many as we can.

  • It’s a long-term commitment when compared to charter on demand.
  • They usually don’t offer the flexibility of on-demand jet charter, which allows you to charter a variety of aircraft classes, choosing the right plane for each trip.
  • Deposit-style jet cards require a sizeable amount of money upfront.
  • Some cards have expiration dates, meaning you can lose unused hours or funds.
  • Some cards have ‘blackout’ days when you can’t use them to charter a flight.
  • If your jet card is restricted to one aircraft category or certain parts of the world, what happens when you need to fly somewhere else? Or need a different class of plane—a turboprop that can land on a small, icy runway or an airliner for a large group trip?
  • You may need to pay substantial fees to charter a different class of aircraft or fly outside your zone.
  • You may need to arrange and pay for on-demand charters for those flights.
  • Some have 10-15 percent membership cancellation fees.

The Paramount Business Jets Difference

With a Paramount Business Jets private jet card membership, most of the traditional disadvantages of a jet card don’t exist, but most or all of the traditional jet card benefits do! We offer:

  • chartering of any size aircraft on a per-trip basis, on as little as 4 hours’ notice
  • access to aircraft worldwide, 365 days a year
  • Four programs—Emerald, Gold, Platinum, and Black—so you can choose the one that’s right for you
  • The chance to tailor your card to your aircraft, catering, and service preferences, with the help of our friendly advisors
  • Transparent pricing, letting you see the quote from our operators and our service charge
  • Dynamic pricing, giving you the best possible price at the time of booking
  • No additional fees or hidden costs
  • Operators and fleets that are held to the highest standards in the industry
  • Reviews of the safety history and margins of the aircraft, operator, and crew before every flight
  • Access to over 4,000 aircraft, from turboprops to ultra-long-range jets
  • Direct access to your private aviation advisor and our 24/7 customer service team
  • A fixed management fee, and no upfront fees, cancellation fees, or monthly fees—even if you don’t fly
  • Refundable membership funds and no expiration date—so you won’t ‘lose’ unused flights or money
  • The assurance of knowing your Jet Card deposits are secured in a separate client bank account and are only drawn upon on a per-trip basis.

On-Demand Private Jet Charter

If you’re now wondering why anyone would use on-demand charter when our private jet cards exist, we hear you. However, on-demand chartering can have advantages.

Advantages of On-Demand Jet Charter

  • Greater flexibility, allowing you to charter aircraft from different classes as required.
  • No long-term commitment.
  • No need to deposit large sums of money up-front; you pay as you go.
  • No concerns about losing money if you don’t use the funds, hours or benefits connected to your card by its expiration date of a private jet card.
  • Likely to be more cost-effective if you fly less than 25 hours a year.

Disadvantages of On-Demand Jet Charter

  • Time-consuming booking process when compared to jet cards due to paperwork and payments, which require confirmation before having the ability to place a hold on the best deals available in the market.
  • Likely to cost a lot more than a private jet card if you’re a regular flyer.

Fractional Jet Ownership

Frequent private flyers who prefer guaranteed availability and consistency and who are also willing to accept higher costs and a little bit less flexibility often prefer fractional ownership[C1] to jet cards or flight charters.

Here’s how it works: You buy a share of an aircraft (i.e., 1/16th or 1/8th) and that typically provides you with a certain amount of flight hours per calendar year (i.e., 50 or 100 hours).

The Advantages of Fractional Jet Ownership

  • Guaranteed aircraft access, even during peak periods
  • Consistent service and aircraft type
  • Potential tax benefits (depending on usage and jurisdiction – consult a tax professional for details)
  • Flight crews and aircraft managed by one operator provide a seamless and familiar experience

The Disadvantages of Fractional Jet Ownership

  • Requires a long-term commitment (usually 3-5 years or more)
  • Often involves a significant upfront investment
  • Usually entails ongoing hourly usage fees, fuel surcharges, repositioning costs, and more
  • High exit costs, including depreciation and resale risk, may be incurred
  • There’s limited flexibility; you are often restricted to one type of aircraft and may face challenges if your flight plans change (such as if you require more seats, special landing capabilities, or longer range)

What’s Best for Me: A Private Jet Card or On-Demand Charter?

If You Fly Under 25 Hours a Year: Choose on-demand charter. It’s the most flexible option and requires no commitments.

If You Fly 25-100 Hours a Year: Consider a jet card membership for a good balance of savings, service, and simplicity. There’s no long-term contract required, but you benefit from more streamlined bookings, price caps, and enhanced aircraft availability.

If You Fly 100+ Hours a Year: Consider fractional jet ownership.

Contact Us to Learn More

If you have any queries about chartering methods or booking flights, then contact our helpful team. Give them a call on +1-877-727-2538 ext. 1 or email them at charter@paramountbusinessjets.com. They will be happy to help.