Private Jet Flights vs. Commercial

Private charter flights are much more expensive than commercial flights. To estimate the cost of flying privately in the US, use the following formula:

(Cost of a first-class commercial ticket x 4) x number of seats in the aircraft

For example, a cheap first-class ticket is about $500. Multiply this by four to get $2,000. A light jet seats six. Multiply $2,000 by six to get $12,000. Always remember that you pay the same for a private jet regardless of how many people are flying.

If you’re flying internationally, the price can be more attractive. For example, you can hire a 14-seat private jet for a round trip from the US to Europe for $130,000. That works out to under $10,000 per person. comparable to flying in first class commercially. Or, you can seek out a bargain on a shorter trip. The Beech 1900 Turboprop seats 19 people; for two flights each lasting two hours, you could expect to pay $16,000 – around $900 per person.

Using a turboprop aircraft like the Beech 1900 is still more expensive than flying commercially but also comes with extra perks. This can include leather seats, comfortable executive-configured seats, and possibly an enclosed air cabin to sleep in.

Conversely, turboprop aircraft can also be a little rough and noisy, which is why they’re generally used for island-hopping in areas like Greece. The full private jet experience is more likely to come at a premium price, but for many people and businesses this can prove worthwhile. Wealthy business owners may find they make a better return on their time and money by flying privately than they would by flying a commercial airline. The time saved can mean more meetings, more business and therefore more money, easily offsetting the added costs of private jet travel.