Most Common Private Jet Charter Costs: A Breakdown

There are many factors, variables, and costs involved in chartering a private jet. You want to work with an expert that is knowledgeable of individual jet charter costs, and that will give you the best advice and the most accurate quote. No one likes to get a final invoice that is higher than the original pricing. That is why at JetOptions, we take a consultative approach to planning your charter trip.

Private Jet Charter Costs Breakdown

What Are the Most Common Private Jet Charter Costs?

When chartering a private jet, you can either receive quotes that are one-way, round trip or multi-segment depending on the journey you have in mind and the length of stay. Sometimes it can cost less to break up a trip and have it quoted in segments or as multiple one-way charter flights.

If you have chartered before you should have a good idea of the desired aircraft type, but if you haven’t, your choice of plane can be better made after answering these questions:

  • What are your dates of travel?
  • How many passengers are flying?
  • What are the origin and destination airports?
  • Is this a one-way, round-trip, or multi-city charter?
  • Does the flight need to be nonstop?
  • Is there a budget for the trip?

Following are some of the cost variables:

Category of Private Aircraft Sizes

Fixed-wing private aircraft fall into the categories below. The categories below are ranked at least expensive to most expensive per hourly rates. Within each of the categories below, there are different makes and models, and each one has different operating costs.


Single Engine Aircraft

The Pilatus PC-12 is a single engine turboprop

Single-engine planes are powered by one jet engine and are easy to identify by the single propeller on the nose of the aircraft. Typically flown with both a pilot and co-pilot, these planes seat between two and six passengers.


Turboprop Planes

The King Air 350 is a turboprop aircraft

Turboprops are jet engine-powered propeller aircraft. In general, they seat between four and seven passengers. However, there are larger configured aircraft with more available seating. These aircraft have a pressurized cabin, and most do not have full stand up space. Some examples of turboprop airplanes are the King Air 90, the King Air 200, and the King Air 350.


Very Light Jets

The Cessna Citation Mustang is a very light jet

With seating for 4 to 8 passengers very light jets is an affordable flight choice into more than 5,000 airports in the United States. With cabin heights at just under 5 feet and ranges of up to 1200 nautical miles, these jets are a fast and affordable option for shorter flights. Some examples of very light jets are the Phenom 100 and the Citation Mustang.


Light Jets

The Citation CJ4 is a light jet

With seating for 6 to 7 passengers light business jets and small-cabin jets are generally used for shorter trips, with total flight times of less than three hours. The flying range on these jets is between 1,700 and 2000+ nautical miles, and the cabin heights are between 4’7” and 4’11”. Some examples of light Jets are the Citation CJ4, the Citation SII, Citation V Ultra, Citation CJ2 and CJ3, Learjet 45, Learjet 40 XR, Learjet 75, and the Hawker 400 XP.


Mid-Size Jets

The Gulfstream G150 is a midsize jet

More seats, more baggage space, more standing room, and more range, Midsize Jets are the next step up from flying in a light business jet. With room for 6 to 8 passengers JetOptions charters all mid-class planes. Detailed specifications are available in the aircraft section, here are some links to popular Mid Jets for charter;  Phenom 300, Gulfstream G150, and Hawker 850 XP.


Heavy Jets

The Gulfstream G650 is a heavy ultra long range jet

Heavy Jets arrive with standing room in the main cabins, generous spaces for your baggage, kitchens (galleys), convertible seats for sleeping while you fly across an ocean or just a country.  For long-range flights, these aircraft have space for 8 to 18 passengers. Favorite long-range business jets include planes from the makers of Legacy, Gulfstream, Falcon, Challenger, and Global Express.


Airliners

The Boeing 747 is an airliner

Airliner class jets are configured in a variety of ways based on owner preference. While some have seats for 30, others include conference rooms, bedroom cabins, enclosed galleys, or other private spaces and flight attendants to meet every need. You may fly the college team for game day on a Saab or Dornier, or transport business executives, clients, or the family on a Boeing or Airbus.


VIP Airliners

The BBJ1 is a VIP airliner

VIP Airliners arrive with seating for 19 passengers and up. With fuel range to fly non-stop to any destination around the globe, these jets are the ultimate luxury airplanes from Airbus and Boeing.


Jet Charter Costs & Prices Per Hour

In general, as you move up in aircraft categories the more it costs to operate per hour. There are occasions when the price for the higher class of aircraft may cost less overall. For example, a turboprop can be more expensive than a light jet if the distance is long enough. The reason is that the hourly rates are lower on a turboprop, but the light plane flies faster. So at a certain distance, the lower flight times of the light aircraft cancel out the hourly savings of the turboprop because of the added time.  We advise our clients when a different category of aircraft is beneficial for your use.

Business Aviation Flight times

This is the time from which the aircraft starts moving under its own propulsion for the purpose of the trip and when the flight ends after the plane has come to rest after landing. The time flown between airports will vary depending on the flight speed so that you will have different flight times for various aircraft. If you are flying out of a smaller airport, flight times may include aircraft positioning costs.

Federal Taxes (FET)

Federal Excise Tax on air transportation is 7.5 percent of the amount paid for a trip that begins and ends in the United States or the 225-mile zone. The 225-mile zone is the portion of Canada and Mexico that is not more than 225 miles from the nearest point in the continental United States.

Domestic Segment Fee

The domestic segment fee is a per passenger tax that applies to each of the domestic segments of a trip (including point to point flights within Alaska and Hawaii). A domestic segment is the portion of a journey involving a single takeoff and landing in the United States. For 2019, the domestic segment tax is $4.20 per segment.

Airport Landing Fees

The fee charged for landing at an individual airport. Aircraft weight, seating capacity, type of operator, home airport and time of day are some of the components of this fee.

International Flight Fees

Flights to or departing from locations outside the United States are subject to international fees which are different for each airport. This may include overflight border permits, customs fees, and landing fees among others.

Ground Transportation

Transportation to and from the airport. Where allowed this service includes boarding and arrivals on the tarmac at the FBO’s.

In-Flight Catering

Standard drinks and snacks are offered and are complimentary on flights. If you’d like to order special, or additional food and drinks, we can accommodate virtually any request that space permits. Catering requests are charged at cost, and we can provide our clients with the actual catering receipt.

Overnight Crew Stays

Overnight charges for each crew member to remain with the aircraft at the destination.

Aircraft De-icing or Hangar Fee

Ice, snow and even frost can alter the aerodynamics of a plane and also add weight, which can reduce lift and lead to loss of control. Removing frozen contamination from a plane helps ensure its safe operation. A fluid is used to deice an aircraft and prices are based on the gallons of solution used so the larger the aircraft, the more de-icing. Sometimes it is necessary to put the aircraft in a hangar to avoid inclement weather, and there is a charge for the hangar space.

Flight Attendant

Many of the larger heavy aircraft include a flight attendant at no charge. If a flight attendant is not included, one can be provided at a daily rate.

Cleaning or Plane Damage Fees

Additional fees may be charged for excessive cleaning (such as smoking in our non-smoking aircraft) or damage repairs.

Work with the Expert Private Jet Charter Company

These are most of the variable costs that are included in your final private jet charter invoice. Every trip is different, but the information we have supplied here can serve as a general guideline of what costs make up your final invoice for private jet charters. Work with a premium charter company, like JetOptions, and avoid unwanted surprises.

Call us today for your JetOptions no-obligation, concise jet charter rate quote or click here to Request a Quote

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One Response to “Most Common Private Jet Charter Costs: A Breakdown”

  1. […] individually priced based on your choice of aircraft, flight times, etc. and you pay for each trip. You can see common private jet charter costs here. There is no commitment since your use will vary for each mission/trip you and it will be on […]