At the end of the day, whichever way you look at it, hiring a private jet for a flight is ultimately expensive compared to the scheduled flights.
As such, people never tire of trying to work around getting to fly privately but without spending a fortune. But then, nothing is for free, of course, except if a friend invited you to fly with them on their charter flight.
The thing is, you will not always get the invites, and occasions will come up when you need to hire that flight. There are some things you do need to know so as to hack traveling privately but affordably.
Cheap Ways to Charter a Flight
One of the cheapest ways to charter a flight is to buy a seat on a scheduled private jet or a scheduled corporate shuttle flight. This one is pretty much as if you are flying a commercial plane, but it is affordable, and you still get the chance to have the VIP treatment, including departing from an FBO.
Although it is cheap and will cost you approximately $200 or less, you have to have no problem sharing the plane with strangers. This is a comparison with chartering your plane and spending between $5,000 and $ 20,000 per hour, depending on the type and size of the plane you fly.
Another cheap way to go about hiring a private jet flight is to use the famous empty leg. To learn more about this option, check out why choose empty leg flights.
This one happens when a plane has dropped off its last fully paying client and has to fly to another terminal to pick up another passenger or another group of people. It also happens when a plane has dropped off its last passenger, and the crews have to go back to their base at the end of their work shifts.
Since, at this time, the plane is empty, the seats come with heavily discounted rates in a bid for the plane to avoid flying empty or almost empty so as to raise more money. Even without bidding, these seats come with huge discounts that you can take advantage of.
It gets better, even with the private jets, with some of the deals available with some companies. For instance, Wheels Up has this working relationship with its clients that allows you to pay an annual subscription fee of $6,900, to allow you to access the empty legs at $320! Incredible would be an understatement. On top of such a huge discount, you will access the high-end events organized, attend the high-profile confabs, and enjoy the key membership treats.
Another thing to consider is a great offer by the famous Delta Private Jets, which allows you to pay $8,500 upfront, and then fly the empty legs at no additional cost. On top of this, you get discounts on selected Delta Airlines planes, but you get a $500 deduction if you cancel your flight or do not show up for it. Unfortunately, the empty legs may not always be headed towards your destination.
For instance, there could be many empty legs, but all falling within a short distance or falling in the wrong or opposite direction for a given day for most people. You might want, as such, to first ask around for both sides of the coin before going ahead with the deal.
Disadvantages of Empty Legs Offers
There are many empty legs, yes, but they may all not come through. If you are getting an empty leg on a plane where the client is paying $5,000 to $20,000 per hour, for example, and then the client cancels his or her flight, your empty leg is also canceled. Depending on the time and availability of other flights, you may find yourself stuck up longer than you wanted to.
Many empty legs are canceled abruptly before departure for a range of reasons. As such, you may want to keep in touch with your hotel and car reservations to ensure they can be pushed forward or canceled without extra charges. If you were traveling home, for example, the best option would be to shop around for more options just in case the empty leg flops and you are left stranded. As much as you will get a refund for your money, usually, it would not help much because already you are stranded and commercial flights are closed; you will be on your own.
Remember that the empty legs depend on the big client; the client who is paying. The schedules of the private planes will depend entirely on him and not on you. This means you must be very flexible because a client can alter the routing and timeline anytime. If he or she moves the departure time upfront or decides to delay the flight a little, you have to go with that. If you had your own timelines to work with, you would agree that this becomes very inconvenient.
We Show You the Cheapest Way to Charter Your Own Private Jet
Flying private is more affordable than you might think, especially if you take advantage of empty-leg flights. However, there are a few important considerations to ensure a smooth experience.
Pay close attention to the departure time and verify that your flight time and schedule will be honored, even in the event of changes. Additionally, confirm whether the primary client holds a 100% cancellation fee on the flight, as this can impact your plans.
For a seamless experience, explore options for booking private jet flights. Check out a reliable private jet booking app for iOS or a private jet booking app for Android to streamline your travel arrangements.
Always have a backup plan in case circumstances change. Experts recommend choosing empty legs at airports with frequent commercial airline services so you can quickly transition to an alternative if needed.
Keep in mind that flights may sometimes be delayed or canceled unexpectedly. If you’re not covered and it’s already late, you may need to book the next available commercial flight to reach your destination. Preparing for such scenarios will help you make the most of flying private affordably.
Ready to elevate your travel experience? Contact JetsOnset today to explore affordable private jet options and enjoy unparalleled convenience in your journey.
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