What to Consider When Calculating the Cost of a Private Charter Flight

Booking a private flight doesn’t have to be an extravagant expense reserved exclusively for the super-rich. Depending on the type of aircraft you charter, the location you’re flying to, and the amenities you want, the cost of a private charter flight can be far more attainable than you may have thought.

What Goes Into the Cost of a Private Charter Flight?

Flying privately is an exceptionally customizable experience that can fit into a whole range of lifestyles (and budgets). If you’re curious about chartering a private jet for a business trip, a vacation, or for any other reason, but don’t know the many factors that can affect the cost to charter, here are some of the major ones to keep in mind.

The Type of Aircraft

The cost of a private charter flight depends on a variety of things, but most significant is the type of aircraft you’re flying on. For example, larger jets have higher hourly rates due to fuel consumption, maintenance costs, and the number of staff needed to operate the aircraft.

If you’re looking to fly on a specific kind of private aircraft, then the jet’s availability and positioning may affect the cost. These are issues a private jet broker can help you work out, as it’ll be their job to curate the private jet travel experience you’re looking for. And since private charter flights offer cabin sizes that range from a “Light Jet Cabin”—which comfortably carries 5-7 passengers—to a “Heavy Cabin” that can accommodate larger parties of 10+ passengers, you won’t have to worry about finding an option that works for you.

The Distance of Your Trip

The same way that a larger aircraft can increase the cost of a private charter flight, so will a longer trip. For example, if you’re flying from New York City to Philadelphia, you can expect to pay significantly less than if you were flying from San Francisco to Florida. Further, the cost of a one-way flight is less than the cost of chartering a round-trip flight.

Smaller aircraft can still take you on longer flights, but they may need to stop along the way to refuel, which will increase not only the duration of the flight but also the overall cost of the trip. You’ll need to take the “popularity” of the route into consideration, as well. A charter flight that ends in a location that only sees few flights land can result in increased costs, as it makes it harder for the charter company to sell the route back to their home base. This can mean they’ll have to charge you more to land there.

Fees to Be Aware Of

When calculating the cost of a private charter flight, you’ll also need to keep in mind some of the additional expenses that transpire. These can include:

• Landing fees
• Ramp handling
• U.S. Segment Fees and Federal Excise Taxes (suspended until Dec. 31, 2020, as part of The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act)
• Overnight fees (if the crew has to stay the night to wait for passengers traveling round-trip)

Other fees, like fuel surcharges or deicing during the winter season, can also add to the overall cost of chartering a jet.

Ultimately, when it comes to determining the costs to charter, one of the best things you can do is talk with a private jet broker. With the exceptional expertise Hangar 7 Aviation offers, you’ll be able to compare all the options available, review the factors that could affect the cost of your private jet charter, and book the jet that best suits your needs. If you’re ready to get started, don’t delay and reach out to us today!