TL;DR:

Private jet flight prices are influenced by multiple factors including:

  • Type of jet and journey length
  • Timing of the trip
  • Costs of commodities and labor
  • Additional services
  • Taxes and fees

Private jet flight prices start between around $4,000 and $12,000 per hour, depending on the type of aircraft used. Travelers can use cost estimators to better understand and manage these expenses.

Just like flying commercial, buying a train ticket, or paying for any other form of transportation, private jet flights come with a cost.

Because of the exceptional levels of control, convenience, and comfort offered by these flights, private jet prices are significant. The ability to choose when you fly and the type of jet you fly in are major factors, of course. So is the level of overall service provided and the ability to travel privately or share a flight with a small group.

While costs need to be considered on their own, it’s also crucial to consider the value that comes with private jet flight prices. For travelers who own their own jets or use a charter jet agent to book flights, the cost of travel is worth it due to the many benefits that private jets offer.

So, what are the factors that influence private jet flight prices? What should you expect as a traveler booking a flight through an agent? Let’s take a closer look.

A private jet takes off from a snow-covered airfield

As A Passenger: What to Expect for Private Air Travel

As US News & World Report explains, there are several ways to enjoy the benefits of private air travel. Whether you own a jet outright, charter a private plane, or use a membership program, there are certain costs that come with this mode of transportation.

If you work with an agent to book private jet flights, costs can vary significantly from one trip to the next. Why is that?

The simplest answer is that there’s a lot of variation within the private jet travel market. There are many different jets, trip lengths, commodity prices, labor costs, and other considerations in play. Some key factors include:

  • The type of plane you use. From light jets to ultra-long-range jets and heavy jets, there are several divisions within the broader category of private jets. Depending on the length of your journey or the experience you want to have while flying, the type of plane you select will impact private jet flight prices.
  • The length of your journey. It may sound obvious, but it’s worth pointing out: Chartering a private jet for a short trip between Boston and New York City has a lower cost than traveling cross-country between NYC and Los Angeles. Shorter trips can also be completed with a wider range of aircraft, giving travelers more options and potentially reducing costs.
  • The timing of your trip. Traveling to certain destinations at the peak of their travel or tourism seasons can incur additional costs because of high demand. On the other hand, private jet rental costs can increase when your agent and carrier need to reposition a jet to bring it to your departure location.
  • Commodities and labor. The cost of staffing private jets with qualified and experienced pilots and cabin crew, as well as paying maintenance and other ground staff, can’t be ignored. Similarly, the price of everything from airplane parts to fuel and other commodities is factored into the cost of flying privately.
  • Additional services. Ground transportation, catering, and other optional services help to make private jet travel a unique and enjoyable experience, but they also come with additional costs. More situational fees, like deicing fees and overnight accommodations for crew members, are also a possibility.
  • Taxes and fees. Airports charge a variety of fees to use their services, from landing to baggage handling. Additionally, the federal government places a 7.5% excise tax on domestic air travel.

Estimating Private Jet Flight Prices as a Traveler

As you can see, many factors influence the cost of an individual trip on a chartered private jet. The good news is that you have effective options as a traveler to understand those costs before booking your flight with your agent.

At Stratos Jets, we’ve built a simple and useful table of hourly private jet flight prices, based on the type of jet used. This is one of the easiest ways to quickly estimate the general cost of a private jet flight.

For example, turboprop private charters start at around $4,000 per hour. On the other end of the spectrum, ultra-long-range jets have an hourly rate of roughly $15,200.

Looking for more specific details about a trip and want to go beyond expected hourly rates? Use our private jet flight cost estimator!