How to Fly Semi-Privately: Your Guide to More Affordable Private Air Travel
If you’ve ever dreamed of the luxury and convenience of flying private but hesitated due to high costs, flying semi-privately may be the answer. Semi-private aviation offers many of the perks of private flights at a more affordable price. In this article, I’ll explain the different options for semi-private air travel and help answer all your questions about how to fly semi-privately.
What Is Semi-Private Aviation?
Semi-private aviation, sometimes called jet-sharing or fractional ownership, involves purchasing a fractional ownership share in a private aircraft. With a share, you gain access to the entire plane but split ownership and costs with others. Several companies offer fractional ownership programs that allow you to purchase shares ranging from 1/16 to 1/4 of an aircraft.
You pay a monthly management fee to cover costs like maintenance, insurance, hangaring, and pilots. This fee is much lower per flight hour than the hourly rates of regular chartered private flights. You can fly as many hours as your ownership share allows, whether you use all the hours in one trip or spread them out over multiple flights.
Models of Fractional Ownership
The main fractional ownership models are:
- Whole Aircraft – You share full ownership of a plane with 3-11 other people and can fly whenever the plane is available.
- Individual Fractional Shares – You purchase hours of flight time on various types of aircraft and fly pre-owned fractional shares.
- Fleets within Fleets – You purchase shares on specific aircraft and guarantee its availability without sharing it with as many others.
The share you purchase, size of the fractional ownership program, and aircraft type all factor into monthly costs, which are typically in the tens of thousands of dollars. But that breaks down to far less per flight hour than chartering.
Membership Programs
Another semi-private option is membership programs that provide VIP programs and hourly aircraft access without ownership. Examples include membership clubs like NetJets and Marquis Jet that charge annual or monthly dues along with hourly aircraft fees.
Again, the costs are lower than regular charter through guaranteed empty leg discounts. You also gain priority access to available empty legs where the aircraft is already flying somewhere and has empty seats. From my experience, these memberships maximize value for frequent flyers.
Jet Card Programs
Jet cards allow you to pre-purchase a certain number of private flight hours at discounted hourly rates, similar to a gift card. The hours never expire and you avoid paying variable fuel surcharges that impact flight costs. Several operators offer jet cards that provide 25-50% discounts off regular charter rates.
While maybe not technically “semi-private”, jet cards are one of the most affordable options for occasional users to experience private aviation without a big upfront investment. You maintain your flexibility and are not locked into an ownership contract long-term.
Charter Broker Discounts
Remember that even if you don’t opt for a fractional share or membership program, online charter brokers often offer discounts if you pre-purchase blocks of flight time. You basically get bulk discounts if you commit to flying a certain number of hours within a year through one broker.
This can lower your hourly rates into the realm of semi-private costs, especially on empty return legs where the aircraft is flying back empty. Always check for special offers – they provide one way to fly privately more economically without a multi-year commitment.
Choosing the Right Option
Which semi-private model is best depends on your flying needs and budget. Fractional shares guarantee availability but require long term financial commitments. Memberships and jet cards balance flexibility and discounts well for most flyers. I’d suggest test-flying different options to see which provides best value in your situation.
Consider factors like how many years you want to be tied to payments, expected annual flight hours, your tolerance for sharing aircraft, and potential for empty leg discounts. With some research, you’re sure to find a affordable way to fly in style without the full cost of a wholly-owned private jet.
Other Tips for Flying Semi-Privately
Here are some more tips based on my experience with semi-private aviation:
- Request empty legs – Operators often have empty return flights and are happy to extend discounted rates for semi-private members.
- Fly unsold upgrade legs – Some programs allow members to purchase unsold first-class seats on nicer aircraft operated by the fleet for less.
- Opt for cross-country trips – The fractional and hourly costs are best value for multi-city trips compared to commercial.
- Consider seasonal adjustments – Some programs offer lower rates or shares during less popular periods like winter to fill seats.
- Ask about introductory promotions – New programs may provide trial periods, 0% down payments or sign-up credits to attract customers.
With some savvy shopping around, you can experience the productivity and luxury of private jets in a way that fits well within most travel budgets. The flexibility of fly-when-you-want access is totally worth it, if you ask me!
Is Semi-Private Flying Right For You?
Only you can decide if semi-private aviation fits your needs versus commercial travel. But if you’re willing to invest in greater flexibility and a more relaxing travel experience while cutting jet-setting costs, then it absolutely could be. That’s my thinking at least! Hopefully this guide has delivered on all your questions and revealed that there are definitely affordable ways to dip your toes into private flying. The convenience is kind of amazing, no joke. Let me know if any other questions come to mind!
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Semi-Private Flight
| Aircraft Type | # of Passengers | Typical Cost per Hour |
|---|---|---|
| Light Jet | 4-6 | $2,000-3,000 |
| Midsize Jet | 6-8 | $3,000-5,000 |
| Large Cabin Jet | 8-15 | $5,000-10,000 |
| Propeller Aircraft | 4-10 | $1,000-2,500 |
| Helicopter | 4-6 | $3,000-5,000 |
| Departure Airports | Consider distance from home | Extra fees may apply |
| Booking Timeframe | Plan 1-2 months ahead for best rates | Short notice costs more |
FAQ
- What is semi private flying? Semi private flying refers to flying on a chartered plane with a small group of people instead of having a whole commercial plane to yourself. It basically lets you avoid airports and fly direct on your schedule at a lower cost than private flights.
- How many people can fly semi privately? Planes used for semi private flights can normally hold between 2 to 8 passengers. This amount is usually just right – big enough for a small group but still personal enough that you don’t feel like cattle on a commercial flight. At the same time, semi private planes aren’t too big that they become overly expensive to operate.
- What types of planes are used? The most typical planes used for semi private travel are turbo prop planes like the King Air 350 or light jets like the Citation Mustang. These planes cruise around 400 mph which is much faster than driving but perhaps not quite as speedy as a large private jet. They offer amenities somewhere between a commercial airliner and a fully private aircraft.
- How much does it cost? The price of a semi private flight will depend on fleet costs, distance, flight time, airport fees and more. Nevertheless, you can expect to pay somewhere in the range of $1,000-$4,000 per hour to charter one of these aircraft. Whether it’s worth it depends how valuable your time is and what you hope to achieve by not dealing with commercial flying delays and hassles.
- What are the advantages? Some key benefits of flying semi privately include avoiding airport security lines and delayed flights, enjoying roomy leather seats and wifi, departing and arriving at smaller airports near your destination, and having the flexibility to change travel plans without penalties. The stunning views from bigger cabin windows don’t hurt either! All in all, it offers an amazing alternative to commercial flights for small groups.
- What questions should I ask the operator? Before booking, you’ll want to ask about the specific aircraft, total seats, amenities, door-to-door baggage handling, and permitted carry-on items. The operator should also address insurance, weather contingency plans, as well as cancellation and rescheduling policies. Getting clear on these important details up front can help avoid future misunderstandings.
Additional Thoughts
Is semi private air travel worth the higher cost compared to commercial airlines? It depends on your situation. For some business people whose time is extremely valuable, avoiding long security lines and flight delays could easily be worth an extra thousand or two. Then again, if you’re just a family of four traveling leisurely, the added expense may not seem justified. There are good reasons on both sides. In the end, only you can decide if semi private flying fits your needs or if standard commercial travel might suit your budget better. Perhaps one day when I win the lottery, I’ll give chartered jets a try! For now, I’m content to fantasize.