One of the reasons I am so bullish on private jets, is I am so bearish on mainstream airlines in the USA. I see the domestic airlines in America finally (if they haven’t already) devolving into a flying Greyhound bus operation. Unbelievably, their marketing gurus must still believe they exist in the era of flying piano bars and carved chateaubriand at your seat - how else can you explain Delta Airlines’ February sponsorship of New York’s Fashion Week? Maybe the concept was that you have to be as thin as a model to fit in their seats (and the rare incidence of meals will keep you that way).
Jets hired for pleasure as well as business reflect changing economics of O.C. and travel.
Flying a full private jet typically costs two- to four-times as much per passenger as flying the same number of people first class commercial.
But if money is no object, the benefits of private jet travel are unrivaled. No lines or X-ray machines. No layovers. Privacy. Personal service such as your favorite food. A feeling of privilege.
The economics also depends on the frequency of your flights, whether you're going round-trip or one-way and the length of your stay. Here are some of the different ways to purchase private jet travel, each with its costs and benefits.
While commercial travel has become more complicated – especially since Sept. 11, 2001 – private jets are more available and easier to book. They fly to 5,000 airports compared to 500 for commercial aviation.
Some shareholder advocates have raised a fuss over jets as examples of excessive executive perks, and the Securities and Exchange Commission has stiffened reporting requirements for use of company planes. But industry observers say this has actually fueled alternative ways of paying for private jet travel. Instead of owning outright, more corporate users are chartering or purchasing fractions of jets.
