When it comes to flying, you have the option to choose between traveling with a commercial airline and flying private in a jet. However, you don’t necessarily have to purchase a private aircraft outright to reap the benefits of private aviation.

Charter flights let you enjoy all the benefits and amenities of private air travel without needing to purchase, own, and maintain a private plane.

Charter Flight Meaning: How do Private Jet Charters Work?

A charter flight is an unscheduled flight that is not part of a regular airline route. When you charter a plane, you rent the entire aircraft and can determine departure/arrival locations and times.

Charter flights generally have many more amenities and open space than commercial flights. Additionally, many types of private jet charters offer privacy — something commercial flights can’t offer.

There are several types of charter flights, as the US Department of Transportation explains:

  • Private Charter. When you choose a private charter, you get the entire aircraft to yourself and the others traveling with you. This allows you to pick the aircraft of your choice, customize your route, and have complete freedom over your departure and arrival times.
  • Single Entity. With a single-entity charter, we can find you the right aircraft type to accommodate your corporation or organization. Single-entity charters involve a single organization or business, such as a professional sports team or financial firm, chartering and paying for a flight. The players and coaches, executive suite, or other passengers don’t pay for their own seats.
  • Affinity. An affinity charter option allows you to pay for a single seat on a private jet among other like-minded travelers. Clubs, student groups, businesses, and other organizations charter affinity flights. You’ll also split the cost of the flight with your fellow travelers.
  • Public Charter. Public charter options are operated by a charter company. However, a separate person or organization organizes the flight, sets the schedule, and sells tickets to members of the general public.

What’s the Cost to Charter a Jet?

The cost of a flight on a private jet varies greatly based on a number of factors. These include the type of aircraft, place of departure and destination, and amenities offered onboard.

The term “charter flight” covers everything from intrastate trips on a turboprop charter to intercontinental, multi-stop travel on long-range heavy jets. For that reason, it’s impossible to provide a single average cost that’s useful and informative.

However, we can share some valuable details about the expected hourly rate for different types of charter flights. For example, turboprop charters start around $2,000 per hour, while heavy jet charters cost around $10,000 per hour. Learn more on our Private Jet Charter Cost Estimator page.

Most private flight prices are determined by the hourly rate of the aircraft, but you can generally expect a light jet to be more cost-effective than a heavy jet. Connecting directly with a charter company can give you the best idea of what to expect for a private jet rate.

What’s Included? Here’s What to Expect When Flying on a Charter Flight

Flight Schedules and Routings

Because a charter flight is not part of a scheduled service, the flight will depart when you want it to. You are also able to choose which cities you fly to and from.

Charter flights are particularly convenient when you need to travel to a city where a scheduled airline service may require multiple connections or layovers before you reach your destination.

Depart from the FBO – Your Own Private Terminal

Privacy is one of the main advantages of a private charter flight.

Unlike a commercial flight, where travelers are herded through a crowded airport and need to undergo an intrusive security screening, passengers on a charter flight depart from a private facility known as an FBO. At many private airports, passengers can pull their cars right up to the plane.

Stay Connected at 30,000 Feet – Inflight Meals, Entertainment and WiFi

On a charter flight, passengers aren’t limited to one of 2 or 3 entrees being served. They can design their own meal or order from a restaurant of their choice to be enjoyed while traveling in supreme comfort.

There is also a wide variety of entertainment options on a charter flight. Many aircraft used for charter flights have free WiFi, high-end sound or entertainment systems with iPhone/Android hook-ups, and even satellite TV.

It’s Not Where You’re Going. It’s Who You’re Going With.

Probably the greatest benefit of a charter flight is that you select who is traveling on the plane with you! This gives you a comfortable cabin setting to relax with family and friends, as well as the privacy needed for confidential business discussions.

Ready to take the skies with Stratos Jet Charters, Inc.? Learn more about what it costs to book a private jet charter flight, or contact us at (888) 337-9343 to get your questions answered.

You can also submit a request for a quote on a private jet: