Owning a private jet can be tricky, and if you really want one, chartering private jets can be a dependable way to fly privately.
While chartering has its benefits, owning a private aircraft has its own set of perks.
We’re here to answer the pros and cons of each option and spoiler alert — it all depends on how often you plan to fly.
Chartering a private jet
If you look at the private jet situation from a decade ago, owning one was the only option.
It wasn’t just about convenience, but flying in a private aircraft was a sign of luxury.
You could basically tell someone was a billionaire if they were flying in a private plane because they definitely owned it.
However, everything is different now.
Several charter companies now offer a large catalog of private jets — from budget-friendly to ultra-luxury options.
And, let’s be honest here, owning a private jet is a hefty task.
It’s like buying a high-maintenance car and spending money to keep it shiny, but on a whole different level.
While owning one may look cool, you would be responsible for the plane’s maintenance, dedicated staff, insurance, and super-expensive fuel costs.
Doesn’t seem as appealing now, does it?
However, if you rent a jet, a charter company like VistaJet takes care of everything, so you can fly without worrying about what might happen.
You wouldn’t believe it, but many celebrities choose to charter a private jet instead of owning an aircraft.
Plus, charters are relatively much more affordable, if you don’t fly for more than 100 hours per year.
That is unless you plan to take a flight to every location you visit.
Above all, the best part is that you have plenty of private jets to choose from if you don’t own a jet.
You can pick a different plane every time you fly from single-engine jets to large and luxurious private aircraft.
Owning a private jet
Chartering a private jet may be affordable, but ownership gives you much more convenience.
After all, it’s all about convenience when it comes to flying private.
You have all the freedom — you don’t need to care about charter schedules and availability.
That means you can even travel at odd hours and leave home when you want.
Now, that’s the flexibility that everyone wants.
If you have your own crew and pilot, the sense of security also increases.
And when you’re not using your beloved plane, you can even lease it off for someone else to use it.
That’s a great way to keep the plane from being stranded and get some extra cash.
Moreover, there are now many options for private jets to choose from.
You can pick the lowest-cost private jets available today if you’re on a budget.
These are perfect if you only want a more convenient way to get from point A to point B.
Plus, private jets have improved greatly in terms of design, interior, and performance since 10 years ago.
Ownership might just be the best course of action if you have a flying license and want to pilot the aircraft yourself.
You wouldn’t need the most expensive private aircraft, but something that you would have fun flying.
For longer journeys and frequent travel, ownership gives you convenience and freedom.
Which is all you need from a private jet.
Fractional ownership: a win-win solution?
The future of private jets certainly seems exciting, and getting access to such aircraft is getting easier by the day.
If you still want to own a private aircraft but don’t want all the burden on your shoulders, there’s a third option, too.
Fractional ownership makes you a shareholder of an aircraft while you share the plane with others.
It offers the best of both worlds — the affordability of a charter and something to call your own.
All the maintenance costs would be split between all of the jet’s owners.
Now, that sounds like a good idea.
However, you would have to allot specific hours for everyone — dividing a year’s time amongst all the owners.
The only problem with fractional ownership is the trouble you would have during holidays.
Because that’s when everyone would want to travel, and then who gets to take the plane?
If you’re lucky, you might find someone who would be comfortable with your flying schedule.
With this, we hope you have some clarity about the private jet charters vs. ownership dilemma.
Some images used in this story were generated using AI.
