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Private jets offer unmatched convenience, flexibility, and luxury. Discover six compelling reasons why choosing private jet travel enhances your journey.

Recent findings from Private Jet Card Comparisons reveal that private jet travel is not the luxury many critics claim it to be. Instead, it is often a practical choice made by users based on their specific travel needs.

According to the data, only 13% of Private Jet Card Comparisons’ subscribers rely solely on private jets for their flights. In contrast, a significant 87% mix their travel between commercial airlines and private jets.

“We use private when our schedule requires it,” noted one survey respondent in a typical comment.

“Detractors of private aviation often miss the point that the vast majority of users choose to fly privately for very practical reasons,” says Doug Gollan, President and Editor-in-Chief of Private Jet Card Comparisons, continuing, “It’s not about extravagance. Saving time, ability to use closer airports, and being able to fly from where they are to where they want to go nonstop are the top three reasons subscribers choose private aviation.”

Research indicates that the primary reason people opt for private aviation over other options is time efficiency. A significant 72% of respondents cited door-to-door time savings as their main motivation for investing in private flights.

One respondent commented, “My choices are driven by whether commercial travel is an efficient use of time versus private, which is really only about money.”

Fifty-seven percent of respondents highlighted the advantage of accessing more convenient airports as a key benefit of private aviation. Unlike scheduled airlines, which operate at fewer than 500 airports in the U.S., private aircraft can reach over 5,000 airports. Additionally, 45% of respondents pointed to the lack of nonstop flights on commercial airlines as a significant factor influencing their choice of private aviation.

It saves me time….it is just so wonderful to go from the middle of the country to either coast in just three hours…It will literally save me a day of my life on a round trip,” said one respondent.

Thirty-seven percent of respondents mentioned traveling with pets as a reason for preferring private aviation over commercial airlines. Meanwhile, 36% chose private flights due to airline schedules that didn’t fit their needs. Additionally, 35% opted for private flying to avoid long drives.

Other reasons for choosing private aviation included the need to transport checked baggage, ease of connecting to scheduled airline flights, traveling with children, a more conducive work environment, mobility issues, and difficulties securing enough seats on commercial flights.

Reasons for Choosing Private Jets Over Airline Flights

1. Door-to-Door Time Savings: 72%
2. Access to More Convenient Airports: 57%
3. Lack of Nonstop Airline Flights: 45%
4. Traveling with Pets: 37%
5. Incompatibility with Airline Schedules: 36%
6. Time Savings Compared to Long Drives: 35%

Source: Private Jet Card Comparisons

Airline Service Concerns

Among those who use both airlines and private jets, 50% reported that they are increasingly opting for private flights due to dissatisfaction with current airline service.

Another respondent said, “Direct airport-to-airport travel (by private aviation) is more convenient, stressless, and enjoyable than spending an entire day schlepping through multiple, crowded commercial airports. Add the growing uncertainties of flying commercial due to frequent systems breakdowns.”

The latest Quarterly Jet Card Pricing Report from Private Jet Card Comparisons reveals that the average hourly cost for private jet travel is currently $10,954, inclusive of surcharges and the 7.5% Federal Excise Tax.

The annual survey for Private Jet Card Comparisons members, which launched on July 18th, has so far collected 340 responses. Members have until mid-September to participate. Typically, the survey garners around 550 completed responses and has a margin of error of +/-2%.

For each completed survey, Private Jet Card Comparisons donates $10 to either Aero Angels or Homes For Our Troops, with respondents able to select their preferred charity at the end of the survey.

According to Climbing Fast, an advocacy group, private aviation supports 1.2 million jobs and contributes $246 billion to the U.S. economy. Although aviation accounts for only 2% of global carbon emissions, private aviation makes up just 2% of that total.