What Is a Private Jet Card?

A private jet card offers easy booking processes, guaranteed availability, fixed pricing, fractional ownership and more. Find your perfect jet card today.

It is not uncommon for businesses to offer savings programs for their frequent customers. Retail stores offer savings with a point system and rewards for future purchases. Credit card companies often provide a percentage of cash back when you use their card for purchases, and restaurants may offer a free meal when you purchase a certain amount. 

These loyalty programs offer benefits for both the business and the consumer. Because the rewards are so great, the company keeps you as a customer. And, as the customer, you get a special bonus. 

This is how frequent flyers feel about private jet cards. 

A Private Jet Card: What Is It?

Simply put, a private jet card gives frequent travelers access to private jets. The actual terms will vary with each different company, but the idea is the same. Flying can often really add up financially, as can the aggravation of always having to purchase tickets, sign contracts, determine your ideal aircraft, and more. 

When you have a private jet card, it is, in a sense, as if you become a member of the charter company. You have private jets available to you when you need them or at discounted rates. You may also be given priority access. Or, you may even be privy to certain perks and luxuries that other flyers don’t. 

Let’s take a look at a few of the most common private jet card terms. 

Fixed Pricing

Since COVID-19 appeared in our lives, the demand for private jet travel has increased substantially. And if you know even the tiniest thing about economics, you know when demand goes up, prices are sure to follow. 

Private jet cards that offer fixed pricing means you won’t have to worry about an influx in price. These conditions often set prices for flights or cap them out at a specific rate. In other words, you will find yourself paying less based on what the current rates are. 

A Guaranteed Jet

Again, with the increase in private jet travelers, you will also find that having access to a jet when you need it may become increasingly more difficult. Whether it is a busy holiday weekend or you want the confidence of knowing a jet will be available for you at any time, some private jet cards offer a plane to you, guaranteed. 

However, it is important to note that most of these cards will specify that the guarantee is only for those things that are within their control. Weather, natural disasters, incidents of terrorism, and so forth are not within the company’s control – and a private jet may not be guaranteed.

Fractional Ownership

If you travel often, you may have considered buying your own private jet. Unfortunately, jets are costly to buy, house, and maintain. Private jet cards that offer fractional ownership allow you to own a percentage of the aircraft with other travelers — and you don’t have to worry about handling the operational or maintenance demands. 

Here’s how it works. Let’s say they are breaking down a jet into 15 shares. You may purchase any number of these shares in return for hours of flight. Let’s say one share = 50 hours of flight time annually, two shares = 100 hours of flight time, and so forth. 

Ready for the real kicker? As a fractional owner of a private jet, you get most of the tax benefits, too. 

Deposit-Based Jet Cards

Some jet card programs work by using deposits. Their members buy into the program by depositing money – usually thousands of dollars – into either escrow accounts or separate accounts. This money can then be used for any future travel plans. 

This is a jet card program you may encounter, but not one of the most common options.  

Benefits of a Private Jet Card

By looking at the potential offerings from all of the different charter companies, it is easy to see a lot of benefits to having a private jet card – especially if you are a frequent traveler. Though, there is a good chance that you’d prefer a private jet card that offers all of these benefits — or at least a combination of them. 

In addition to their specific terms, the benefits of a private jet card include: 

Convenience:

It is easier to get in the air since there are often fewer hoops to jump through to get into the air. 

Travel faster: 

You can usually call ahead for a jet, pack your bags, and head out. There are no long, drawn-out contracts to complete and no being shoved to the back of the line when demand for flights is up. Some private jet cards can have you in the air within 2 hours!

Affordable travel: 

Thanks to all the rewards, you usually will get a good deal on private travel if you have a private jet card, whether in monetary terms or opportunity costs.  

A few other perks you may encounter, depending on the particular jet card you are seeking, include: 

• The avoidance of fees for repositioning jets. One-way rates allow you not to have to pay to get your jet to you — or someplace else – after your initial flight. 
• A reduction – or elimination – of surcharges that often comes with flying on peak days. 
• Direct contact to get your flight scheduled. 
• Unique gifts or bonuses to make you feel like a cherished member every time you fly. 

Keep in mind that each of these perks will vary based on the different private jet cards available. Some offer more than others, but it all comes down to what is most convenient for you. 

Find Your Private Jet Card

If you fly often, then you should consider a private jet card. With easy booking processes, guaranteed availability, fixed pricing, fractional ownership with tax breaks, no repositioning fees, and much more available to you – it doesn’t make sense to fly any other way. 

Remember, take your time when looking at your available options. Private jets are the same and can get you where you need to go. Therefore, find the private jet card that offers you the most value – and fly with it.