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The Lounge
3 mins
The idea of buying private jet charter flights online alongside commercial offerings used to be unimaginable. Fast-forward to 2022 and this crucial idea is now possible, with jet charter flights now just a click away.
To discuss this industry exclusive, and what chartering a private jet is all about, I spoke with Paul Aston, Charter Manager at Inflite Charters.
People usually charter a jet to get from A to B as quickly as possible and for privacy. When you charter a jet, you are essentially hiring the whole aircraft and services for your exclusive use. In terms of cost, the overall price for jet charter depends on a range of factors.
The jet world consists of a wide variety of different aircraft types and, as such, prices will vary depending on the size and model of the aircraft. While most would say there are about eight primary types of private jets in charter use, generally jets are broken down into three categories according to size: small, medium and large.
Small Jets: Usually seats between two to four passengers and cost around A$4,000 an hour. An example of a small jet is a Citation Mustang.
Medium Jets: Can be anywhere from six seats and above and cost upwards of A$6,000 an hour. A type of mid-sized jet is a Cessna Citation Sovereign.
Larger jets: Generally international jets that seat over 10 passengers and range upwards of A$10,000 an hour. A type of large jet is a Bombardier Global 6000 or a Bombardier Challenger 604.
No one trip is ever the same.
Flying private means private terminals, also known as fixed base operators. These terminals are at all the major airports around the world and are away from the main terminals, and therefore the usual queues. A lot of the time, your jet may be the only jet departing that day or at that time, therefore you experience the lounge area to yourself.
While aboard the jet, all your catering needs and requests will be provided, ranging from a light snack to a three-course meal.
“We’ve had everything from pizzas delivered to the aircraft to special guacamole flown in from Sydney when we are departing from Auckland to special vitamin C drinks,” Paul Aston, Charter Manager of Inflite Charters said.
“Everything is tailored to the guests’ needs.”
Booking a private jet used to be a tricky process, but now it’s moving away from being a hidden service that, in the past, only a select few knew about and towards becoming more accessible and mainstream. Today, people can book charters by phone, email or even text message. Inflite Charters, however, has taken it one step further by teaming up with online travel agency Mix and Match.
Mix and Match offers a range of products and services including commercial flights, hotels, experiences, cars and insurance. The company started in New Zealand and this year launched in Australia. Since teaming up with Inflite Charters, the online travel agency now offers charter flights. This means a client can now compare a flight with a commercial airline with a chartered jet on the same platform; an industry first.
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