6 Ways to Fly by Private Jet, From Empty Legs to Ownership

You don’t need to own a private jet to fly on one. Here, we break down all the ways you can experience private travel.

Meyme Nakash

| April 28, 2026

Luxurious airplane interior with a marble countertop set with champagne, glasses, and snacks. White leather seats and elegant modern decor are visible further inside the cabin.

Flying by private jet is by far the most luxurious way to travel. From the seamless boarding process to the private cabin experience, it’s worlds apart from commercial flights. Not to mention, private airports tend to be closer to your final destination than commercial airports are. Flying privately, however, is not exclusive to jet owners. There are several other ways to experience private aviation, including fractional ownership, charter, jet cards, empty legs, and shared flights. Here, we highlight the benefits and drawbacks of each option to help you choose the right one for your travel needs.

Ownership

Luxurious private jet interior with plush white seating, dining tables set with wine bottles and flowers, modern lighting, abstract wall art, and large windows along one side.

The most obvious way to fly by private jet is to own one. This lets you fly at any time to any destination you desire, without worrying about scheduling conflicts that inevitably arise in other modes of private travel, which we discuss further in this article. Owning an aircraft allows you to customize it entirely to your preferences, from its seating layout to its furnishings. Some private jet owners invest heavily in outfitting their jets with lie-flat seating, private bedrooms, and conference rooms, among other bespoke amenities. Some of the nicest private jets resemble homes, featuring refined wood and marble finishes.

However, the cost of jet ownership isn’t as cut-and-dried as the upfront purchase price (which varies by size and level of customization). Private jet owners must also cover crew salaries, maintenance, insurance, fuel, and hangar fees. Many owners hire a management company to handle a private jet’s safety compliance, flight scheduling, and other operational logistics, which adds even more to the cost of owning an aircraft. For this reason, some people charter out their planes when not in use to offset the costs of ownership (read more in this section).

Unsure whether private jet ownership is for you? The general rule of thumb is that individuals who fly between 200 and 400 hours annually can justify the financial and operational commitments that come with it. There are also potential tax benefits to owning a private jet, such as rapid depreciation and operating expense deductions, which are factors worth considering. Keep in mind that jets are taken out of service annually for maintenance and safety checks. This means you would need to charter an aircraft for that period.

Fractional Ownership

Luxurious private jet interior with cream leather seats, glossy black tables, large round windows, a sofa in the back, and a flower arrangement on a side table. The space appears spacious and elegantly designed.

Fractional ownership allows individuals or companies to purchase a share of a private jet, rather than the entire aircraft. This method offers many of the same benefits of full ownership without the full cost of it. Typically, individuals purchase 1/16th to 1/2 of an aircraft, which provides them with roughly 50 to 400 hours of flight time annually.

In general, fractional owners can schedule flights on short notice, depending on whether it’s a peak travel time. One of the biggest advantages of this method is that the aircraft is maintained and managed by an operating company, such as NetJets, Flexjet, or PlaneSense. This means they don’t need to worry about hiring pilots or crew, maintenance, or regulatory compliance. Instead, they pay the initial buy-in, monthly management fees, and an hourly operating rate, which covers fuel, insurance, and other operational costs.

As for the drawbacks of fractional ownership, the most significant is limited autonomy and flexibility compared with full ownership. While fractional owners receive a set number of hours each year, they will inevitably face scheduling conflicts, and last-minute availability is not guaranteed. Additionally, monthly management fees can add up, especially for those flying less frequently, in which case chartering a jet would be more cost-effective. Ultimately, it’s a middle ground between full ownership and jet charter.

Charter

The interior of a private jet with cream leather seats, dark wood tables, a laptop, notebook, and water bottle on the tables. The cabin is well-lit with large windows on both sides.

Charter offers a flexible, on-demand approach to private aviation without the long-term commitment of ownership. Rather than purchase a share of an aircraft, you can book a private jet for a specific trip and pay only for the hours you fly. This model is ideal for anyone who flies infrequently or who prefers maximum flexibility without any long-term commitment.

Chartering provides access to a wide range of aircraft, from light jets to long-range jets. You can typically arrange a private jet charter with as little as 24 hours’ notice, depending on aircraft availability and location. Some companies operate on a membership basis, such as WheelsUp and VistaJet, requiring an upfront fee to access their fleet and services. Others, like FXAir and Magellan Jets, offer on-demand options without mandatory membership. The company handles all aspects of the flight, including the crew, maintenance, scheduling, and regulatory compliance.

One of the biggest advantages of private jet charter is its cost-efficiency for occasional fliers. There’s no up-front capital investment, monthly management fees, or long-term contract.

Of course, chartering a private jet does come with some limitations. Availability can fluctuate and become difficult to find during peak travel seasons, which can also drastically affect pricing. What’s more, your travel experience will likely differ from trip to trip. Otherwise, charter is one of the best ways to enjoy private aviation, especially for those prioritizing flexibility over ownership and consistency.

Jet Cards

Interior of a modern private jet featuring spacious beige leather seats, large windows, a fold-out table with a drink and a notebook, and elegant lighting, creating a luxurious and comfortable atmosphere.

Jet cards are ideal for travelers who want the flexibility of jet charter and the predictability of a more structured flying program. Rather than book an on-demand flight, you prepay for a set number of flight hours. Typically, you buy flight time in 25-hour increments at a fixed hourly rate. Jet card members often benefit from guaranteed availability and relatively consistent pricing, especially compared with the charter market’s fluctuations. Hourly rates are all-inclusive, covering fuel, crew, maintenance, and other operational costs.

However, this structure comes at a cost. A jet card membership requires a significant upfront payment, and hourly rates are generally higher than the charter market because you’re paying for guaranteed availability. There are also peak-day premiums, fuel surcharges, and taxi-time fees. Specific aircraft may not be available for the date of your flight, so there’s also less consistency in your travel experience.

Overall, if you’re a frequent flier who wants guaranteed availability and a seamless booking process, you should consider a jet card membership. NetJets, Flexjet, Jet Linx, and Magellan Jets all offer jet card programs.

Empty Legs

Luxurious private jet interior with four large grey leather seats, wood paneling, geometric wall designs, windows on both sides, and a view toward the cockpit in the background.

Empty-leg flights offer one of the most obvious trade-offs. These flights occur when a private jet needs to reposition: travel to pick up the next client, or return to its home base. Rather than flying empty, operators often sell seats at heavily discounted rates. This means that travelers with very flexible schedules can enjoy a similar onboard experience to chartering a private jet at a fraction of the cost. However, since the jet’s primary booking determines the route and schedule, there’s absolutely no flexibility for an empty-leg traveler. Additionally, these flights may be changed or canceled at the last minute if the original itinerary shifts. You can find empty-leg flights through private jet brokers, and some companies, like VistaJet and XO, list them as well. We would only recommend this model of private-jet travel for those who enjoy spontaneous travel and have adaptable travel plans.

Shared Flights

A luggage cart loaded with colorful suitcases and a red golf bag stands in front of a private jet inside an airport hangar, with red rope barriers surrounding the area.

Shared flights allow multiple passengers to book individual seats on the same private jet, rather than charter an entire aircraft. This model reduces the cost of flying privately while still providing many of the benefits that come with it. Shared flights are either scheduled in advance on popular routes or organized when a traveler opens up unused seats on a booked charter. Companies built on this model include JSX, Blade, and Aero.

The advantages of shared flights include lower costs than other forms of private jet travel, access to private terminals, shorter travel times, and a more comfortable onboard experience than commercial jet travel. It’s more accessible compared with other models that require a greater financial commitment, and it’s far more predictable and structured. However, you have less flexibility than with charter flights and also less privacy, since you’re sharing the aircraft with other passengers. If you’re willing to trade some control and exclusivity for a more accessible price point, it’s a great entryway to private aviation.

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