How to Fly Cheap in a Private Jet

Perhaps the ultimate status symbol of wealth and success is a private jet. The ultimate in convenience, travelers can avoid the rush and crowds of regular airports and can normally drive right onto the airfield at smaller executive airports and hop right on the plane.


The problem for us normal people is, of course, the price. Private jets, with fuel, crew and all the extras can easily cost $5,000. And that's $5,000 per hour for every hour you're in the sky. So a cross country flight can easily top $25,000 each way.


Now there are companies that offer discounted segments on private jets, many of which are re-positioning flights where they need to move aircraft from one city to another. For example, if their client flies to New York from Los Angeles to stay for a week, they may need to get the plane back to L.A. Here in Los Angeles, a company called JetSuite allows consumers to buy those open segments, called "SuiteSavers," with pricing starting at $999, for the full plane, up to four people. The $999 fare is available from Los Angeles (Van Nuys) to Las Vegas, so if four people split it, the cost would be $250 per person each way, more than Southwest flights, but still not outrageous.


Plans must be booked in advance and travelers must have some flexibility in their plans. The discounted fares are only available between certain cities, the company calls them "SuiteSpots." These destinations include Austin, TX, Dallas, TX, Houston, TX, Las Vegas, NV, Los Angeles, CA (Van Nuys), Mammoth, CA, Oakland, CA, Orange County, CA, Palm Springs, CA, Phoenix, AZ, Reno/Tahoe, NV, Sacramento, CA, San Antonio, TX, San Diego, CA and Tucson, AZ.


JetSuite also offers a "SuiteShare" service where you book a space on a plane with a desired itinerary, between their SuiteSpot cities. Your price goes down as more people book to fly with you, up to the four person capacity of the jet.


For real bargain prices on private jet service, the company offers last minute open segments called "SuiteDeals" via their Facebook page for $499 per segment, for the full plane, up to four people. These are last minute deals when they need to move a plane and want to fill the space as opposed to flying an empty plane.


JetSuite offers unrestricted fares of $3,750 per hour (including fuel and maintenance) within their primary service area of CA, NV, AZ, TX and LA. Or you can reserve a plane for a full day for $4,000 plus $1,299 per flight hour. The company offers several discount and pre-payment programs to get even lower rates.


Freddy Sherman is a world traveler and editor of the travel blog travel4people.com. You can follow him on twitter, @thefredsherman

More from this contributor:

International Luxury Train Trips

Using Tripadvisor.Com To Get the Best Room Rate

Visiting Ollantaytambo in Peru's Sacred Valley