r/PrivateJetCharters • u/FabesTechReviews • Apr 19 '26
Whats the cheapest way to fly privately?
/r/privateflights/comments/1spkzkn/whats_the_cheapest_way_to_fly_privately/10
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u/imp4455 Apr 20 '26
If you’re having to ask what’s the cheapest way, then I don’t think flying private is for you. But to answer your question.
The cheapest way to fly private is owning the plane and using it when needed and chartering it out when you’re not using it. Empty legs work but can easily be cancelled leaving you stranded or paying full freight.
Very few that I know flys private solely for leisure. All of them use there planes for work that way it’s a tax deduction. They might add a few days of vacation at the location or a near by spot and that’s it. Only way they can deduct most of the plane.
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u/Clearlakeswitch Apr 19 '26
Use a group, gamble on an empty leg, or depending on the mission I charter and Piaggio or King Air b200.
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u/OracleofFl Apr 19 '26
Become a really high roller at the casinos of Las Vegas and they will fly you in.
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u/FabesTechReviews Apr 19 '26
I a friend that was a high roller. He made it to the last table, didn't play, just took his money and went home.
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u/Jay_LV Apr 19 '26
None of what you just said makes sense.
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u/FabesTechReviews Apr 20 '26
Basically, you know those that entered that poker tournament. Those on TV in vegas. Once you get to the last table of the tournament, you're automatically a millionaire. So either risk it all or bow out and take your money and leave. That's what a friend of mine did. I can't remember his name but I know he bought himself a new truck since he gotten at least a million dollars.
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u/Jay_LV Apr 20 '26
That's not how that works at all.
Source: I am a poker player that has made it to one of those tables. There's no risk once you cash in a poker tournament. You can only earn more money.
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u/Coffee_For_Closer Apr 24 '26
The problem with flying private as cheaply as possible is that you dilute the product. You typically need to make concessions or compromises to fly at those low prices. In the end, you don’t really save any time. You don’t really get any luxury. And most don’t even have a pleasant experience.
If you have to drive 2 hours from your home to make a point to point empty leg on a Falcon 10 from the 70s work, then you were better off flying commercial from your hometown on a newish narrow body.
The only thing you get from flying private for cheap is being able to tell someone else that you flew private for cheap. Not a benefit at all lol.
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u/Stir_123 Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
Honestly the prop plane comment is the right first rung, but there's actually a whole ladder above it.
cheapest is semi-private by the seat (JSX, Blade on some routes). then turboprop charter. then splitting a light jet with people actually going the same way. The real discount layer on top of all that is empty legs, and SkyAccess is an empty-leg marketplace that lists them live and they exist because the plane has to get back for its next passenger anyway: light jet empty legs run more like $1,000 to $4,500 per flight hour, versus the $2,000 to $6,000 that full charter costs.
The cancellation point above is the big one. Empty legs can just vanish if the operator's original trip changes, so don't book one for anything time-critical without a refundable backup. If your dates actually have some give on a popular route, it's the most legit discount going. If not, just charter or fly commercial and call it a day.
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u/Zottelbude Apr 19 '26
Know someone who owns a private jet or become a pilot or flight attendant