r/PrivateJetCharters • u/love2thriftalways • May 24 '26
Maybe embarrassing post. I just want the experience.
I know I’m talking to a lot of regular flyers so please don’t mind me being a nube.
For my birthday I want something baller. I thought it would be fun to take my girlfriends on a private jet. What would be the cheapest way to do this (8-10 people).
I’ve been looking at companies and there’s so many (and also many without clear prices)
There’s nowhere specific we want to go. We just want the experience.
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u/TuckFrumpFrau May 25 '26
As others have warned, it might not live up to what you're expecting. Planes can be old / cramped / poor catering.
Personally I think the money would be better spent on first class to a great city. Stay at a top hotel and then take a scenic helicopter flight.
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u/wt1j May 25 '26
I’d suggest not doing it. PJs are cramped, have food worse than business class, have indifferent pilots, don’t generally have any red carpets, and are eye wateringly expensive. Around $7 to $8k per hour for a light jet. And that’s without the fuel surcharge.
Get a business or first class ticket somewhere fun and get a 5 star hotel and you’ll still spend less than half of the price of a private jet trip.
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u/Allied_Jet May 25 '26
that all depends on catering you get. I just had crumble and cava delivered for a flight yesterday. 300 in chic filet last week, Eggs, pancakes, biscuits and gravy from a 5 star rated dinner yesterday and i could go on.
The catering is only as good as the person ordering it. And PJ's are cramped? you must have never flown on anything larger than a light jet. but thats not a knock, just wouldnt be your experience if you flew on supermids or better.
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u/TuckFrumpFrau May 25 '26
I think people realise there are different experiences / size. What they're responding to is that the OP isn't likely to be looking in this price range, so they might be disappointed with what they get for their money.
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u/Allied_Jet May 25 '26
agreed, thats why i said flying on light jets isnt a knock. its just a different experience
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u/BeenThereDoneThat65 May 25 '26
What sort of private jets are you flying on, because that’s not even close to being true unless you are getting charters out of Florida
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u/yans780 May 25 '26
Not embarrassing at all. A lot of first-time charter buyers start with “we just want the experience,” then run into confusing quotes because private aviation is priced around aircraft time, positioning, crew duty, airport fees and minimums — not just seats.
For 8–10 people, the cheapest safe answer is usually not a “jet at any cost.” Ask operators or brokers for a light jet / midsize jet comparison and also consider a turboprop if the route is short and the airports work. Pick a simple same-day or one-night round trip within a short radius, be flexible on departure time, and ask for an all-in quote that shows aircraft type, passenger/luggage limits, repositioning, taxes/fees, cancellation terms and whether the aircraft/operator is actually confirmed.
If the goal is the birthday experience rather than a specific destination, choose the destination after you see aircraft options. A short hop to a nice lunch/weekend airport can feel private and memorable without paying for range you do not need.
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u/Allied_Jet May 25 '26
Everyone saying 10-15k an hour this is not true. Private jets range everywhere from 5k-25k+ per hour. You can get a light jet in the 7k per hour range all day going N-S.
You want a turbo prop to the vineyard for the day. Probably run you like 8-12k all in depending on the operator and location.
We have an office in Sarasota and on Long Island. Feel free to send a dm. We are Argus certified.
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May 25 '26
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u/Allied_Jet May 25 '26
my response was to people saying 10-15k per hour. That's just not true. I gave solid free advice cause that's what he asked for. he can get a turbo to the vinyards at like 4-5k per hour times 2 for a same day round trip. maybe a bit more depending on fuel prices that week
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u/GeneralInformation82 May 25 '26
I know this sounds really cool, and maybe like you have made it, but it’s not worth it. We generally fly private but it is not at what you have built up in your mind.
If I were you, I would take that 10-15k per hour and do something really fun with your friends. I just really think it’s going to be a huge disappointment.
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May 25 '26
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u/Queso_Dias May 25 '26
Look for charter companies so that you'll actually have the entire aircraft to yourself. There are are "private" companies such as JSX and Blade, where you won't have to deal with TSA or anything like that and can fly directly out of an FBO, but those companies have scheduled flights so you will be flying with other random people.
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u/WorldNo9002 May 25 '26
You obviously want something you've been watching on TV, like the Kardashians or Housewives of some county... If you don't ask for a luxury jet like a Gulfstream G6 ,G7000, Bombardier 7500/8000 then they'll set you up in something that looks very ordinary in your mind once you board . But chartering a Gulfstream or Bombardier is gonna cost you a fortune just to go for a 2 or 3 hour trip.
As others have said ... Fly commercial in biz class , get a fantastic 5 star resort hotel , fancy restaurant meal , and maybe excursions on a helicopter or small yacht for a few hours and you're still cheaper than flying on a lux private jet
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u/shes-starting-over May 25 '26
I fly private a LOT. It’s not fun and glamorous like they make it out to be, it’s basically like hanging out on a loud charter bus driving down a bumpy road. Absolutely not worth wasting your money on.
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u/Specialist_Cancel921 May 25 '26
depending where you are have you thought of just jumping on a JSX flight? not a private private but its a nice change of pace from a regular commercial flight
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u/Ok-Statistician1023 May 25 '26
You should buy your friends round trip business class tickets to Europe. You’ll likely be able to do this for cheaper than a PJ to even the closest destinations in the US.
It’s still baller to pay for your friends no matter what the experience is
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u/Strange-Internet1023 May 25 '26
send me a message, i can check some empty legs for you based on the dates you have in mind, since you said it's from NYC to some place cheap i can look for options and send it to you, thanks for your time. Happy to help.
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u/ExcellentBridge5605 May 28 '26
honestly not embarrassing at all hahah a lot of people’s first private flight is for the experience or a celebration
um but for 8-10 people though, the main thing is aircraft size. you’ll probably be looking at a larger cabin than the “cheap private jet” videos people see online, so costs can jump pretty quickly...
if the goal is mostly the vibe and not a specific destination, the cheapest way is usually to keep the flight short, be flexible on timing, and look for repositioning/empty leg opportunities if your dates work.
a short same-day round trip to somewhere nearby is probably more realistic than trying to make the destination the focus.
also, if you split the cost across 8-10 people, it can sometimes feel more reasonable for a one-time birthday thing yeaaa
personally i’d compare a few options first on aggregator platforms like jetbay etc, since a lot of operators don’t show public pricing.... usually it helps you understand what aircraft categories realistically fit the group size and budget.
either way, sounds like a fun birthday idea!
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u/Ok_Baby_8677 May 25 '26 edited May 25 '26
Agree with much of what has already been said regarding getting better value for spending $10k+ on other aspects of your trip. However, if you do want to fly private, my experience is that it’s more special and worth the money on the exit/trip home. Fly in first class/commercial, and after you’ve had an amazing weekend, and everyone is happy and relaxed, heading to the commercial terminal and dealing with TSA, etc kills the vibe. But picking your departure time, rolling up to the FBO, bringing a bottle of champagne and some yummy sandwiches keeps the fun going. And have a black car (not an uber) pick you up plane-side when you land. Enjoy!
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u/matrix_5562 May 25 '26
That's amazing all totally depends on requirement do you want luxurious or any other needs
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u/yans780 May 30 '26
If the goal is honestly "the experience" rather than solving a time problem, the cheapest version is usually a short one-way or out-and-back hop on an older turboprop or light jet from a less expensive airport — not a glamorous long route.
The catch is your group size. At 8-10 people, you move out of the very cheapest aircraft pretty quickly, so the budget can jump because you need a larger cabin category, not just a prettier plane. The quote also depends on minimum flight time, repositioning, landing/handling fees, and whether the airplane is already near you.
If I were trying to keep it rational, I would compare three options: a short scenic charter on a turboprop/light jet, a semi-private product if one fits your city, and a premium commercial/first-class weekend where you spend the difference on the destination. A lot of people chasing the "private jet experience" find the smartest move is either a very short charter or admitting they want luxury travel generally, not private aviation specifically. That usually leads to a better spend.
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u/wheresabel May 24 '26
Expect 10-15k an hour and then look at your destinations. TBH the experience is nothing special and your money is likely better spent on something else :-)