Private jets are often seen as the pinnacle of luxury. Polished exteriors. Plush cabins. A personalised, red-carpet experience.
But for most frequent users of private aviation, the real draw isn’t luxury. It’s time.
Time saved. Time regained. Time on your terms.
At JetSetGo, we often speak to leaders at the top of their game, including entrepreneurs, executives, and individuals who’ve made it. For them, the key question isn’t should I fly private? It’s what’s the smartest way to do it?
In this blog, and in the video interview below, JetSetGo’s Chief Strategy Officer, Jonathan Sumner, breaks down the three main ways to access private jet travel: Private Jet ownership, charter, and membership program. Here’s how to make the right choice based on your flying needs.
First: Know Your Mission
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach in private aviation. Aircraft vary in size, range, and operating costs. Your travel pattern — where you go, how often, and with how many people — determines what type of aircraft you need.
This is what we call right-sizing. It’s the process of aligning the aircraft to your actual travel missions so you’re not overpaying for capabilities you don’t need or compromising on comfort or safety.
Once your aircraft type is identified, the next step is figuring out the smartest way to access it.
Option 1: Jet Ownership
Best if you fly 300+ hours a year
Ownership makes sense when your annual flight hours hit a certain threshold, typically above 300, and especially if you cross 400 hours per year. At that point, the cost of chartering frequently begins to outpace the economics of owning a jet.
Pros:
- Full control over aircraft availability and routing
- Asset value accumulation over time
- On-demand flying, entirely on your schedule
Considerations:
Ownership comes with regulatory, operational, and financial responsibilities. Your aircraft must be registered, licensed, crewed, maintained, and compliant with DGCA requirements.
JetSetGo offers end-to-end aircraft management services. We take care of everything from crew and maintenance to operations and compliance so your aircraft remains an asset, not a liability. When it is down for scheduled maintenance, we keep you flying with one of our own fleet jets.
Option 2: On-Demand Charter
Best if you fly fewer than 50 hours a year
If your flying is infrequent, unpredictable, or limited to a few business trips or family getaways, chartering is the most flexible and cost-effective option. You pay as you go. No long-term commitments. No asset management. No upfront capital.
Pros:
- Zero ownership or membership cost
- Pay only when you fly
- Access to a wide range of aircraft types
JetSetGo’s charter consultants help you select the best aircraft at the best price and coordinate every part of the journey from takeoff to touchdown and everything in between.
Option 3: JetSetGo Membership Program
Best if you fly between 50 and 300 hours a year
Somewhere in the middle lies a sweet spot. Frequent fliers who don’t fly enough to justify ownership but fly often enough that ad hoc chartering becomes inefficient and expensive.
That’s where JetSetGo’s membership program steps in.
Here’s how it works:
- We assess your typical travel frequency and preferred routes
- You pre-purchase a set number of flight hours (for example, 100 hours per year)
- We guarantee aircraft availability with 48-hour notice
- You fly at a preferential locked-in rate, lower than market pricing
It is near-ownership level flexibility without the capital investment or operational responsibility.
Time Is the Ultimate Luxury
Private aviation isn’t just about getting from Point A to Point B in style. It is about removing friction. About flying on your terms, not someone else’s schedule.
Whether you are flying 25 hours a year or 500, the key is choosing a solution that delivers both value for money and value for time.
Watch the Full Conversation
Jet Ownership vs Chartering vs Membership
Jonathan Sumner, CSO at JetSetGo, shares expert insights on how to choose the best fit based on your needs.
Ready to Stop Losing Time?
Every month you delay the switch, you lose hours to inefficiency, unpredictability, and unnecessary cost. Let JetSetGo design a smarter, faster, and more strategic flight solution tailored to you.
Speak with a JetSetGo aviation advisor today and get your custom flight plan in under 48 hours.
No wasted time. No wasted potential.
