When to start Flying Private?

[Koolau]

Daddy wasn't the problem. She had a lot of red flags. Fun while it lasted. Glad I ran.

Thanks for sharing as much as you have. Not all of us "fall into" a relationship like that. "Fun while it lasted" would be the way to look at it. So glad you survived and thrived.

But that first slog through the TSA line after all that must have been agony!

 

[kgtest]

I have no earthly idea how much flying private costs so I've got no basis to answer.

How much is a Netjets subscription? What does that get you? How much does each flight cost?

It costs over $15,000 to 20,000 an hr to run a Falcon 900ex. Taylor Swift has one or two of those.

IF you fill the plane with 8 people, that's $2,500/hr per person. It's doable.

3hr flight across country and back for around $120,000 plus tip and depending on runway fees, yeah

 

[TheWizard]

It costs over $15,000 to 20,000 an hr to run a Falcon 900ex. Taylor Swift has one or two of those.

Taylor Swift is reasonably wealthy...

 

[kgtest]

If the cost were $200k to $400k per year, I’d probably have to have $50 million to consider it.

Maybe as low as $25 million if you wanted to do it 2-3 years for some heavy travel.

You could share it with 3 or 4 other business associates and just know that minus maintenance, and splitting maintenance costs, you will get to use the plan maybe 70 to 80 days a year.

Avionics upgrades and satellite wifi internet equipment can get into the millions. I think its like 15k a month just for the luxury of having internet on the 900ex.

 

[kgtest]

Taylor Swift is reasonably wealthy...

Yeah that's why I used her as reference. I know a 900ex pilot and there are multiple owners for the one they fly.

 

[kgtest]

I like the Cirrus Vision Jet for quick cross-country with the misses and a passenger. The Chinese bought the company, but its all still run, and manufactured /developed by the same Americans prior to the Chinese owning it.


1274nm range. I helped test the Garmin Emergency Auto Land integration for the fleet of Cirrus aircraft. Software/hardware side not actual test pilot stuff.

 

[CalBird]

How long does it take to fly this plane coast-to-coast? How many stops for refueling? I am sure over-ocean flight is out with this plane.

It can get to 200 nautical miles per hour. Yes, you probably need lots of refueling stops for flying coast-to-coast. I would not try over the ocean too far away. We do fly to islands like catalina.

 

[NW-Bound]

I have no earthly idea how much flying private costs so I've got no basis to answer.

How much is a Netjets subscription? What does that get you? How much does each flight cost?

This is what I posted on another thread in Feb 2026.

I still dunno if a guy with a measly $10M can afford NetJets. Here's what I found out for the lowest 25-hour bracket, which is just enough to cover a single round trip from the US West Coast to Europe and back

Aircraft Categories and Approximate Costs for 25 Hours

• Light Jet: Embraer Phenom 300, approximately $205,000; ideal for short regional trips up to 3 hours. A 25-hour jet card for a light jet ranges from $150,000 to $200,000.
• Midsize Jet: Cessna Citation Latitude, approximately $250,000; suited for medium-range flights and small groups
• Super Midsize Jet: Challenger 350, around $330,000; perfect for cross-country trips with 7 to 8 passengers
• Large Cabin Jet: Gulfstream G450 , between $450,000 and $500,000; designed for long-haul international travel

 

[Semi-Retyrd]

Back in the 70s when I worked for Hughes Aircraft in Culver City we had not only our own fleet of planes but also our own private airport and runway next to LAX.

I remember walking out of the building where I worked at Radar Systems Group going through a gate and on to one of our helicopters to go to a meeting at our Missile Systems Group in the San Fernando Valley. This was a lot more efficient than driving on the freeways and it was all paid for through defense contracts.

Nowadays you should have $100M minimum liquid net worth to fly private on a routine basis.... or work for the right company

 

[audreyh1]

Eh, people do can afford this do not care about greenhouse gas emissions. Not being a hypocrite here, because if I were really environmentally conscious, I would just stay home, just riding a bike around the block and not traveling.

True for sure. Don’t travel at all and minimum driving at home if not bicycle. And move to a smaller home if more energy efficient, yadda, yadda. We’re not to give up traveling yet.

Ironically many of the billionaires attending global climate/environmental conferences fly in on their private jets. Just some of the irony of our times.

 

[HarveyS]

Data point: Former President Biden in the news recently while flying commercial from MSP to PHL. I reckon if he can’t afford private, I can’t afford private.

 

[NW-Bound]

True for sure. Don’t travel at all and minimum driving at home if not bicycle. And move to a smaller home if more energy efficient, yadda, yadda. We’re not to give up traveling yet.

Ironically many of the billionaires attending global climate/environmental conferences fly in on their private jets. Just some of the irony of our times.

They even take rocket joyrides, and the public cheers them on as heroes.

 

[Ronstar]

I can't believe anyone on this forum pays to fly private.

I didn’t pay, but I did take a short trip in a Gulfstream for free.

I don’t have $75m to buy one, but a person could charter a jet for a few hours for under $25k.

 

[FIYes]

My first thought when I saw the title of this thread wasn’t about money. It was about the singers and celebrities who have died in private plane crashes over the years.

Now since I don’t even fly business class, I obviously not in the private jet crowd. However, safety was my first thought.

 

[oiseux]

Here's an older report, from 2018, from Vista Jets on the topic (Link). At that time, the average net worth of was determined to be $131M. They also noted those who use on-demand programs, and the NW is roughly half that. The usage have been on an accelerating trend since then.

I have a friend who was a military and commercial pilot and has his own plane. Not a jet, and affordable for a non decamillionaire. Flies a moderate distance to various domestic trips.

I have flown more times than I can count in mega corp jets for two different companies; as a cost of business, it is not comparable. Once, I had a job that would take me from site to site as the only passenger. These were tiny, podunk airports. In more recent times, we did consider shared charters to transport a pet internationally. They run at 10 to 15K for transatlantic (includes the human chaperone). I have met several people who did this option for relocation purposes.

 

[MichaelB]

I have no direct knowledge of this but suspect that for most people traveling by private jet, someone else pays the bill. It’s a business expense. Private airplanes, line Cessnas, may be privately owned, but jets are too expensive. So, a combination of clients and taxpayers foot the bill.

 

[Koolau]

Taylor Swift is reasonably wealthy...

And it's deductible! That's key.

 

[TheWizard]

And it's deductible! That's key.

Definitely...

 

[Walt34]

I have no direct knowledge of this but suspect that for most people traveling by private jet, someone else pays the bill. It’s a business expense. Private airplanes, line Cessnas, may be privately owned, but jets are too expensive. So, a combination of clients and taxpayers foot the bill.

Exactly. Very few jets are owned by individuals. But even I could (barely) afford my own Piper Tri-Pacer when I was single and did not own a house. It had a realistic nonstop range of about 350-400 miles and cruised at 120 mph. A cross-country trip would be an adventure but doable. A trip from MD north of DC to Tangier Island in the Chesapeake Bay was a nice day trip. A flight to Oshkosh, WI was an all-day affair with, I think, three fuel stops each way and an overnight hotel due to weather on the way back.

 

[FD1000]

I don’t care much for the middle ground.
Either I fly commercial in the main cabin, or I own a large private jet. I would never fly in a small plane.

BTW, we’re currently watching the Hulu series about John F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife. It covers the story leading up to the plane crash that killed him while he was piloting a small aircraft.

 

[NW-Bound]

I don’t care much for the middle ground.
Either I fly commercial in the main cabin, or I own a large private jet. I would never fly in a small plane.

BTW, we’re currently watching the Hulu series about John F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife. It covers the story leading up to the plane crash that killed him while he was piloting a small aircraft.

Some people like to pilot their own plane. For me, flying is just transportation, and the quicker I get to where I want to be, the better.

While for a road trip, I'd rather drive my own car than sitting in a Greyhound bus, I would never dreamed of owning and piloting my own Gulfstream. Even if I were rich, I am not the type who loves to fly planes, like Travolta who owns and pilots several jets, including a Boeing 737-300.

 

[Koolau]

I don’t care much for the middle ground.
Either I fly commercial in the main cabin, or I own a large private jet. I would never fly in a small plane.

BTW, we’re currently watching the Hulu series about John F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife. It covers the story leading up to the plane crash that killed him while he was piloting a small aircraft.

We've veered slightly into General Aviation discussion here. That's way different than hiring professional pilots to pilot well equipped biz-jets while you ride.

Not to speak ill, but JFK Jr was not prepared for the flight that took his life. His death is sad and tragic but was almost predictable given the equipment flown, destination, time of travel and the experience level of the pilot.


Captain Alfred Gilmer Lamplugh is quoted as saying:

“Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity or neglect.”

Much better to hire the Net-jet for 10X+ or fly commercial in most cases. As a former aircraft owner and pilot, I can admit that the skills needed and the equipment required for safe, long-distance travel exceeded anything I could ever muster. YMMV

 

[6miths]

I consider private planes one of life's great equalizers. So many wealthy folks have met their ends in small aircraft. Flying medivac was exciting enough for me. Very happy to stick with commercial operators.

 

[Diogenes]

Some people like to pilot their own plane. For me, flying is just transportation, and the quicker I get to where I want to be, the better.

While for a road trip, I'd rather drive my own car than sitting in a Greyhound bus, I would never dreamed of owning and piloting my own Gulfstream. Even if I were rich, I am not the type who loves to fly planes, like Travolta who owns and pilots several jets, including a Boeing 737-300.

A number of my acquaintances have private-pilot licenses, and enjoy flying, if not their own airplane or a fractional share, then a rental. I've been a passenger occasionally, and even have some brief moments at the "sticks". Neither was enjoyable. In fact I'd rather fly on a deep-discount airliner in the middle seat in Economy Minus, than to be personally flown on a Cessna general-aviation airplane. It's scary, uncomfortable, and hurts my ears. Yes, a lot of those flight paths are above 8000 feet, and the low air density feels downright nasty. It is also disconcerting to hear the incessant chatter from ground control... do this, do that, compliance is mandatory. It feels like some kind of bizarre square-dance, where the performers are directed by some distant master, whose commands are incontrovertible law. So much for the "freedom" of the so-called open skies!

For anything shorter than 500 miles, I'd rather drive. Cars are my hobby, and as a driver I feel in control. There's no air traffic divine master ordering me what to do. No pre-flight checklist. No altitude to worry about. And statistics be damned, I actually feel safe.

 

[skyking1]

We've veered slightly into General Aviation discussion here. That's way different than hiring professional pilots to pilot well equipped biz-jets while you ride.

Not to speak ill, but JFK Jr was not prepared for the flight that took his life. His death is sad and tragic but was almost predictable given the equipment flown, destination, time of travel and the experience level of the pilot.


Captain Alfred Gilmer Lamplugh is quoted as saying:

“Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity or neglect.”

Much better to hire the Net-jet for 10X+ or fly commercial in most cases. As a former aircraft owner and pilot, I can admit that the skills needed and the equipment required for safe, long-distance travel exceeded anything I could ever muster. YMMV

I would not put it into a "biz Jet" box. For Continental travel that Pilatus PC-12 I linked is comfortable and has the advantage of being able to operate out of runways all over the country that a jet cannot.
You can have it flown ( in my case, fly it) right to where you are going.