Should you fly private?

We have covered many private jets on IAHQ recently, including the G650, Lineage 1000 and AS2, but never whether you should fly private. We may be fond of private and business jets, but we have never shared our opinion as to whether flying private is a good idea or not. 

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a multibillionaire businessman, celebrity, or just a regular joe, you’ve probably wished to take to the sky in something more… luxurious. 

Reasons to fly private 

It’s often quicker than flying commercially. Most private jets fly at 0.90 Mach or faster (on average for newer models), whereas your typical 747, flies at 0.85 Mach. This may not seem like a lot on the surface, but it can mean the difference of an hour on long haul flights. 

No long queues at the airport. Most private jets are held at private airfields throughout the world, or the private jet area of smaller airports such as London Biggin Hill airport. This means that you no longer have to go through long lines at security and wait several hours before your flight. You can simply turn up to the airport with your suitcase and passport, roll through security, get on, and take off. 

Spend more time with your family (and business associates). Ultimately, if you are jet setting across the world, you will want to bring your family along with you. You’ll be able to get up, move around, make obnoxiously loud phone calls, and have a laugh, all without having flight attendants having a go at you. You’ll have the time to sit down with your daughter and watch Frozen for the seven hundredth time this year. You’ll be able to sit and talk with your spouse or partner without being interrupted by flight attendants. 

No annoying fellow passengers (well, except your mother-in-law maybe). Normally when you go flying, you always end up with an obnoxious passenger, or a baby that whines the whole way. When you fly private, the only obnoxious passengers you’ll likely face are those you are familiar with. The only overly obnoxious passenger you’ll likely get is your teenage daughter or the only whiny baby you get is your own child/grandchild. 

Potentially more cost effective. This mainly depends on what you intend to use the aircraft for. If you are a businessman looking to get across the world in a few days, you’re fine is more valuable on a private jet, taking three days to get from London to Paris to Berlin to London to Paris to New York to Dallas to London. This is compared to the 6 days it would take for you to get to all your destinations via commercial flights.

Avoid being mobbed or photographed (privacy). Sometimes, you just want to get away, and have a relaxing weekend with your family abroad. But, your famous, and everyone knows your face, if you go to a commercial airport, the paparazzi and your fans will mob you for photos and autographs. This is annoying, even to the point where frugal billionaires like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates have splashed out on a private jet to avoid this. 

Travel safely and soundly. Most people have certain… worries when it comes to air travel. Sometimes, these are worries about crashes, other times they are about confined spaces, or the time spent at an airport. All of these are eliminated when you fly private, as you get to control everything in regards to the flight. 

Increase your productivity by at least 150%. Most studies show, that businessmen and CEO’s increase productivity by at least 150% when they fly private. This is because they can control the distractions present on the aircraft- their small children, chatty spouse, phone calls etc. 

Reasons not to fly private 

It damages the environment. Nowadays, many people are concerned as to their impact on the environment as a result of their actions. When you fly private, you create more carbon per person than you do when you fly commercially. This means that whilst you may be damaging the environment when you fly, it is exasperated when you fly privately. 

Flying commercial is cheaper than flying private. Depending on the location, you can fly significantly cheaper when you fly commercial than you do when you fly private. A quick internet search shows a flight for 4 from Gatwick to Antalya (Turkey) can cost as little as £216 (with low cost carriers such as EasyJet)! This is compared to the nearly £3,000 for a chartered flight, from and to the same airports! 

Flying commercial is breaking records in safety year on year. Every year, there are less and less crashes on commercial fights, with only two crashes with fatalities last year! 

Gain more air miles to be used in the future. When you fly commercially, you can gain more air miles and thus more perks, that may be unobtainable when it comes to flying on a private jet.

You can often get better amenities in a first class seat than you can on a private jet. Not all private jets come with showers and a toilet that you can actually fit in, but first class fliers do. Most major airlines have first class lounges that are present at most of the airports they fly to. Most of the food in first class is prepared in flight by 5* chefs, which aren’t often found on private jets (unless you are a 5* chef yourself). 

Should I fly private?

In the end, it comes down to you really. If you are a multibillionaire or a famous celebrity who can’t leave your house without being mobbed, almost certainly make use of a private jet. If you are a regular joe who isn’t a multibillionaire or celebrity, stick with commercial flights in first class. 

I hope you have enjoyed this article on whether or not to fly private. Will you fly private? Have you ever flown private, if so what was it like? Would you recommend flying private? Tell me in the comments!