"I've never flown private before, why should I?" - A question often asked, especially by people new to the private jet business. Indeed, seeing someone board a private plane usually leads the average person to believe it's only reserved for celebrities or some other very wealthy person. However, this isn't necessarily true. The private aviation industry has expanded over the years, becoming more available to the average person, for reasons including prices and the many benefits.

The idea of flying on a commercial flight is not appealing to everyone. For some, flying  commercially has become more of a hassle than ever before. Private flights offer an alternative for those who prefer more privacy and luxury than what's found in most major airports and airlines. Flying privately offers comfort, privacy, flexibility and convenience that you just won't find anywhere else.

Here are some reasons why people should consider flying private.

Flying commercially can be a hectic experience. You have to take into account security lines, crowded airports and long hours of flight time and layovers. Commercial flights might save you some cash, but they will cost you precious time, which for many is more valuable than money. With private jets, you skip all the hassle and headache-inducing hassles. You can sit back, relax and enjoy the flight while saving valuable time to do what's important.

In the air within 15 minutes after your arrival at the airport. This presents a huge time-related advantage in comparison to waiting times of up to two hours with scheduled flights.

Did you know business aviation leads to large time savings for its travelers, saving an average of 2 hours (127 minutes) per flight over commercial aviation? (Source: EBAA)

"A business jet, when used properly, is a productivity enhancement tool. A time machine, if you will."

Learn more about the speed difference between private jets and commercial airplanes in our other blog How Much Faster is a Private Jet Than a Commercial Airplane? Going Beyond Airspeed

No cramped spaces, no waiting lines, no noisy fellow passengers, no middle seats, no smelly bathrooms; traveling by private jet is a stress-free experience. There's no need to worry or think about anything but getting from point A to B in the most comfortable and convenient way possible.

You can continue working on your laptop or just sit back and enjoy the flight, while we take away all possible causes of stress. Just so you can continue doing what you need to do.

The (business) world is already stressful enough, your flights shouldn't be.

People fly private for a variety of reasons and purposes. One of the main reasons is for business purposes, hence why the term business aviation is often used interchangingly with private aviation.

Working while flying can be a great opportunity to get things done and be productive in the air. Whether you're attending a meeting, working on business strategies or just need time away from distractions, traveling by private jet is quick and efficient, providing an invaluable work session without the hassle of commercial flights.

Business aviation impacts the bottom line by improving efficiency.

Also, the quietness and privacy of a private jet cabin can be the perfect place to have an efficient meeting, saving you precious time at your destination. You get privacy when working on your laptop or catching up with work at 30,000 feet.

Whether it is to improve your work efficiency on board, avoid distractions by other passengers, or perhaps just to wow your clients, flying with a private jet service will ensure that you stay productive from start to finish by making sure that your travel is worry-free and convenient.

Flying private also ensures that you reach your destination more quickly and efficiently, which allows you more time for client meetings, site inspections or other important business matters upon arrival.

Learn more about how private jets impact business efficiency here.

Although company owners are frequent private jet travelers, you don't have to be a business owner to charter a private jet. Private jet charters are also popular among people who greatly value their privacy.

When you're on a commercial flight, there's no telling who will be sitting next to you. As the name "private jet travel" already suggests, you'll be the only people on board aside from the crew.

This privacy is practically unmatched by any other type of air travel.

When you fly on a commercial airline, everyone in your row can hear everything you say to one another. If you're trying to conduct business or talk about personal matters, other people overhearing your conversation can be very intrusive.

What's more, other passengers might get loud or rowdy, making it difficult to accomplish anything or sit back and relax. You could spend the entire flight worrying about everyone around you instead of focusing on what matters most to you.

Also, for those who love to travel, the likelihood of being recognized is not an issue. But for those who are living a private lifestyle, flying privately is the only way to ensure that your privacy and anonymity will be upheld.

Flying in a private jet also means that you can avoid the dreaded middle seat. You'll have your comfortable seat, as many as you need, and no one will be next to you who doesn't belong there. This is especially great for those who travel with their families or don't enjoy traveling with strangers.

Anyone looking for privacy in the skies should at least consider flying private during their next trip, whether that's a romantic getaway, business trip or family holiday.

Flying on a private jet is a more luxurious way of traveling, offering more amenities and roomier seating. Instead of cramming yourself into a small seat, you can stretch out and relax in your own private space. Private jet flights offer more than just privacy though; they also offer comfort and luxury for their passengers.

With no strangers sitting next to you, near or far, you can recline in comfort and sleep soundly for the duration of the flight, spend quality time with your family, or get some work done.

You are free to wander about the cabin, stretch out on couches or even pull back a seat to take naps between destinations.

Also, you will have access to a galley that often features either a minibar or more extensive catering options, and enjoy the onboard entertainment system. All to make sure your flight is as relaxed and comfortable as possible.

The exclusive, personal service with all kinds of extra luxuries is of course included.

Private jets make travel more convenient in many ways.

One of the main examples illustrating this is unexpected or last-minute trips.

It's no secret that last-minute commercial airline reservations are expensive. While some airlines reduce the cost of bookings to increase the number of passengers they carry, others actually raise their ticket prices in order to increase revenues. This is rarely seen with private jet charters, who mostly charge the same price, no matter if the departure is in a few days or a few months.

Since private flights are on-demand, you're able to schedule your flight at the time of day that is most convenient for you.

Going to a business meeting in London from Brussels would take you a full day when flying private, or perhaps even require an overnight stay. A private jet can make the same trip in a matter of hours, so you are back in the office before the end of the working day.

Traveling by private jet has another practical advantage: You can fly to smaller airports that would be inaccessible by commercial airline flights.

Private jet charters can land at airports with shorter runways than what are available to commercial planes. You will have the luxury of choosing which airport you want to land at instead of landing at a busy commercial hub.

This allows passengers to fly more efficiently because they are choosing the best airport for their destination rather than taking whatever airport is closest. This saves you precious travel time and allows you to land closer to where you need to be.

In the United States alone, business airplanes can reach some 5,000 airports; the airlines only reach about 500. (Source: NBAA)

In the entire world, the number of airports accessible to private jets is many times higher than those accessible to commercial flights. And this not even includes all the places accessible by a private helicopter flight!

Some interesting examples of airports accessible by private jets but not by commercial airlines include

• La Môle airport in Saint-Tropez, France
• Kortrijk-Wevelgem airport, Belgium
• Courchevel altiport, France
• London Biggin Hill, UK

Luxury travelers may also want to consider that their pets can travel with them in style on private jets. Most charter companies and operators allow you to bring your pets along when you're traveling by chartered jet.

Fly private and treat your trusty dog, cat or other pet like the real VIPs he or she is.

Learn more about traveling with your pet onboard a private jet

Flying private also means traveling to and from small business terminals and private lounges, often called FBOs (Fixed Base Operators). The perfect way to avoid busy crowds at large terminals, especially during these challenging times.

One great example of this is our own The Aviation Factory lounge at Antwerp airport, it's hard to not feel like a celebrity when hanging out here!

When flying commercially, you frequently find yourself stuck with the food and drinks provided by the airline company. It's rare for airlines to offer special meals on request or for people who have dietary restrictions.

When you fly private, however, your culinary experience can be entirely in your own hands. You can pre-order meals in advance, select your favorite beverages, and take off with all your favorite snacks for a totally customized flying experience.

Flying private is like traveling in a five-star restaurant.

The final benefit we would like to mention here is the advantage of traveling with fewer baggage restrictions.

Most private jets have generous baggage allowances, less strict on weight and size than when traveling commercially. Especially for oddly-sized items such as golf bags or skiing equipment, commercial airlines often require you to pay extra fees, if it's even possible to take them with you at all.

This can be a huge benefit if you are someone who likes to travel with a lot of gear or have multiple sporting hobbies that require large items, such as skis, surfboards, etc. Other travelers, such as engineers, may need to take bulky and heavy equipment with them to their destination, and private jets can accommodate these needs without the extra fees or hassle.

Another benefit regarding baggage is the probability of your luggage being lost with a commercial airline. Every day, thousands of commercial passengers arrive at their destination without their luggage, either due to technical problems, airlines losing luggage, misconnecting flights, delays, etc.

The probability of your luggage being lost when flying private is practically non-existent, as you are always in direct contact with your aircraft crew, and you can collect your luggage as soon as you exit the airplane.

Flying by private jet also means you will lose less time retrieving your baggage, which again illustrates the important time-saving benefit.

Finally, let's look at some other interesting facts about business aviation in the United States in 2021, mentioned in NBAA's 2021 Business Aviation Fact Book publication.

These facts offer some additional advantages that private travel may offer, for your business or personal needs.

• 80% of business airplane flights are to airports in small towns and communities.
• 86% of flights carry marketing and sales personnel, technical and engineering staff, middle managers and company customers - not top executives.
• 98% of Fortune Magazine's Top 50 World's Most Admired Companies use business aviation.
• 15,000 yearly flights business aircraft make for humanitarian reasons.
• Business aviation helps support more than 1 million jobs in the US.
  
  

Note: the figures and facts above apply to the United States, but we can safely assume these benefits can be found in the rest of the world as well.

Flying private has long been a symbol of prestige and affluence. Whether it is for business or pleasure, flying on a private jet can make the difference between having an excellent experience and having a mediocre one. It's why many people consider it to be worth the higher travel cost.

There are several compelling reasons why you should at the very least consider chartering a private jet. In reality, the 11 reasons mentioned above are just a handful of the many benefits. A private jet charter may be ideal for any purpose, from arranging a romantic last-minute getaway to attending a business meeting.

Regardless of your reasons, we encourage you to at least inquire about chartering a private jet for your future travel plans. If you'd like to charter a private jet or receive a custom quote for your next trip, contact our private jet team direct at private@the-aviation-factory.com.

When flying with The Aviation Factory, we guarantee that you will have a first-class experience. From start to finish.

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