How a jet card works
A jet card is a prepaid account for private flying. You pay a deposit or buy a block of hours, then each flight is charged against it at a fixed hourly rate for a set aircraft size. In return, most cards promise guaranteed availability with a fixed amount of notice, outside listed peak days.
Cards suit people who fly regularly and want to know the price and the aircraft in advance, typically from about 25 hours of flying a year.
What to compare
Headline hourly rates are only the start. Line up these terms for each card:
- Hourly rate by aircraft size, and whether it includes fuel or adds a fuel adjustment.
- Daily minimums: many cards charge at least 60 minutes per flight day, even for a short hop.
- Peak and blackout days: how many there are and what changes on them.
- Notice: the callout time for guaranteed availability, often 24 to 72 hours.
- Cancellation windows and charges.
- Positioning: whether one-way flights or flights outside the provider's service area cost extra.
- Deposit size, expiry and whether unused funds are refunded.
- Taxes: whether aviation tax and any VAT and airport charges are included or passed on at cost.
When charter works out cheaper
A card needs money up front and often adds daily minimums and fuel charges. If you fly fewer than about 25 hours a year, or mostly one way, on-demand charter is often cheaper. You pay only for the trips you take, and you can pick the right aircraft for each one.
As a guide, a light jet charter typically costs €4,130 to €6,490 per flight hour for the whole aircraft, and a midsize jet €5,910 to €8,250, before taxes and fees. One-way empty legs can cut that sharply when your dates are flexible. See our private jet charter page.
