Private jet charters are for high end customers, who like to enjoy luxury, maximize time at their destination and minimize the number of flying hours. With their user-friendly app for booking your flights and more than 1,500 jets to choose from, Wheels Up stands out as the best private jet charter service available. But depending on what you’re looking for, another private jet charter might make more sense for you. You may even find one provider is the best fit for some flights while another provider is better for others. To help you make the most informed decisions regarding your private jet charters, we’ve reviewed Wheels Up as well as nine other providers.
Top 10 Private Jet Charter Companies
- Wheels Up — Top Pick
- Jet Linx — Best Jet Card Program
- Jet Edge — Best for Empty Leg Flights
- XO — Best for Jet Sharing
- BLADE — Best for Short Flights
- JSX — Best Flight Experience
- NetJets — Best Partnerships
- Stratos Jet Charters — Best Aircraft Selection
- STA Jets — Best for Last-Minute Flights
- VistaJet — Best for Long-Distance Travel
How to Determine the Best Private Jet Charter
From the cost of their services, the types of aircraft in their fleet, and their available flight locations, amenities they provide – there are many factors to consider when evaluating a private jet charter. We recommend you ask yourself the following questions when you’re making these decisions — the answers will help you decide whether a particular provider is a good fit for your travel needs.
How many private jet flights do you plan to take per year?
First of all, it’s important to note that some private jet companies only allow you to book one flight at a time, while others offer jet card programs that require you to purchase a bundle of hours upfront or make a minimum deposit. Some providers offer both pricing models.
If you plan to fly on private jets only once or twice per year, you should probably stick with chartering flights individually, as the costs involved with jet card programs won’t be worth it at that kind of volume. On the other hand, if you plan to spend 25 to 75 flight hours per year on private jets, then it makes more sense to take advantage of the benefits offered by jet cards (bulk discounts, fixed rates, guaranteed availability, etc.).
Which features are most important to you?
You should also consider which features you’re most interested in when evaluating different private jet charters. A provider’s fleet is its most significant feature. If you’re planning to take relatively short flights, then finding a company with turboprop planes or light jets will allow you to save money on flight hours, since larger planes tend to charge more. But if you plan to travel over a few thousand miles on some of your flights, you should look for an option that offers super midsize or heavy jets. Having more passengers will require you to book a larger jet as well. Some providers have just about every type of private jet in their fleet, while others specialize in a particular size.
Also, are you only interested in getting from point A to point B, or do you want your flights to include amenities such as flight attendants, full-size workstations, gourmet catering, entertainment systems? Each private jet charter service has its own set of amenities. Before you move forward with a jet charter service, make sure they provide all the amenities you want as well as the size of aircraft you need.
Do you know anyone who could make a recommendation?
One aspect that makes it somewhat challenging to evaluate private jet charters is that, unlike other businesses like retail stores and restaurants, it’s difficult to find public customer reviews for these services. For this reason, you should seek out friends or family who regularly charter flights on private jets. If you can find someone with this experience, they can provide you with invaluable firsthand knowledge that you would usually get through online reviews. Also feedback from previous clients who have used these services may be beneficial.
Our Private Jet Charter Comparisons
Wheels Up — Top Pick
Wheels Up earned its spot as the top pick in our guide thanks to its extensive fleet and particularly user-friendly system for chartering flights on a private jet. After you sign up, all you need to do is use their website or download the Wheels Up app to access their marketplace of over 1,500 aircraft. Once you’ve selected a private jet, you can see the cost of a particular trip and then book your flight with just a couple clicks.
It’s also worth noting this provider has a partnership with Delta, which offers benefits such as discounts on commercial flights with Delta and the ability to earn Delta Skymiles on your private jet flights with Wheels Up.
Cost per hour | Dynamic |
Available flight locations | Not listed |
Available aircraft sizes | Light, Midsize, Super Midsize, Heavy |
Jet ownership | Owned, leased, managed |
Pet policy | Subject to the approval of third-party operators |
Minimum age for unaccompanied minors | Not listed |
Jet Linx — Best Jet Card Program
Jet Linx doesn’t provide individual chartered jet flights — you’ll need to invest in their jet card program to use this provider.
To obtain a Jet Linx jet card, you must pay a one-time membership fee of $25,000 and make a nonrefundable deposit of at least $250,000. That’s a relatively steep cost, but it provides you with access to fixed hourly rates and guaranteed availability of their extensive fleet, which includes everything from light jets (an affordable option for taking small parties short distances) to heavy jets (capable of taking large parties long distances without stopping to refuel).
Cost per hour | Not listed |
Available flight locations | Atlanta, Miami, Austin, Minneapolis, Boca Raton, Nashville, Boston, New York, Chicago, Omaha, Dallas, San Antonio, Denver, Scottsdale, Detroit, St. Louis, Fort Worth, Tulsa, Houston, Indianapolis, and Washington, D.C. |
Available aircraft sizes | Light, Midsize, Super Midsize, Heavy |
Jet ownership | Owned |
Pet policy | Pets are allowed |
Minimum age for unaccompanied minors | Minors at least 5 years old can fly alone on day trips, but must be accompanied on overnight trips |
Jet Edge — Best for Empty Leg Flights
Jet Edge’s fleet is mostly made up of super midsize and heavy jets, which makes them a great choice for anyone who regularly takes international flights but less than ideal for those who plan to mostly take short domestic flights. Jet Edge can also make it easier for you to upgrade the other aspects of your travel plans through their partnerships with brands such as Four Seasons Hawaii and IYC Yachts.
Like Jet Linx, Jet Edge also offers a membership program — in exchange for depositing at least $100,000, you’ll get to take advantage of exclusive empty leg specials and other benefits.
Cost per hour | Not listed |
Available flight locations | Worldwide |
Available aircraft sizes | Super Midsize, Heavy |
Jet ownership | Owned |
Pet policy | Some of their aircraft allow pets |
Minimum age for unaccompanied minors | Unaccompanied minors require written permission from parents |
XO — Best for Jet Sharing
XO is similar to Wheels Up in that they allow you to access a combination of owned and managed private jets through their mobile app.
What sets this provider apart from most others is that, in addition to renting an entire aircraft, you can book a single seat on a private jet through their private jet rideshare service. This allows you to take advantage of the benefits of private jet travel at the lowest possible rates.
Cost per hour | Dynamic |
Available flight locations | Not listed |
Available aircraft sizes | Light, Midsize, Super Midsize, Heavy |
Jet ownership | Broker |
Pet policy | You must provide an XO Client Services Specialist with your animal’s breed, weight, and name to make the appropriate accommodations |
Minimum age for unaccompanied minors | Not listed |
BLADE — Best for Short Flights
BLADE is a rather limited provider for private jet charters, as they’re focused on relatively small aircraft such as helicopters, seaplanes, and turboprop planes. If you have a large number of passengers or want to fly long distances, you should probably use another service.
One advantage to these smaller planes, though, is that their hourly rates are much lower than what a larger private jet would cost you. If you only need to take a short flight, they may be your most affordable option.
Cost per hour | Not listed |
Available flight locations | New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Aspen, Miami, Palm Beach, the Hamptons, Nantucket |
Available aircraft sizes | Seaplane, Turboprop, Light, Midsize, Super Midsize, Heavy |
Jet ownership | Broker |
Pet policy | Pets are allowed |
Minimum age for unaccompanied minors | Not listed |
JSX — Best Flight Experience
Similar to Wheels Up’s partnership with Delta, this provider has a partnership with United Airlines that allows you to earn United MileagePlus miles on your flights with JSX. It’s quite easy to use this service, as you can book your flights directly through their website or mobile app. Their flight experience is comparable to flying business class on a commercial airliner, with flight attendant service, complimentary snacks, and plenty of legroom.
It should be noted that JSX’s flight locations are somewhat limited, though. While there are plenty of available destinations on the West Coast, you’ll likely need to use another provider if you plan to travel to other areas.
Cost per hour | Not listed |
Available flight locations | Austin, Burbank, Concord/Napa, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Monterey/Carmel, Oakland/San Francisco, Phoenix, Reno/Tahoe, San Diego |
Available aircraft sizes | Heavy |
Jet ownership | Owned |
Pet policy | Dogs and cats are allowed |
Minimum age for unaccompanied minors | Minors under the age of 14 are not allowed to travel alone |
NetJets — Best Partnerships
NetJets is another provider like Jet Linx that doesn’t allow you to charter individual flights — instead, they offer a membership program, and you can also lease jets from them (with a minimum commitment of 36 months).
Of all the providers featured in this guide, NetJets offers the best partnerships with other luxury brands. Indeed, your NetJets membership will provide you with access to unique experiences such as exclusive wine tastings, VIP access to equestrian events, and private coaching sessions with professional golfers.
Cost per hour | Not listed |
Available flight locations | Not listed |
Available aircraft sizes | Light, Midsize, Super Midsize, Heavy |
Jet ownership | Fractional |
Pet policy | Pets are allowed |
Minimum age for unaccompanied minors | Not listed |
Stratos Jet Charters — Best Aircraft Selection
Stratos offers a variety of private jet charter services, including business jet charters, cargo jet charters, and medical air transport. Over 2,000 aircraft are integrated into their marketplace, so you should have no problem finding a plane that suits your specific needs.
In addition to offering individual flights, Stratos has a membership program as well. This program requires an initial investment of at least $8,500, and it includes benefits such as fixed hourly rates, guaranteed availability, and a flexible cancellation policy.
Cost per hour | Turboprop: $2,600-$3,185
Very Light Jet: $3,575-$4,420 Light Jet: $4,875-$5,980 Midsize Jet: Not listed Super Midsize Jet: $6,435-$7,865 Heavy Jet: $9,880-$12,025 |
Available flight locations | Worldwide |
Available aircraft sizes | Turboprop, Very Light, Light, Midsize, Super Midsize, Heavy |
Jet ownership | Broker |
Pet policy | Some pets are allowed |
Minimum age for unaccompanied minors | Both parents must sign a consent form for unaccompanied minors to fly |
STA Jets — Best for Last-Minute Flights
STA Jets offers an impressive fleet, as they have everything from the light and affordable Cessna Citation Encore to heavy long-range jets like the Gulfstream G550. You can request a quote for any particular trip on their website. Just let them know if you’re in a hurry — in that case, they should be able to arrange everything and get you on your plane within just a few hours.
This provider is also notable for their strict safety standards. All their aviators hold IS-BAO certifications, and they have multiple third-party audit systems in place.
Cost per hour | Not Listed |
Available flight locations | Santa Ana, Van Nuys, San Jose, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Teterboro |
Available aircraft sizes | Light, Midsize, Super Midsize, Heavy |
Jet ownership | Owned |
Pet policy | Pets are allowed |
Minimum age for unaccompanied minors | Not listed |
VistaJet — Best for Long-Distance Travel
VistaJet’s signature silver-and-red fleet includes aircraft such as the Challenger 350 (seats up to eight passengers and can travel up to 3,200 nautical miles), Challenger 605 (up to 12 passengers and 4,000 nautical miles), and Global 6000 (up to 14 passengers and 6,000 nautical miles). They also offer the Global 7500, which is the world’s longest-range jet with a maximum flight distance of 7,500 nautical miles.
You can book flights individually, and there’s a membership program available that allows you to lock in your flight hours at a fixed rate. Members also get access to VistaJet Private World, an exclusive portfolio of suites, residences, ski lodges, yachts, and islands that offer privacy as well as personalized service.
Cost per hour | Not listed |
Available flight locations | Worldwide |
Available aircraft sizes | Super Midsize, Heavy |
Jet ownership | Owned |
Pet policy | Contact the VistaJet customer support team to see which pet restrictions apply to your flight |
Minimum age for unaccompanied minors | Not listed |