It’s common to book a car when you need to travel across town, so why can’t you book a private jet when you want to fly across the state? Of course, when most people think of traveling, they immediately rule out a private jet rental. Unfortunately, several myths have convinced most people that booking a seat in a private jet is just not realistic. Naturally, they think, the only option is a commercial airline and never even consider a private flight. And so, most travelers must endure the frustration of the airport, the security lines, and the cramped seating on the airplane.
Fortunately, on-demand air taxi services are remaking the private aviation industry and making private flying simple and cost-effective. Now, more than ever before, private jets are available to travelers in search of an easier way to reach regional destinations. Commercial airlines don’t want travelers to find out that these five myths about private air travel simply aren’t true any longer.
The first thing that comes to mind for most people when you mention private flying is that it’s expensive to rent a private jet. Traveling in a private jet doesn’t have to be expensive, though. Novel approaches to private aviation have made private air travel accessible in the same way that ridesharing services disrupted taxi cabs.
On-demand air tax services can offer pricing that’s competitive with flying commercially, but with much more style and a way better travel experience than flying commercial air. Travelers can pay a competitive price to skip crowded airports, lengthy security lines, and long waits at the gate. On-demand air taxis allow passengers to arrive right before their flight, board a private jet, and get their trip underway.
Think no one is interested in flying private? Think again. Nearly 70% of travelers who have flown private before reported they intend to fly private more often in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey conducted by Private Jet Card Comparisons. In a world where COVID-19 and the delta variant remain a serious concern for many travelers, private flights are likely to remain an in-demand choice for many. The same survey found that about half of all private flight passengers choose private jets for both business and personal travel.
That pandemic surge in demand has put private aviation on display, from brokerages to charter flights services to on-demand air taxis. For many, though, brokerages and charter flight services remain inaccessible due to high costs, fees, and the need for memberships and subscriptions. Flewber’s on-demand air taxi service charges only for the flight you book and nothing more. It also enables same-day travel on any available flight whenever needed, instead of requiring you to book days or weeks in advance.
Depending on the service you use, it might seem like a hassle to even find, let alone book, private flights. The private aviation industry sometimes has a reputation for being less than user-friendly, requiring intermediaries like brokers to arrange private flights for travelers. Luckily, though, there are solutions that make booking a private flight as easy as calling an Uber or Lyft.
Flewber’s mobile application connects travelers to a network of aircraft servicing the routes they need. For example, Flewber maintains a network of dozens of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 135 operators in the greater Northeast. These operators fly hundreds of aircraft on regional routes out of airports throughout New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, and more. Flewber is currently serving nearly 100 airports in the greater Northeast and operating 1,000 routes with room to grow.
Some private charter services enable travelers to book a seat on a private jet (or the entire private jet) at a reasonable cost and with as little as 24 hours’ notice, but only if travelers pay an annual membership fee or subscription as well.
However, not all air taxi services require a membership fee. Flewber, for example, is open to any traveler who downloads the app – you only pay for the flights you book. You can review available flights in real-time and see upcoming schedules. Once you book your flight, you pay for your seat, no subscription or membership fee required.
While some feel private operators represent more of a risk, a good flight sharing platform will always maintain stringent security protocols and maintenance standards that all operators in its network must adhere to. Further, the FAA requires operators meet training and safety standards, including how an operator’s management is structured.
Private flying is no riskier than riding in a car, especially when you choose a service that only works with safety compliant, licensed Part 135 operators. And, in terms of public health and the COVID-19 pandemic, private flying helps travelers avoid crowds and packed aircraft where transmission rates are likely elevated.
Private air travel is a wonderful way to travel directly to your destination in style, skipping the drudgery and hassle of the airport. While many believe it too pricey or risky to rent a private jet, nothing could be further from the truth thanks to on-demand air taxi services and flight sharing platforms like Flewber. When you want to travel, don’t tolerate the frustrations of flying commercials and don’t believe the myths about private flying. Flightsharing means booking a private jet for your next trip is as easy as downloading an app, booking a flight, and getting ready to fly.
