Private Charter Or Business Class: What You Actually Pay For

On a price-per-seat basis, a business class ticket almost always costs less than chartering a jet. But the two buy very different things, and for some trips the comparison is closer than it looks.

What a business class ticket buys

A wider seat, better food, lounge access and priority boarding, on a flight that leaves at the airline's time, from the airline's airport, to the airline's destination. If your trip is between two major cities that the airline serves daily, and you are travelling alone or as a couple, it is usually the sensible choice.

What a charter buys

The whole aircraft. That changes three things:

• Time. You leave when you are ready, skip the terminal queues, and avoid connections. A day trip to a site visit and back becomes possible.
• Airports. Private aircraft can use smaller airfields and safari strips that airlines don't serve, landing you closer to where you are actually going.
• Privacy. No other passengers, so you can talk business, travel with security, or simply have the cabin to yourselves.

When the numbers get close

The price of a charter is for the aircraft, not the seat. Divide it by six or eight passengers and compare it with six or eight business class tickets, and the gap narrows sharply, especially on routes without a direct airline service, where the alternative involves a connection and an overnight stay.

The gap narrows further on one-way trips that can use an empty leg, and on multi-stop itineraries that would otherwise mean several airline tickets and lost days.

A simple way to decide

Charter makes most sense when at least one of these is true:

• You are travelling as a group.
• Your destination has no convenient airline service.
• Your time on the day is worth more than the difference in fare.
• You need privacy, flexibility or space for special cargo.

If you're not sure, send us the trip. We'll give you aircraft options and a firm price, so you can compare like for like.