Chartering a private jet isn’t just for the ultra-rich. While the price of a private jet charter can vary, depending on the size of the jet and the distance you’re flying, prices can be competitive with first-class. Additionally, the cost of a private jet charter is for the entire jet, not per seat like it is on a commercial flight. If the cost of the charter is split between multiple passengers, prices can even be competitive with the cost of a business-class commercial ticket.

On top of the cost of the flight, there may be additional fees, depending on your destination and the cost of fuel. A fuel surcharge may be added if there’s a rise in the cost of fuel. If you’re flying internationally, there may be fees associated with the trip due to customs charges, handling costs, and other expenses that can be incurred. If your flight travels overnight, you could incur a fee for keeping the crew overnight. Depending on the broker or operator, there may be fees for additional passengers as well.

Empty legs flights are a great way to save money on a private jet charter. Empty legs occur when an aircraft flies from, for example, airport A to airport B, but then is needed to fly from airport C to airport D. The airport B to airport C leg is called the empty leg because while the aircraft must fly that leg in order to be available for the C to D charter, no one has booked it for the B to C leg.

Many private jet companies will offer this leg at a discounted rate so that they don’t have a flight with no passengers at all. Any private jet company or broker offering empty legs will advertise the flights available on their websites.

All private jet operators are required to have insurance for the aircraft they fly and the pilots and crew they employ. While this insurance does also cover passengers, it may not cover all items brought onboard by the passenger. If valuables are among the passengers’ luggage, these items may not be covered by the operators’ insurance and the passenger would need to ensure their own insurance coverage for these items.

You’ll receive a quote for the cost of the charter from your broker when you book the private jet charter. This quote will include all fuel charges, taxes, fees, and the cost of chartering the jet. Typically, this is paid upfront before you fly. There may be additional fees that accrue during your flight. If this is the case, these can be settled when you land.

A private jet card program is a program that allows private jet fliers to pre-pay for flight hours at a fixed rate for a specific size or type of aircraft. Anyone with a jet card can simply use the hours they have accrued without having to worry about paying for their flight. Jet card programs also offer other benefits, including guaranteed availability of your choice of aircraft, a certain number of hours of flight time, 24/7 concierge service, and more. Opting in to a jet card program can save money for frequent flyers who can lock in lower rates by pre-paying for flight hours.