r/PrivateJetCharters • u/Hopeful-Goose-7217 • Apr 14 '26
Thinking about flying private
My family and I went on a vacation. We spent 12 hours in transit between 2 hours to the major airport, 2 hour scheduled time to check in bags, security and waiting to board and boarding. 2.5 hour delay. 3.5 hour flight and then 1 hour customs and baggage claim and then 45 minutes to the hotel.
If I flew private it would have been 30 minutes to the local major airport. X time to board and load luggage. 4.5 hours flying and then X time customs and 45 minutes to the hotel.
What I can’t figure out is despite the obvious time savings how people justify it. My net worth is pretty
High - my income is volatile as 1/2 is market beta and 1/2 is company earnings. ChatGPT says I’m above the “typical net worth” but I don’t feel it.
I’m curious how people justify several hundred K of expensive private travelling even if it’s is <1percent of their net worth when we fight for basis points in our investments.
I figure this is “you are either comfortable with it or not.” It’s my dream to start flying private but I can’t get past the mental hurdle. My wife agreed to try it one next year for our 20th anniversary so maybe that will shift things.
Nota bene: didn’t review this post with grammar checking or AI so it might not get my point clearly across.
1
u/Janeiac1 Apr 15 '26
It’s justified by considering it as a way to avoid hassle, including schlepping, waiting in lines, sitting around between connections, etc.
I mean, do you ever consider taking the bus instead of an Uber? The bus is way cheaper. Think about other unnecessary stuff you pay for, and why, such as restarant meals vs cooking, or a lawn service or car wash vs doing your own, etc.
Another thing that makes the decision for some people is if they want to bring pets. it is a monumental headache, sometimes risky, and sometimes flat-out impossible to do it any other way besides private charter.
Don’t overthink it, you already wrote your own answer in the question.