Private aviation often comes with images of exclusive flights on luxurious aircraft and five-figure price tags or more. This is often the case, with this type of travel often being reserved for the ultra-rich, but there are some companies that position themselves as being more budget-friendly than the traditional offerings by VistaJet or NetJets. They remain expensive in some cases, but they’re often much closer to airline ticket prices, although the value proposition is significantly different.

Often, airline tickets are primarily priced based on the destination, since the core product that an airline sells is a flight from point A to point B, and you can pay extra for a more comfortable onboard experience. With some private jet providers, however, it’s often the novelty of the experience and the benefits of the flight that’s the main product, rather than just providing transportation.

Traveling Onboard JSX’s Embraers

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The first unique thing about JSX is that it does not operate a single business jet. Instead, its fleet is comprised of Embraer ERJ-135 and ERJ-145 regional airliners, in addition to ATR42-600 turboprop airliners that the company has been taking delivery of more recently. These aircraft were all acquired used, although the ATR42s are much younger than the Embraers, and JSX uses these planes to offer a ‘semi-private’ experience, which can really be thought of as being a blend between true private jet flying and traveling with an airline.

These aircraft can typically seat between 40 and 50 passengers, but JSX only installs 30 seats on each of its three aircraft types. The company does not actually operate any of its own flights, but rather, the planes are flown by a subsidiary operating under FAA Part 135 regulations, and JSX books flights as charters under Part 380 regulations. Through these regulations, JSX can operate out of FBOs rather than airport terminals, avoiding long TSA lines and allowing customers to arrive at the airport just minutes before a flight.

The real benefit of private jet travel is the convenience of flying at any time and avoiding busy terminals. JSX aims to partially simulate this benefit, while also offering larger seats, complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi, as well as complimentary drinks and snacks. JSX operates exclusively within North America, and tickets generally cost less than $1,000 one-way, occasionally dropping to as low as $149. JSX tickets can be pricey for the length of the segment, but they’re still much cheaper than chartering a private jet in most cases.

An Upgraded Version Of JSX

Aero operates very similarly to JSX, in that it sells tickets under Part 380 regulations on flights that it technically charters from a Part 135 subsidiary, thereby allowing it to sell tickets on regularly scheduled flights that operate out of FBOs that are not subject to TSA screening. Aero also operates the Embraer ERJ-135, which is configured with far fewer passengers than in a typical airline configuration, but Aero’s subsidiary also flies the Embraer Legacy 600 and the Gulfstream IV, which are purpose-built business jets.

Some tickets on Aero’s flights cost over $1,000, but ticket prices typically start at just under $600 on some routes, and the onboard experience is significantly upgraded even compared to JSX. Whereas JSX installs 30 seats on its ERJ-135s, Aero installs just 16 seats, mainly because it configures its all-black planes in a one-one layout rather than the two-one layout found on JSX’s ERJ-135s (JSX installs a one-one layout on its E145s, with one section of seats featuring a large console).

What’s truly unique about Aero is the Legacy 600 and Gulfstream IV, as these executive planes feature interiors befitting of a private jet, and they also operate scheduled routes like the ERJ-135. While Aero primarily advertises the ERJ-135, it’s arguably a more novel experience to be able to book a seat on a flight operated by a private jet, rather than a reconfigured airliner. The Legacy 600 primarily operates within the western part of the US, whereas the Gulfstream is mainly used to serve Hawaii.

Booking With Tradewind Aviation

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Tradewind Aviation specializes in providing boutique aviation services in the Northeast US and the Caribbean. It specifically targets high-net-worth individuals looking to fly to leisure destinations, while also offering shuttle flights within the Northeast. It exclusively operates the Pilatus PC-12, a popular turboprop aircraft (which technically makes it a jet), and it’s one of the largest PC-12 operators in the world.

Tradewind’s scheduled flights operate out of FBOs in the United States, giving passengers the convenience that they would experience from flying on a private jet. Many of its routes are not flown by other airlines, and it also operates airport lounges. It offers customers the ability to charter its PC-12s (which run for thousands of dollars per hour), but it also sells individual tickets on its scheduled routes, which can often come under $1,000 in select markets, although prices are higher in others.

Tradewind Aviation also offers its customers the ‘Goodspeed Card Program’, which is essentially a loyalty program. Members can earn points from scheduled flights and redeem them, while also being granted access to reduced pricing rates for charters. However, charter flights are ineligible to earn points. It’s one of the most lucrative membership programs in the private aviation industry, and Tradewing Aviation is also notable for not having any initiation or annual fees.

A Subscription With Surf Air

Credit: Surf Air

Surf Air does not directly operate any aircraft: instead selling tickets on flights operated by partners. It offers its customers a subscription starting at $199 per month, although unlimited subscriptions are roughly 2,500 per month. However, not all Surf Air flights require a subscription to book, and tickets are available for under $1,000 on select scheduled routes.

These flights are operated by Southern Airways Express, owned by the same parent company as Surf Air, and they fly out of FBOs rather than terminals, often into smaller airports primarily used by private jets. These scheduled routes primarily use the Pilatus PC-12. Surf Air also acts as a middle agent to book aircraft charters, but these are typically much more expensive, costing tens of thousands of dollars for a single aircraft.

Its scheduled routes are primarily in the western part of the US, connecting California to Nevada, for example. Surf Air pioneered a subscription-based business model in the private aviation industry, and it’s since become popular with new companies as well as with established providers.

Surf Air is actually a subsidiary of Surf Air Mobility, a company working on developing electric and hybrid powertrains for small aircraft. Surf Air Mobility is also working on developing an AI-powered operating system to be used in the regional air mobility industry. In addition to Surf Air, Southern Airways Express, and Surf On Demand, Surf Air Mobility also owns Mokulele Airlines, a regional airline operating turboprop aircraft in Hawaii.

Flying With BLADE

Credit: Blade Urban Mobility

BLADE differs from operators like JSX, Aero, and Tradewind Aviation in that it’s not attempting to provide flights that match the convenience of flying private, but rather, it’s aiming to cut down on the time needed to get to the airport. In New York, where BLADE has its largest operations, driving or taking the train to JFK or Newark can take over an hour, while rideshare and taxi prices can exceed $100. BLADE instead charges passengers $195 per seat (with flexible tickets costing more) for flights to JFK and Newark.

It also offers the opportunity to charter a helicopter for under $1,000. BLADE advertises that flights from Manhattan to Newark and JFK take just five to seven minutes, and it also offers lounges as well as shared terminal transports. In addition, you can opt to book a private car to your terminal, although you will still need to clear security. BLADE also operates a similar service between Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport and Monaco, as well as between the New York airports and Westchester

. However, BLADE doesn’t only operate short-distance flights to major international airports. In the New York area, BLADE offers flights from Manhattan to Westchester, Connecticut, Atlantic City, and the Hamptons, as well as between Vancouver and Victoria in British Columbia. While most of these services are run by helicopter, their services to some destinations in the Hamptons are run by larger seaplanes instead.

Although BLADE doesn’t operate private jets, it does offer a convenient experience running routes with high demand from wealthy individuals, which are also too short to be run by jets. Meanwhile, it also allows its customers to charter private jets flown by other operators around the world, though for a steep price.