Jet card explained

Jet card
Type:Private aviation
Inventor:Sentient Jet
Inception:1997

A jet card is a private aviation product that enables holders to use different aircraft at agreed-upon fixed hourly rates. Jet cards are offered by large and small fleet operators and charter brokers.[1] [2] There are as many as 65 variables between jet card companies, according to Private Jet Card Comparisons, a buyer's guide to jet card programs.

Traditional jet card programs are prepaid hours of occupied flight time on a given aircraft or size of aircraft. Some programs include not only jets, but turboprops. The term "jet card" can also refer to prepaid private jet charter programs that have similar attributes.

Notable jet card providers include Jet Linx, Wheels Up, Air Charter Service, Airstream Jets, Marquis Jet (NetJets), Volato, Flexjet, and Luxury Aircraft Solutions.[3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Jet card history

The first jet card was created in 1997 by the founder of Sentient Jet,[8] a charter broker located in Quincy, Massachusetts. The jet card was developed in response to the highly popular fractional ownership programs of the time offered by NetJets and Flight Options. The attraction to fractional ownership and ultimately the jet card was the consistency in pricing over charter and the reduced complexity of owning a jet, which were the only other options prior to NetJets.[9]

The term "jet card" was devised to create a marketing product for what equates to block on-demand charter.[10] Jet cards were created as a way to offer flight time to private aviation users flying up to 50 hours per year. Rather than purchasing a whole aircraft or investing in fractional ownership, a jet card can be a cost-effective option for frequent leisure travellers or users of business aviation.

Jet card awards

Jet card types

Jet cards have evolved from the original card in 1997 which simply made charter pricing more consistent by guaranteeing fixed hourly rates to membership programs which offer free or discounted empty leg/re-positioning leg flights and individual seats on private jet shuttles.

Here are some examples of the varying types of jet cards offered today:

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jet Card Guide. Sherpareport.com. 2017-04-28.
  2. Web site: Do you want a Jet Card to ride?. reuters.com. 2012-10-26. 2017-04-28.
  3. Web site: Private Jet Card by GlobeAir. 2021-07-08. GlobeAir.
  4. Web site: Notable Jet Card Providers. bjtonline.com. 2014-08-14. 2015-10-13.
  5. Web site: Part 3: Who's Who In Private Jet Cards And Prepaid Private Jet Charter. forbes.com. 2017-04-12. 2017-04-28.
  6. Web site: Gollan . Doug . What's The Future For Jet Cards In 2021 And Beyond? . 2022-05-13 . Forbes . en.
  7. Web site: Gollan . Doug . These Private Jet Cards Offer Fixed Pricing And Guaranteed Availability . 2018-08-28 . Forbes . en.
  8. Web site: Bean . Larry . 2017-11-21 . Give The Gift of Flight . 2022-05-13 . Robb Report . en-US.
  9. Web site: The Evolution of the Jet Card. PriJet.com. 2018-03-29. 2015-08-10.
  10. Web site: The_Definitive_Guide_to_Supplemental_Lift. NBAA.org. 2011-10-11. 2015-10-09.
  11. Web site: Finfrock . Michael Verdon,Rob . Verdon . Michael . Finfrock . Rob . 2020-06-15 . From Innovative Business Jets to Electric VTOLs: The Best Things in Aviation . 2023-07-17 . Robb Report . en-US.
  12. Web site: Jaggi . Michael Verdon,Daniel Bachmann,Rohit . Verdon . Michael . Bachmann . Daniel . Jaggi . Rohit . 2021-06-23 . The Best in Aviation, From Flying Cars to High-Concept Interiors . 2023-07-17 . Robb Report . en-US.
  13. Web site: Trop . Michael Verdon,Rachel Ingram,Rohit Jaggi,Jaclyn . Verdon . Michael . Ingram . Rachel . Jaggi . Rohit . Trop . Jaclyn . 2022-06-15 . The Best in Aviation, From Dassault's Ultra-Long-Range Jet to a Flying 'AirCar' . 2023-07-17 . Robb Report . en-US.
  14. Web site: Wasef . Michael Verdon,Basem . Verdon . Michael . Wasef . Basem . 2023-06-14 . The Best in Aviation: From Eviation's All-Electric Aircraft to Nobu's Inflight Cuisine . 2023-07-17 . Robb Report . en-US.
  15. Web site: Distance Card - Jet Card featuring distance-based pricing. airstreamjets.com. 2018-01-05. 2020-01-29.
  16. Web site: Fractional Jet Cards . 2022-05-16 . SherpaReport . en-GB.
  17. Web site: Verdon . Michael . 2022-03-20 . Private Jet Companies Are Taking On More Single-Seat Charters. Here's Why. . 2022-05-16 . Robb Report . en-US.
  18. Web site: Gollan. Doug. Custom Jet Cards Are The Hot New Fashion Trend In Private Jet Travel . December 4, 2018. forbes.com. May 17, 2022.