Charter 101: Luxury in the Air

For the typical airline traveler, “flying” and “luxury” don’t exist in the same sphere. While U.S. airline travel is now far more affordable relative to average income than it was before deregulation in 1978, anything that was once glamorous and exciting has eroded away for the economy-class traveler, who endures crowded gates, cramped seats, limited (and pricey) food options and unhappy fellow passengers. First-class travelers get more creature comforts, but still must tolerate long security lines and unexpected delays.

PHoto CREDIT: Mystockimages, iStock / Getty Images PLUS

One tier of air travel, though, does evoke thoughts of luxury and comfort – private jet travel. Experienced charter jet travelers, though, know that private does not necessarily equal luxury of surroundings. Many private jets are too small for passengers to stand up fully. Some charter jet cabins show their age more than others. Quite a few aren’t large enough for a real kitchen – visions of champagne and caviar are likely to be replaced with Panera Bread or Chipotle picked up in advance. The true luxury of private jet travel, insiders say, is time – time saved by flying at your own schedule, without interminable security hassles, for the ultimate in convenience.

However, even among the rarified air of private jets, there are varying levels of luxury. For those able and willing to pay, many wonders are possible. And the innovations embraced by those at the top end of charter jet travel inevitably move down in the industry, potentially leading to a more comfortable experience for all. If you’re curious to know more, read on.

Age: Not Just a Number

Many private jets are old enough to get a U.S. driver’s license. In North America, the average age of the “business jet” fleet is about 18 years, while Europe (with somewhat stricter operational regulations) comes in at about 16 years. Together, those two continents account for almost four-fifths of all of the business jets in the world, and thus countless private jet travelers – many of whom, it appears, are looking for younger rather than older when it comes to the age of the aircraft in which they fly.

“You’re seeing a lot of older planes weed themselves out of the market. People want new, new, new,” says Jason Firestone, president of the Private Client Group for private aviation company FlyHouse. “A lot of people won’t fly on a 30-year-old plane. They’re asking for five to 10 years or newer.”

While some of these preferences relate to factors such as décor and color scheme, others are more influenced by features under the hood. Increasingly, private jet travelers are assuming that cabin management systems that handle matters such as lighting and temperature control can use the latest technologies to meet their needs.

“The cabin management system is a big concern,” says Janine Iannarelli, founder and president of international aircraft brokerage firm Par Avion Ltd. “Legacy systems can have compatibility issues with newer technology. You can’t just plug and play entertainment systems if they’re not compatible.”

Aircraft engine maintenance. Photo Credit: Aaron Foster, The Image Bank / Getty Images

Of course, older aircraft don’t have to stay frozen in amber. They can – and not infrequently are – updated to meet new innovations and trends. “Older aircraft can keep pace with modern demands for luxury – the question is how much money you’re going to be willing to put into it,” Iannarelli says.

Experienced private jet travelers often have very specific ideas about which aspects of luxury they must have, and which they can forego. “There’s no question that a charter customer is going to want a well-appointed aircraft with everything on board working smoothly,” Iannarelli says. “Someone who has a history and understands what to expect may prefer something newer, both inside the airplane as well as the outside and external workings.”

At Your Service

Another marker of luxury in private jet travel is the level of service passengers can receive. “One of the most important things in the larger jet category is carrying a third crew member,” Iannarelli points out. “Next after safety and professionalism, you want smooth, polished service, and that generally entails the added service of a cabin attendant.”

Flight attendant serving drink to passenger on private jet. PHoto Credit: Hans Neleman, Stone / Getty Images.

While every charter jet flight is distinctive to some degree, levels of personalization can vary. Travelers looking for luxurious service will benefit from taking some time to consider exactly which elements are important to them, whether it be number of personnel, food, ground transportation or whatever else may top their list of priorities.

One aspect that may not seem like a luxury item is wi-fi. While wi-fi is becoming more or less standard on business jets, wi-fi at the level that allows for serious data transfer (think movie downloads as opposed to e-mail or texting) is less common. “Data transfer is pretty expensive,” Iannarelli mentions. “It’s gotten less so, but it does cost money, since you’re buying time off of satellites.”

Lavish and New

The most expensive private jet in the world is likely Air Force One, which transports the President of the United States wherever he (or perhaps she) travels by air. In addition to multiple galleys, various office areas (including one that can convert into a medical facility) and workspaces for the staff and press, the plane’s distinctive features include the ability to refuel mid-air and two fighter jets that follow along to guard against attacks.

Air Force One. Photo Credit: Michael M. Santiago / Staff, Getty Images nEWS

However, given that Air Force One technically belongs to the American taxpayers, rather than whoever happens to be president at a given time, a search for luxury in true private jets should probably focus on those owned by private citizens. A customized Airbus A380 originally commissioned by Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal al-Saud is estimated to be worth $500-$600 million, offering multiple levels connected by a glass elevator, a bathhouse with a steam room, a built-in garage, a boardroom and a concert hall.

The Boeing 787-8 owned by Chinese real estate magnate Joseph Lau, estimated at almost $370 million, reportedly includes vaulted ceilings, a wine cellar, a gym and a spiral staircase. The Sultan of Brunei has a more modest Boeing 748-430 valued at $220 million, displaying fixtures and furniture with gold accents and lavish leather and wood elements.

For a glimpse into the innards of luxury private jets, check out the photography of Nick Gleis. Having captured the images of business jets for more than three decades, Gleis’s snapshots show scenes from the top of the top of the private jet industry – space-age layouts, conference rooms, recessed lighting, curved couches, large-screen TVs and all of the bells and whistles that signal high-end to the typical traveler.

Looking Ahead

Luxury in the air, like aircraft technology itself, is constantly evolving. One limitation that private jet travelers currently wrestle with, however lavish their environments, is the speed of travel. While they may spend far less time dealing with security and airports in general, they still must get from point A to point B.

For a bit less than three decades, commercial air travelers could go across the Atlantic Ocean in a few hours in the supersonic Concorde jet. In 1985, music star Phil Collins was able to perform in both the London and the Philadelphia segments of the Live Aid benefit concert on the same day thanks to the Concorde. Many other lower-profile travelers willing to pay for speed enjoyed the same benefits. However, the Concorde was always expensive and noisy to operate, using much more fuel than a typical commercial jet, and after one Concorde crashed upon takeoff in 2000 and killed everyone on board, the end (which came in 2003) was almost inevitable.

Now, however, supersonic travel is again a topic of interest – and business jets are not an exception. While several companies have talked about supersonic options for business jets, only to fade away, advances in aircraft materials and noise control offer the possibility of supersonic travel without the hefty actual and environmental price tags of yore.

Companies including Boom Supersonic and Spike Aerospace are currently developing supersonic business jets, with Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 experimental craft obtaining a Special Flight Authorization from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to exceed Mach 1 for its initial test flights. In the future, luxury in the air may well involve lunch in the UK and dinner in New York – though the timetable for when the technology will go from experimental to established continues to be murky.

Rare Air

For many private jet travelers, luxury in the air will continue to focus on function over form – i.e., the ability to minimize the delays and annoyances of air travel in return for a higher price – especially as the industry continues to grow. However, as today’s new customers become tomorrow’s old hands, some of those travelers are likely to start wondering how much more comfortable and exotic their trips could be with a little more expenditure.

“If you’re a new traveler, everything’s going to be luxurious,” Iannarelli says. “Everyone who flies private looks for luxury, otherwise why would you pay the prices? The devil is always in the details.”

For your own luxury jet experience check out https://www.aircharterguide.com/aircraftsearch?aircraftcategory=airliner%20vip.”