You know that flying private is the more luxurious way to travel, but is it faster? The total time it takes from the start of your travel day to the end of your travel day is almost always shorter when you charter a private jet. Today, we explore why that is (and the details about private vs commercial flights).
Pre-Boarding Travel Time When Flying Private vs. Commercial
Pre-boarding undoubtedly takes less time when you choose to charter a private jet, rather than book a seat with a commercial airline. If you’re a frequent flier, you know that it’s recommended that you show up at least two hours before your flight to get through security and make it to your gate. When you fly private, you skip security completely. In fact, you only need to arrive about 15 minutes before your designated flight time when you fly private.
Boarding and Taxiing on a Private Jet vs. Commercial Airline
Another reason why you can show up so close to your departure time when you charter a private jet is that boarding is seamless. Rather than waiting for dozens of passengers to board and get situated, you and your party will go straight from the tarmac to your private jet. Because private jets tend to leave from smaller regional airports, you’ll also skip the twenty minutes to one hour that commercial airlines have to taxi before taking off.
Flight Paths and Flexibility on Private vs. Commercial Planes
What about the time spent in the air? When you fly with a commercial airline, you’re beholden to their flight paths and schedule. This often entails stopping in at least one airport with a layover of at least one hour, dragging out your total travel time and making your route long and circuitous. Your private jet charter company only has to cater to you and your needs and can often go straight to your destination with no stops.
Time Spent on Ground Travel After a Private vs. Commercial Flight
Cutting out layovers isn’t the only way that a private flight can get you closer to your destination. Private jets can access over 7000 regional and private airports around the country, including many that are located well off the beaten path. Even if you aren’t traveling to a major city, you can still cut your ground travel significantly by flying straight to the small city or town you’re visiting.
Speed of a Private Jet vs. Commercial Airliner
Commercial airlines have a cruising speed of around 550 to 600 MPH. While some private jets do fly faster than that, it’s going to depend on the make and model you rent. For example, the Citation CJ1 has a cruising speed of 410 MPH, while the Hawker 900XP has a cruising speed of 515 MPH. These jets are going to travel at a slower rate than a commercial airline, but your overall travel time is still likely to be shorter when you fly private due to the other factors mentioned above.
Want to Get There Faster? NDA Will Get You There
Even if your private jet travels at a rate of fewer miles per hour than a commercial airline, your total travel time is going to be much shorter when you fly private. Ready to book your next flight? Request an estimate from North Dallas Aviation.