There’s a happy medium between dealing with the indignity of commercial air travel and buying your own personal Gulfstream, and it’s called fractional ownership, jet cards, and “Pay-as-you-fly” memberships. These memberships let you purchase a block of flight hours or pay a membership fee for access to a fleet of private aircraft, offering a flexible and often less capital-intensive way to enjoy the convenience, privacy, and efficiency of private air travel without the commitment and overhead of outright ownership.
I’ve done the heavy lifting, comparing the annual fees, minimum flight hours, and hidden costs so you don’t have to.
How Jet Card Programs Work
- Pre-paid Hours: You buy a set number of flight hours upfront (e.g., 25, 50, or 100 hours) at a fixed hourly rate.
- Guaranteed Availability: The provider guarantees availability with a relatively short notice period (often 24 hours or less).
- Fixed Rates: Hourly rates are typically locked in, which protects you from unexpected price spikes in the on-demand charter market.
- Convenience: The process is simplified, eliminating the need to negotiate and vet individual charters for every trip.
How to Get Private Jet Access
To give you a real jet card programs review, we’re breaking down the market leaders by cost and level of commitment.
NetJets Fractional Ownership
This is the best private jet fractional ownership model, period. It’s what everyone else copies. You buy an actual fraction (say, a 1/16th share, which translates to 50 occupied hours per year) of a specific aircraft.
- Vibe: Old money. Blue-chip reliable. A Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary, so the balance sheet is impeccable.
- Commitment: High. Typically a 3- to 5-year contract, plus a significant upfront capital investment (we’re talking high six figures).
- Best For: The hyper-frequent flyer (50+ hours/year) who needs global reach and guaranteed availability 365 days a year.
The Next-Gen Premium: Flexjet Red Label
Flexjet comes in second by size, but they are absolutely crushing it on fleet quality and personalization. Their “Red Label” service guarantees you a dedicated crew and custom interiors—which is all that matters, really.
- Vibe: Sleek, modern luxury. They focus on newer models like the Gulfstream G650 and Embraer Praetor 600.
- Commitment: High, similar to NetJets, but often praised for more flexible program design and nicer cabins.
- Best For: Those who fly 40+ hours/year and prioritize a modern, consistent, and highly personalized onboard experience.
Fixed-Rate 25-Hour Jet Cards
This is the classic, deposit-based “jet card” model, pioneered by companies like Sentient Jet and offered by NetJets (the NetJets Card Program). You pre-pay for flight hours (usually 25), and they lock in your private jet membership cost hourly rate for two years.
- Vibe: Cost clarity. You know exactly what you’re paying per occupied hour before you ever step on the tarmac.
- Commitment: Medium. A deposit typically starts around $200,000–$250,000 for 25 hours.
- Best For: Executives or families flying 25–40 hours/year who need guaranteed availability and hate dynamic pricing surprises.
Wheels Up Core Membership
Wheels Up changed the game by offering a lower barrier to entry. Instead of a massive pre-payment block, you pay an annual private jet membership cost (initiation fee + annual dues) and then pay a capped hourly rate only when you fly.
- Vibe: Social, connected. They love throwing “Wheels Down” events and have a massive fleet of King Air 350i turboprops.
- Commitment: Low initiation fee ($17,500 for Core), with annual dues (approx. $8,500) and then the hourly cost on top.
- Best For: The sporadic flyer (10–25 hours/year) or those who need regional access and value the Delta Airlines partnership.
VistaJet Program
If your concept of a short flight is London to Dubai, you need a subscription-style service like VistaJet. They sell flight hours globally on a huge fleet of uniform silver and red aircraft (mostly large-cabin Bombardiers).
- Vibe: Seamless international elegance. No capital commitment or depreciation risk.
- Commitment: Large block hour purchases (usually 50+ hours), but they offer guaranteed access anywhere in the world.
- Best For: International business leaders and those whose travel calendar is truly borderless.
FlyExclusive Jet Club
These guys are one of the largest operators of Cessna Citation jets in the world. Their vertically integrated model (they own the jets and handle maintenance in-house) translates to cost efficiency and great fleet consistency.
- Vibe: Practical luxury. Not as flashy as Flexjet, but reliable and great value for transcontinental flights.
- Commitment: Jet Cards and Fractional options available, focusing heavily on the reliable Citation family.
- Best For: The value-conscious flyer who demands a midsize jet and appreciates operational rigor.
Magellan Jets / XOJet
These programs focus on access and flexibility, often utilizing larger partner networks and promising incredibly short call-out times (sometimes as little as 6 hours).
- Vibe: Spontaneity. Perfect for when you need to be in Miami now.
- Commitment: Deposit-based cards ($50,000+) that draw down with dynamic or capped rates.
- Best For: Last-minute travelers and those who want guaranteed availability without being tied to a single operator’s fleet.
The Regional Specialist: NetJets Light Jet Programs
While NetJets is known for Global and Challenger, their Phenom 300 (light jet) cards are surprisingly competitive for short hops. Why pay a 2-hour minimum on a midsize jet when your flight is only 40 minutes?
- Vibe: Efficient, local mastery. Eliminates the bloated minimums associated with larger aircraft.
- Commitment: 25-hour card deposits, focused on a specific light-jet cabin size.
- Best For: Regional US travel, city-to-city trips under 60 minutes, and maximizing value on short legs.
Cost Comparison: NetJets vs. Flexjet vs. Wheels Up
For those looking for an easy to read chart with private jet membership cost comparisons, here is a quick look at the entry-level structures for a typical Light or Midsize Jet option. Note: Prices fluctuate wildly based on fuel, FET, and peak days, so consider these starting points.
| Provider / Program | Snapshot | Key Costs / Commitment |
| NetJets: Jet Card (Card 275 / Card 320) | A fixed-hour prepaid card with high predictability and “blackout”-day structure. | Deposit / Pre-pay: ~$215,000 for 25 hours on a Phenom 300. Typical hourly rate: ~$8,600/hr (Phenom 300, inclusive of FET, per 275Card) Term / Usage: 25-hour purchase must be used within ~24 months. |
| NetJets: Fractional (1/16 share) | Equity share ownership; ideal for 50+ hours of flying per year. | Minimum share: 1/16 ≈ 50 hours/year.Term: ~60 months (5 years) typical. Occupied hourly rate: ~ $8,901/hr for a Phenom 300 (estimate includes all costs) |
| Flexjet: Fractional (Red Label / Shares) | High-end fractional ownership with dedicated crews and custom interiors. | Minimum share / Hours: 1/16 share = ~50 hours/year.Term: 30–60 months for share contracts. Monthly management fee: ranges widely; independent analysis suggests $12,000–$25,000/month for small shares. |
| Wheels Up: Core Membership | A “pay-as-you-go” membership model with capped hourly rates and no huge prepay. | Initiation fee: $17,500 for Core. Annual dues: $8,500 (starting in year 2). Hourly rates: depends on aircraft class; members pay only when they fly (capped rate structure). |
| VistaJet: VJ25 Membership | A membership model with no capital investment, ideal for ~25–49 hours/year and global access. | Commitment: 25–49 hours/year for VJ25. Investment: $0 (VistaJet explicitly states no investment required). Term: Their 3-year VJ25 plan includes rollover (up to ~20%) for unused hours. |
| Magellan Jets: Jet Card | Flexible and customizable jet card options; good for predictable usage without ownership. | Deposit / Pre-pay (example): Their “Build-a-Card” 25-hour card for a Hawker 800: ~$99,000 + FET. Typical hourly rate: Light-jet rate now ~$6,750/hr per their 2025 card pricing.Rate-lock: Cards can lock in rates for 18–24 months depending on hours. |
| Program Type | Estimated Upfront/Initiation Fee | Estimated Hourly Rate | Minimum Annual Flight Hours | Key Commitment Details |
| NetJets Card (Light Jet) | ~$215,000 | Variable/Fixed (~$10,000 – $14,000) | 25 Hours (24-month term) | Highest minimum commitment, but guarantees flight time and safety standards. |
| Flexjet Card (Midsize) | ~$250,000+ | Variable/Fixed (~$12,000 – $15,000) | 25 Hours (12-month term) | Known for newer aircraft and superior cabin experience. |
| Wheels Up Core Membership | ~$17,500 (Initiation) | Capped Hourly Rate (~$7,000 – $10,000) | None | Pay for access annually, then pay hourly only when you fly. Lower capital outlay. |
| NetJets Fractional (50 Hr) | $500,000+ (Capital Fee) | Monthly Mgmt. Fee + Occupied Hourly Rate | 50 Hours | Full ownership benefits without the operational hassle. 36-month minimum term. |
The Bottom Line
- If you fly less than 20 hours: The Wheels Up membership model, where you pay an annual fee for access to their capped hourly rates, has the lowest initial capital risk.
- If you fly 25–50 hours: The fixed-rate Jet Card programs from NetJets or Flexjet offer the best price predictability.
- If you fly 50+ hours: NetJets Fractional Ownership remains the gold standard for long-term consistency, guaranteed fleet access, and high utilization.
More to Read
- Looking for a more affordable option? We’ve ranked the Best Semi-Private Airlines.
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