Jet-powered flight has made the world a smaller place for travelers. However, as with the cars on our roads, there are many different ways to fly. The most opulent option, of course, is a flight on a private airplane. So, just how much does it cost to book a private plane? 

Booking a private jet can cost as much as the cheapest new car on the market– for one ride

Unsurprisingly, it’s expensive to book a flight on a private jet. For example, a large private jet with a passenger capacity of 9-19 may cost as much as $7,500 per hour to book. Of course, smaller aircraft are cheaper to book. A light jet, for instance, may have an hourly rate of closer to $4,000. 

Tragically, that means a cross-country flight could cost as much as a new car. According to Global Charter, a Heavy Jet model will complete the trip from Los Angeles, California to New York City in around five hours and 15 minutes. However, that flight may cost you around $39,900. That’s nearly as expensive as a 2024 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range RWD. In fact, it’s twice as much as the cheapest new car on the market right now, the 2024 Nissan Versa S.  

The cost of a new private jet may be as low as $2 million. However, some larger, longer-range options can push those prices to nine-figure territory. As such, booking a ride is much cheaper than buying a jet, staffing it, and paying for fuel and maintenance. 

It’s a bit of tragedy, really. I mean, the cost of booking a private jet is so prohibitive that the vast majority of travelers will never get the chance to ride one. Still, that’s probably for the best. A small, jet-powered aircraft could produce around 5.0 kilograms of carbon emissions per mile. That’s a lot of environmental harm on even a short trip like Los Angeles to San Francisco.