Categories of private jets and their amenities

Charter services like those we provide at ACS bridge the gap between jet ownership and scheduled flights, leveraging their expertise, charter brokerages offer travel on private jets suited to their clients specific requirements and preferences.

Amenities? The sky’s the limit

If you’ve never flown on a private aircraft before, the range of features on board may remain a bit of a mystery - below we break down some of the types of amenities found on board a private jet.

1. Comfortable seating – most private planes come with high-quality seating which often convert into lie-flat beds, ensuring your comfort is of utmost importance throughout your flight.
2. Advanced entertainment systems – personal screens, high-quality sound systems, and access to a range of media formats help ensure that the time you spend in the air is spent entertained.
3. On board Wi-fi – if you choose to fly on a large private jet, such as a super-midsize aircraft, you’ll likely have high-speed internet connectivity to maintain productivity during your flight – great news for corporate travellers looking to make the most of their travel time. When selecting your aircraft it is important to keep in mind that some super light, light, and very light jets do not have Wi-Fi.
4. Gourmet dining – leave behind the infamous trays served on scheduled flights and embrace a world of fine dining in the skies; meals on private jets are prepared in advance by skilled chefs, and often tailored to your preferences, mindful of any dietary requirements.
5. Private bedrooms – while you can relax with your feet up in most private jets with convertible seating, some of the larger jets come equipped with their own enclosed bedrooms, complete with beds and fine linens.
6. Spacious bathrooms – many larger aircraft also boast larger-than-average bathrooms, with some incorporating full showers, ensuring you disembark feeling fresh.
7. Conference facilities – for business-orientated flights, a number of jets offer conference rooms with video conferencing capabilities.
8. Cabin environment controls – your comfort is always a priority which is why private jets offer individual climate controls for the cabin, often alongside HEPA air filtration systems and advanced cabin pressure technology.
9. Storage space – private jet travel often allows the enjoyment of ample storage for bags, including specialised items for delicate or oversized items.
10. Personalised service – larger jets are often chartered inclusive of dedicated flight attendants who are available to cater to your needs, offering a highly-personalised level of service.

Whilst our experienced charter consultants are on hand to guide you through the process of choosing the most appropriate aircraft, you may wish to familiarise yourself with the types of aircraft available for charter and the amenities they may provide before contacting us to discuss your requirements.

There are eight overarching categories of jets which a standard charter company will be able to source, starting with very light jets, the smallest category of private jet and a common one used for business travel.

Very light jets

Very light jets, or VLJs, are a more modern innovation in private aviation, offering an alternative to more traditional piston and turboprop aircraft for ultra-short-haul journeys on a budget. Cheaper to operate than other classes of jet, and having the ability to use shorter runways, VLJs are popular for personal use, as well as point-to-point air taxi service. Most planes in this category won’t come with a lavatory as standard (there are however exceptions), nor an offer of flight attendant service due to limited space on board.

Examples of VLJs include the Cessna Citation Mustang, the Embraer Phenom 100, and the Eclipse 500.

Light jets

Light jets are amongst the most common category of jet used for business, as most executive travel happens within a two- to three-hour radius, making them some of the most cost-effective and comfortable short-haul solutions. This class of jet can carry up to eight passengers, and offer a range of hold-size options. Whilst typically more cost-effective than their larger private jet counterparts, light jets still offer a good range, with the ability to travel between 1,500-2,000 nmi. Most of these aircraft come equipped with an enclosed lavatory, though not a given, and, with space restrictions, don’t offer in-flight service.

Some of the most popular aircraft we charter for business travellers are the Cessna Citation Bravo, Cessna Citation CJ4, and the Hawker 400XP.

Super light jets

Super light jets provide travellers with a solution providing some of the benefits of a mid-size jet, whilst remaining closer in cost to the charter of a light jet. These aircraft are generally designed to carry up to nine passengers for longer distances than the smaller light jets. Some aircraft in this category offer an impressive maximum range of close to 2,500 nmi, whilst also offering features such as a fully-enclosed bathroom, a small conference room, or even space to grab a snack (depending on the aircraft selected). 

Notable entries in this category include the Bombardier Learjet 45 and 45XR, Embraer Phenom 300, and Pilatus PC24.

Mid-size jets

When it comes to the mid-size jet category, the range of aircraft available to charter is wider than smaller jet categories. With different combinations of range, speed, and comfort allow mid-size jets to be viable solutions for both short-haul and long-haul flights. Mid-size jets offer an average range of 2,200 nmi (approximately five hours’ flying time), and offer a more efficient and cost-effective alternative to larger jets. With lower operating costs, along with ample space for luggage, fold-out divans, and enclosed bathrooms, mid-size jets are a popular choice for private travel. Most aircraft in this category also offer stand-up cabins, and some, such as the Citation XLS, Bombardier Learjet 60, and Hawker Beechcraft 800XPi, are big enough to have a flight attendant on board.

Super-mid-size jets

The super-mid-size jet is the choice for travellers whose requirements slightly exceed what a mid-size plane offers. With fewer features and amenities than the larger heavy jet class, super-mid-size jets boast generous cabin spaces, a greater payload capacity, and an array of other features such as bathrooms, beds, a service galley, and enough room to stand up and stretch your legs around the cabin. If you require a decent-sized, but cost-effective, aircraft in a class with a maximum range of nearly 3,600 nmi, then super-mid-size jets may be the perfect jet to charter.

Some of our favourite super-mid-size jets include the Embraer Praetor 600, Bombardier Challenger 300, Cessna Citation Sovereign, Gulfstream G280, and the Hawker 4000.

Heavy jets

Heavy jets boast an array of luxurious amenities, from stand-up cabins, entertainment facilities, kitchens for full in-flight catering, plenty of passenger and baggage capacity, to lie-flat beds and enclosed bathrooms. Accommodating up to two flight attendants to ensure that your time on board is as comfortable as possible with full, impeccable service. With space for up to 19 passengers on some aircraft in this category, heavy jets allow for both greater comfort and greater passenger capacity.

The Bombardier Challenger 604, Embraer Legacy 650, and the Gulfstream GIV-SP are notable examples in this class.

Ultra-long-range jets

Technically a subset of the heavy jet category, ultra-long-range jets offer their passengers the utmost in luxury without the cost and efficiency jump to chartering an executive airliner. Offering all of the benefits of heavy jets, the increased range makes aircraft in this category an appealing choice for long-haul flights. Some ultra-long-range jets offer a range of 7,500 nmi (between 2,000 and 3,000 nmi farther than many standard gravy jets), making it perfect for long haul; to put this range into perspective, an ultra-long-range jet can fly non-stop from San Francisco to Auckland.

The Bombardier Global 6000 , Gulfstream G550 and Dassault Falcon 8X are part of the ultra-long-range category.

Executive airliners

If money is no object, and the experience itself is the top priority, then executive airliners may be the charter class for you. These jets are usually aircraft designed with scheduled airlines in mind, which have subsequently been purchased and remodelled to suit the needs of those who favour the most elite experiences in aviation. Long gone are the aircraft’s original rows of seating, the interiors have often been completely rethought, replaced with conference rooms, dining rooms, entertainment spaces, private suites, showers, and many more amenities besides. These aircraft can easily carry 20 passengers, with some offering space for as many as twice that depending on configuration, and, with a maximum range of approximately 6,000 nmi, this class offers the absolute height of luxury in aviation without compromising on range.

Two of the executive airliners we arrange charters for at Air Charter Service are the Airbus A318 Elite, and the Airbus A319 CJ.

Choosing the right jet, and the right charter broker

Whether you are looking to charter a private jet with a bedroom to ensure that you arrive rested when you land, or you are happy with the simple luxury of a comfortable seat and hands-on, lightning-fast, and personalised services offered by charter brokers like ACS, the type of aircraft you choose can often play a large role in how much you enjoy your private flying experience.

When planning a trip, it’s important to choose the right category of private jet to suit your requirements, and brokerage to ensure that your experience is the best it can be. At Air Charter Service, we have been providing both private and group charter services to our customers for over thirty years, and, with our established relationships and reputation across the industry, and global network of over thirty offices with local knowledge in each market, we believe that we offer a service to our clients like no other.

To discuss your charter requirements with one of our expert charter consultants, contact us today.