A jet card is a prepaid account that buys you a set number of flight hours at a fixed hourly rate. No ownership. No long-term commitment. You deposit funds, fly when you need to, and refill when the balance gets low. Think of it as a debit card for private aviation.
How Jet Cards Work
Deposit a minimum amount (typically $100,000–$500,000). Receive a fixed hourly rate for a specific aircraft category. Book flights against your balance. Hours deduct from your account. Refill as needed. No monthly fees, no management costs, no asset risk.
Types of Cards
Fixed-rate cards: locked hourly rate regardless of market conditions. Floating-rate cards: rate adjusts with fuel prices. Capped-rate cards: rate can increase up to a defined ceiling. Program-specific cards: limited to one operator's fleet.
When a Jet Card Makes Sense
25–100 annual flight hours. You want rate predictability without ownership commitment. You fly consistent aircraft categories. You value guaranteed availability on short notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Minimum deposits range from $100,000–$500,000. Hourly rates range from $3,500–$12,000 depending on aircraft category.
Most are. Confirm that stated rates include fuel, crew, landing fees, and taxes. Some cards exclude de-icing, international fees, or peak day surcharges.
Most cards guarantee availability with 24–48 hours notice. Peak day bookings may require more lead time.
Yes, on most programs. International flights may incur additional fees for customs, overflight permits, and handling.
Some programs impose 12–18 month expiration. Others allow indefinite rollover. Confirm before purchasing.
Many programs allow upgrades to larger aircraft at a per-hour surcharge.
Typically 24–72 hours before departure. Late cancellations may forfeit flight hours or incur fees.
For frequent flyers (25+ hours/yr), cards offer rate stability and guaranteed access. For occasional flyers, on-demand charter may be more cost-effective.
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