Private aviation doesn’t have to be complicated. At its core, a Jet Card is a straightforward solution to your private aviation needs: you purchase flight hours upfront and use them when you need them.
That said, not all Jet Cards are created equal. Key differences between programs can impact everything from peak-day access to booking flexibility. “Peak” periods, typically high-demand travel days and major holidays, may come with surcharges in some programs, while others include peak access at standard rates. Some providers even restrict or prohibit flying during peak periods altogether. Availability standards also vary, with certain programs requiring several days’ notice, while others allow booking with as little as 24 hours’ notice.
Let’s cut through the complexity. We’ll show you exactly what to look for, what questions to ask, and how to find a program that fits your specific flying needs.
Jet Cards Overview
Think of a Jet Card as a prepaid account for private flights. You purchase hours in blocks, typically starting at 25, and those hours become your currency for flying.
Here’s how Jet Cards differ from other options. On-Demand Charter involves selecting a specific aircraft (often even a specific tail number) for each trip. Pricing fluctuates based on real-time demand, availability depends on that aircraft’s schedule, and if there’s a disruption, you’re often reliant on the operator to resolve it, sometimes with limited backup options.
Fractional Ownership, on the other hand, requires purchasing an ownership share in an aircraft. It’s a true asset acquisition, typically best suited for those with consistent annual flying needs and the ability to plan and budget over a 3–7 year term. Along with the initial capital investment, there are ongoing management fees and long-term commitments to consider.
Jet Cards sit right in the middle. There is no asset purchase and no long-term ownership obligation. Instead, you gain consistent, predictable access to private aircraft with defined rates and program terms, without having to negotiate each flight individually.
The market has evolved dramatically. With more providers, better technology, and increasingly refined service models, you have more choices than ever in 2026.
Important Features Private Clients Expect
Guaranteed Availability
Premium Jet Card programs like Magellan Jets’ guarantee aircraft availability with notice windows as short as 24 hours.
Here’s why that matters: During peak seasons and events like Art Basel, Super Bowl weekend, or summer Fridays, aircraft disappear fast. Without guaranteed availability, you’re competing with everyone else for limited inventory. With a Jet Card, you can have peace of mind that you can secure an aircraft during event the busiest periods.
Fixed Hourly Rates
Budgeting becomes simple when rates don’t change. Business aviation Jet Card clients appreciate knowing that next quarter’s flight costs won’t spike because fuel prices jumped or demand surged.
Some Jet Card programs do tack on extras such as fuel surcharges that float monthly, international fees for flights outside the primary service area, or premiums for flying on certain dates. Always ask in advance what extra fees you can expect to make sure your provider is being fully transparent. The best providers spell out every possible charge in black and white before you sign anything.
Tailored Aircraft Choices
A two-hour flight from New York to Miami requires a very different aircraft than an eight-hour haul to London. Smart programs allow you to match the aircraft to the mission. While full or fractional ownership typically locks you into a specific jet type, clients with diverse travel needs value the flexibility a Jet Card can provide. In fact, many full and fractional owners also use Jet Cards for supplemental lift, whether their owned aircraft is down for maintenance or simply isn’t the right fit for a particular trip.
Light jets excel at short regional hops. Super-midsize jets are ideal for coast-to-coast travel with room to work comfortably. Heavy jets are built for transoceanic missions, offering beds, dedicated cabin zones, and flight attendants.
However, not all Jet Card programs offer true flexibility across categories. Fleet operators such as NetJets, Flexjet,VistaJet, and other fleet-owning providers may charge a premium if you want to use an aircraft outside of the category you originally purchased. For example, if you buy a midsize Jet Card, you may pay an additional fee to move up to a larger aircraft or downsize for a shorter trip.
Magellan Jets allows fee-free interchanging across aircraft categories, so you’re not penalized for choosing the right aircraft for each mission. That means you’re never overpaying for unnecessary capacity, or compromising comfort, just to stay within your program terms.
Safety Commitments
Jet Card clients benefit from the same safety standards that all other private flyers do. ARGUS, Wyvern, and IS-BAO certifications are examples of third-party safety audits that examine everything from pilot training records to maintenance logs.
But leading providers go even further than these audits. Providers like Magellan Jets implement proprietary vetting that exceeds certification requirements, monitor operator performance, and continuously audit all partner relationships.
Choosing a Jet Card Provider
Here’s what separates exceptional providers from the rest:
- Track record matters: companies that have survived multiple economic cycles demonstrate proven staying power
- Proven safety record: a strong, verifiable safety history and rigorous operator standards should be non-negotiable
- Money management transparency: your funds should be segregated, protected, and refundable under clear terms
- Cancellation policies that work: life changes, and your provider should accommodate that reality
- Service beyond the flight: from ground transportation to dining reservations, the best programs handle every detail
Comparing Hourly Packages and Flight Options
25-Hour Cards
Perfect for testing the waters or supplementing existing aircraft ownership. If you fly 4-6 trips per year or need backup lift when your plane is in maintenance, 25-hour blocks provide flexibility without overcommitment.
Entry-level programs start affordably for light jets and scale up for larger aircraft. Most contracts run 12-24 months, giving you time to evaluate the service.
50-Hour Cards
Regular business travelers and active families gravitate toward this tier. The math works out to roughly one flight per month: enough to establish routines with your flight teams.
At 50 hours, there are often additional perks that are available such as waived fees, upgrade priority when larger aircraft become available, or longer rate-lock periods.
100-Hour Cards and Beyond
For travelers with significant or evolving flight needs, 100-hour Jet Cards can provide meaningful flexibility and capacity. Cross-country flyers (a single round trip can account for 10+ hours of travel), bi-coastal residents, frequent international travelers, trips to and from Hawaii, or families who consistently require a heavy jet often find higher-hour programs to be the right fit.
Notably, many providers don’t even offer 100-hour cards, making availability itself a differentiator. For those with unique circumstances, longer-range missions, or substantial annual usage, but without a predictable, fixed flight profile, larger Jet Cards can offer a smart alternative to ownership. They provide access and scale without requiring an asset purchase or long-term lock-in, making them especially attractive for businesses in transition or travelers who want flexibility without commitment.
Business Jet Cards
Business jet cards are designed for organizations that require predictable, on-demand access to private aviation without the complexity of ownership. By pre-purchasing flight hours, companies gain priority lift, consistent service standards, and simplified budgeting across a range of aircraft categories. These programs are built for scale, supporting multiple travelers, overlapping itineraries, and time-sensitive missions, while reducing the administrative burden on internal teams. For enterprises managing executive travel, jet cards serve as a flexible foundation, delivering reliability, control, and continuity across an evolving travel landscape.
Magellan Jets’ Business Jet Cards are purpose-built for enterprise travel, offering guaranteed lift, scalable access across aircraft categories, and seamless integration with existing flight departments or internal travel teams. Companies can schedule multiple aircraft simultaneously from different departure points, a capability that very few providers can consistently deliver. Dedicated flight coordinators learn your preferences. Catering profiles are saved permanently. Specific tail numbers can be requested for consistency. Backed by real-time reporting dashboards and a dedicated travel advisor, it’s private aviation that molds around your organization and steps in instantly when primary solutions hit their limits.
Charter vs. Jet Card
On-Demand Charter offers maximum flexibility, allowing companies to book flights as needed with no upfront commitment. However, pricing, availability, and service levels can vary from trip to trip. Jet cards introduce structure to the charter model by pre-purchasing hours, locking in consistent access, predictable costs, and standardized service, making them a strong option for organizations that fly frequently but don’t want the complexity of ownership.
Read our full comparison guide here
Fractional vs. Jet Card
Fractional Ownership provides partial aircraft ownership with long-term contracts, fixed monthly costs, and access to a managed fleet. While this model offers consistency, it also requires substantial capital investment. Jet cards deliver many of the same access benefits such as priority lift, service continuity, and fleet flexibility, without ownership obligations, offering a more agile solution for companies with variable or growing flight needs.
Read our full comparison guide here
Full Ownership vs. Jet Card
Full aircraft ownership offers maximum control, customization, and availability, but comes with significant capital outlay, operational responsibility, and exposure to maintenance downtime. Jet Cards remove those operational burdens by providing guaranteed access to a fleet without asset risk, making them well-suited for organizations that want private aviation performance without dedicating internal resources to aircraft management.
Membership vs. Jet Card
Private aviation memberships charge an upfront cost and ongoing monthly fees to access aircraft with lower barriers to entry, often prioritizing flexibility over consistency. While memberships can work well for occasional travelers, Jet Cards are designed for higher-frequency use, offering priority availability, fixed pricing structures, and service standards that scale across multiple users and simultaneous trips.
What Makes Magellan Jets Different
There are many reasons why Magellan’s Jet Cards have been ranked as a favorite for smart private flyers such as Mike Vrabel, Head Coach of the New England Patriots, and Sam Kennedy, President and CEO of the Boston Red Sox. Unlike others in the industry, Magellan Jets doesn’t have any peak day surcharges, blackout dates, holiday premiums, or surcharges.
Magellan Jets takes pride in being financially transparent in a market where hidden fees can add 40% to your costs. Financial transparency extends beyond pricing. Your Jet Card funds are completely segregated from operational expenses. Many providers co-mingle client deposits with company operating budgets; a practice that creates risk if the company faces financial pressure. We never touch your funds for anything except your flights.
Our Magellan Jets Preferred Network represents another fundamental difference. We source from the top percentage of operators nationwide through one of the industry’s most rigorous approval processes. Our asset-light model means we select planes based purely on mission fit, not utilization quotas.
Need help at 2 AM because your plans changed? Our 24/7 Client Experience team is standing by; not an answering service, but actual aviation professionals who can adjust your itinerary, arrange ground transportation, or coordinate with FBOs in real time.
Our Private Clients maintain a 4.9 out of 5 satisfaction rating across thousands of flights. That’s not luck: it’s the result of treating every journey as if our own family were on board.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jet Cards
Can I share my jet card with family or team members?
Absolutely. Some companies require that the Jet Card Owner is on every flight. Magellan Jet Cards do not have these restrictions. Magellan’s corporate programs typically allow unlimited employee usage, meaning your entire C-suite can book simultaneously. Personal Jet Cards do not require the Jet Card owner to be onboard.
What if I need multiple aircraft on the same day?
No problem. Your hours function like a checking account, meaning you can deploy them however your schedule demands. Send three teams to different cities at the same time, or book a light jet and a heavy jet on the same day for separate missions.
Importantly, this level of flexibility isn’t standard across the industry. Many providers are limited by their owned fleets and can’t always accommodate multiple simultaneous aircraft requests. Magellan Jets’ asset-light business model allows for far greater scalability, giving you the ability to access multiple aircraft at once without being constrained by a fixed fleet.
Do unused hours roll over to the next year?
Depends entirely on the provider. Some hours vanish after 12 months. Others roll forward indefinitely as long as you maintain membership. Magellan Jet Cards never expire at all.
Are there extra fees for holidays or peak days?
Here’s where programs diverge sharply. Many charge 10-40% more for Thanksgiving week or Super Bowl weekend. Magellan Jets does not charge extra fees for holidays or peak travel days.
Is there a refund or exit option for Jet Cards?
Read the fine print carefully. Policies range from “all sales final” to “full refund minus flights taken.” Know your exit strategy before you enter. Magellan Jet Cards are refundable, unprecedented for this industry.
Best Practices for Maximizing Your Jet Card
Make your membership work harder:
- Reserve peak dates the moment your calendar firms up
- Review monthly statements to spot usage patterns
- Get competing quotes: pricing and terms vary
- Build a relationship with your Private Aviation Advisor
- Take advantage of every included service
Explore Your Jet Card Options with Magellan Jets
Jet Cards eliminate the friction in private flying. Fixed costs, guaranteed planes, zero ownership headaches; it is private aviation simplified.
Start by mapping your typical routes and passenger counts. Calculate your annual flight hours. Consider your flexibility needs. Then match those requirements to specific program features.
Want help analyzing which Jet Card structure fits your travel patterns? Talk to a Private Aviation Advisor for a personalized assessment.
