Pricing · Jet cards

Jet card comparison

Hourly rates, deposits, peak days, call-out notice and refunds for the main US jet card and membership programmes, and when on-demand charter is the better deal.

Compare with charter Comparison

Light jet average: $8,456/hr
Midsize average: $9,557/hr
Super-midsize: $12,526/hr
Heavy average: $15,236/hr

Photo: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0

On this pageOverview Comparison Fine print Deposits Card or charter Aircraft FAQ

Overview

How jet cards work in 2026

How much does a jet card cost?

Entry runs from about $100,000 to $250,000 for most programmes, with deposits from $25,000 to $1M across the market. Q2 2026 average rates for guaranteed cards, including fuel and federal excise tax, were $8,456 an hour for light jets, $9,557 for midsize, $12,526 for super-midsize and $15,236 for heavy jets.

A jet card is a prepaid deposit or block of hours flown at a set hourly rate with guaranteed availability. Fixed-rate cards keep the contracted rate; dynamic programmes requote every trip.

The fine print matters as much as the rate. Programmes averaged 45.4 peak days in Q2 2026, up from 35.6 a year earlier, and guaranteed availability needed 65.9 hours' notice on average, against 23.2 hours in 2019.

Deposits are rarely held in escrow by default. OneFlight paused all flights on 15 September 2026 with about $150 million of prepaid balances at risk, and cardholders in a failure can rank as unsecured creditors.

Sources:Private Jet Card Comparisons, Jul 2026: Q2 2026 jet card averages, peak days, call-out and minimums Private Jet Card Comparisons FAQ: deposits, peak surcharges, expiry, FET GlobalAir, Sep 2026: OneFlight pauses flights with about $150M in deposits at risk

Comparison

US jet cards side by side

Wheels Up Signature

Type: Fixed (dynamic option)
Entry: $250K / $500K / $1M fund
Light: $8,695 to 9,295
Midsize: Not offered
Super-mid: $12,695 to 13,495
Heavy: Not offered
Peak days: 20 days, 15% surcharge
Notice: 48 hours; 5 days on peak

Flexjet Jet Card

Type: Fixed, 25 hours
Entry: $198,425 (25 hrs Phenom 300) plus FET
Light: $7,937
Midsize: Not published
Super-mid: Not published
Heavy: Not published
Peak days: 10 blackout plus 35 flex days (first card)
Notice: 120 hours

VistaJet Program / VJ25

Type: Fixed, multi-year
Entry: 25 to 49 or 50+ hours a year
Light: Not published
Midsize: Not published
Super-mid: Not published
Heavy: Not published
Peak days: High-demand days up to 40% premium
Notice: As little as 24 hours

Sentient Jet SJ25 / SJ25+

Type: Fixed, 25 hours
Entry: $183,100 / from $235,850
Light: $7,324
Midsize: $9,434
Super-mid: $11,529
Heavy: $13,640
Peak days: Not published
Notice: 10 hours

Magellan Jets

Type: Fixed, 25 / 50 / 100 hours
Entry: 25 hours minimum
Light: $7,065 to 7,500
Midsize: $8,905 to 9,450
Super-mid: $10,355 to 10,990
Heavy: $13,570 to 14,400
Peak days: No blackouts or peak surcharges
Notice: 24 to 48 hours

Jet Linx

Type: Fixed, 12-month lock
Entry: $25,000 initiation plus $10,000 a year
Light: $7,455
Midsize: Not published
Super-mid: Not published
Heavy: Not published
Peak days: No peak surcharges
Notice: Not published

Nicholas Air

Type: Fixed
Entry: From 15 hours or $200,000
Light: Not published
Midsize: Not published
Super-mid: Not published
Heavy: Not published
Peak days: Not published
Notice: Not published

XO Membership / Reserve / Corporate

Type: Dynamic
Entry: $100K / $250K / $500K, refundable
Light: Dynamic
Midsize: Dynamic
Super-mid: Dynamic
Heavy: Dynamic
Peak days: Prices rise on busy dates
Notice: Not published

flyExclusive Jet Club

Type: Fixed, 24-month lock, FET and fuel included
Entry: $100,000 ($200,000 Plus)
Light: $5,650 plus daily access fee
Midsize: $6,400 plus fee
Super-mid: $10,000 plus fee
Heavy: Not published
Peak days: Up to 35 high-demand dates
Notice: 96 hours

Market average, Q2 2026

Type: Guaranteed cards, incl. fuel and FET
Entry: $25,000 to $1M
Light: $8,456
Midsize: $9,557
Super-mid: $12,526
Heavy: $15,236
Peak days: 45.4
Notice: 65.9 hours

Programme	Type	Entry	Light	Midsize	Super-mid	Heavy	Peak days	Notice
Wheels Up Signature	Fixed (dynamic option)	$250K / $500K / $1M fund	$8,695 to 9,295	Not offered	$12,695 to 13,495	Not offered	20 days, 15% surcharge	48 hours; 5 days on peak
Flexjet Jet Card	Fixed, 25 hours	$198,425 (25 hrs Phenom 300) plus FET	$7,937	Not published	Not published	Not published	10 blackout plus 35 flex days (first card)	120 hours
VistaJet Program / VJ25	Fixed, multi-year	25 to 49 or 50+ hours a year	Not published	Not published	Not published	Not published	High-demand days up to 40% premium	As little as 24 hours
Sentient Jet SJ25 / SJ25+	Fixed, 25 hours	$183,100 / from $235,850	$7,324	$9,434	$11,529	$13,640	Not published	10 hours
Magellan Jets	Fixed, 25 / 50 / 100 hours	25 hours minimum	$7,065 to 7,500	$8,905 to 9,450	$10,355 to 10,990	$13,570 to 14,400	No blackouts or peak surcharges	24 to 48 hours
Jet Linx	Fixed, 12-month lock	$25,000 initiation plus $10,000 a year	$7,455	Not published	Not published	Not published	No peak surcharges	Not published
Nicholas Air	Fixed	From 15 hours or $200,000	Not published	Not published	Not published	Not published	Not published	Not published
XO Membership / Reserve / Corporate	Dynamic	$100K / $250K / $500K, refundable	Dynamic	Dynamic	Dynamic	Dynamic	Prices rise on busy dates	Not published
flyExclusive Jet Club	Fixed, 24-month lock, FET and fuel included	$100,000 ($200,000 Plus)	$5,650 plus daily access fee	$6,400 plus fee	$10,000 plus fee	Not published	Up to 35 high-demand dates	96 hours
Market average, Q2 2026	Guaranteed cards, incl. fuel and FET	$25,000 to $1M	$8,456	$9,557	$12,526	$15,236	45.4	65.9 hours

Hourly rates in USD as published by each programme or reported by Private Jet Card Comparisons; most add fuel surcharges and 7.5% federal excise tax unless noted. Confirm current terms before you buy.

Get a price: Jet card comparison

Tell us the dates and passengers. A specialist replies with aircraft options and an all-in price, around the clock.

✓ No obligation✓ Licensed operators only✓ Every fee shown

Compare with charter

Fine print

Minimums, fuel and refunds

Daily minimums averaged 72.8 minutes for light jets, 91.6 for midsize, 101.8 for super-midsize and 116.8 for heavy jets (Q2 2026).
Wheels Up Signature: 72 minutes (Phenom 300) or 150 minutes (Challenger 300) daily minimum, fuel surcharge extra, funds non-refundable, CPI increase each year.
Flexjet: 60-minute minimum including taxi; fuel surcharge extra.
Sentient Jet: hours never expire; fuel surcharge and FET apply.
Magellan Jets: 30-day money-back guarantee; rate locks of 12, 18 or 24 months.
XO: all deposits refundable. flyExclusive: no daily minimums or fuel surcharge, funds do not expire, pricing can change on 30 days' notice.

Sources:Private Jet Card Comparisons, Jul 2026: Q2 2026 jet card averages, peak days, call-out and minimums Private Jet Card Comparisons, 3 Sep 2025: Wheels Up Signature terms Private Jet Card Comparisons, 16 Jun 2023: Flexjet card terms Sentient Jet: SJ25 and SJ25+ card rates and terms Private Jet Card Comparisons: Magellan 30-day money-back guarantee Magellan Jets: jet card rates and terms Private Jet Card Comparisons, 18 Nov 2025: XO memberships, refundable deposits, dynamic pricing Private Jet Card Comparisons, 16 Apr 2026: flyExclusive Jet Club terms

Deposits

How deposits work and what protects them

Deposits are rarely escrowed by default; in a provider failure cardholders can become unsecured creditors.
OneFlight paused flights on 15 September 2026 with about $150 million of prepaid balances and booked flights at risk; JetSuite's 2020 bankruptcy returned only a fraction of SuiteKey claims.
Escrow is offered on request by providers including Magellan Jets, Nicholas Air and Sentient Jet; segregated accounts may still let funds move without your signature.
The DOT broker rule (14 CFR Part 295, in force since 14 February 2019) requires disclosure of the operating carrier and prompt refunds when a flight cannot be performed, but does not regulate deposits.

Sources:GlobalAir, Sep 2026: OneFlight pauses flights with about $150M in deposits at risk Private Jet Card Comparisons, 16 May 2023: jet card providers offering escrow NBAA, 14 Feb 2019: DOT air charter broker rule takes effect US GovInfo, 14 CFR Part 295: air charter broker rules

Card or charter

When a jet card beats on-demand charter

Cards tend to win on one-way trips, routes to airports with few based jets, peak days and short-notice flying, because fixed rates absorb repositioning. Charter tends to win between busy airports, when you can book ahead with flexible dates, and when you would rather not leave six figures on deposit.

The rough guide is cards for about 25 to 50 hours a year and charter below 25; even 10 or more hours over two years can justify a card on hard-to-serve routes.

Sources:Private Jet Card Comparisons: when jet cards or on-demand charter win Private Jet Card Comparisons, 10 Oct 2024: traditional hours thresholds for charter, cards, fractional and ownership

Aircraft

Jets flown on card programmes

Typical light, midsize, super-midsize and heavy jets on US cards.

Light jet

Embraer Phenom 300

349 on charter in the US

View Embraer Phenom 300

Midsize jet

Cessna Citation Latitude

260 on charter in the US

View Cessna Citation Latitude

Super-midsize jet

Bombardier Challenger 300 / 350 / 3500

436 on charter in the US

View Bombardier Challenger 350

Heavy jet

Gulfstream G450 / G350

104 on charter in the US

View Gulfstream G450

Midsize jet All midsize jets on charter in the US →

FAQ

Questions, answered

Still deciding? A charter specialist will talk you through aircraft, airports and price, with no obligation.

Ask a specialist

What is the cheapest way into a jet card?+

Most programmes start at $100,000 to $250,000 (XO, flyExclusive, Sentient, Flexjet, Wheels Up); Jet Linx starts with a $25,000 initiation.

What is a peak day?+

A date with surcharges, longer notice or blackouts. Programmes averaged 45.4 peak days in Q2 2026.

What does call-out mean?+

The minimum notice for guaranteed availability: from 10 hours (Sentient) to 120 hours (Flexjet), averaging 65.9 hours.

Are jet card rates really fixed?+

Fixed-rate cards hold the hourly rate, but fuel surcharges and federal excise tax may be added, and some contracts allow changes on notice.

Can I get my deposit back?+

It depends: XO deposits are refundable, Wheels Up Signature funds are not, and Magellan offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Is my deposit protected if the company fails?+

Usually not unless you arrange escrow; cardholders can rank as unsecured creditors.

Does Part 295 protect jet card deposits?+

No. It requires broker disclosures and refunds when a flight cannot be performed, but it does not regulate deposits.

How many hours make a jet card worthwhile?+

Roughly 25 to 50 hours a year, or 10 or more over two years on hard-to-serve routes.

Keep planning

Private jet price Private jet cost calculator What does a private jet broker do?Part 295 explained: your rights when you book through a broker Empty leg flights Aircraft

Sources

Fares, dates and rules on this page were checked on 15 October 2026. Official fares and schedules change every season; the operator or authority named in each source has the final word.

Quote desk 24/7, ET and PT

Price the trip without a card.

A specialist replies around the clock with aircraft options, the operator's name and an all-in price.

Request a quote

Or send a quick message

We use your details only to reply. See our privacy policy.