Fly Before You Buy
I have been contemplating investing in a short-term fractional jet ownership as a way of dipping my toe in the clouds, so to speak. Specifically, I’m thinking about investing in a “fractional jet card.”
As you’re probably well aware, this model allows you to buy a chunk of time, typically 20 to 25 hours, even as few as 10 hours for an investment as little as $50,000. (It still, by the way, strikes me as a little odd when I describe $50-grand as “little,” but in the scheme of things, it’s not a life-changing number for those in a position to invest in fractional jet ownership.) In this approach, there’s no “piece” of plane you have to sell (or buy), nor typically any other fees, outside of some fuel surcharges. It’s easy in, easy out.
Once you’ve exhausted your pre-paid hours, you can then purchase more time. Or, and here is the key point, you can opt not to, either because you want to try another provider, “trade up” to full fractional ownership, or come to the conclusion that private flight is not for you.
The other benefit of the “fly before you buy” approach is that I would expect to gain learn things about private flight that will help me make a smarter decision should I opt to make a bigger investment in fractional ownership. No matter how much reading and discussing one does on this investment, at the end of the day, there will be some things you won’t learn until it’s “Wheels Up!”
