When Should You Charter a Heavy Jet or Airliner

What is a heavy jet or airliner?

Heavy jets are designed to carry as many people and as much baggage as possible over long distances. Used mainly for international travel, the average range of a heavy jet is 7,000 miles or eight hours of non-stop flying time. The comfort of passengers on long-haul flights is extremely important because of the amount of time spent in the air, which is why owners of private heavy jets often go to great lengths to fit out their ‘home in the sky’ with creature comforts like master bedrooms and fully fitted bathrooms, theatres, state-of-the-art galleys and plush carpets and luxury trimmings.

If sleek light or mid-size jets are the first things that come to mind when thinking about a private jet rental, think again. The hardworking heavy jet or VIP airliner is the best private jet when traveling with 10 people or more, and bigger quantities of baggage or equipment. This is the reason many corporations, sports teams, celebrity performers, and humanitarian aid organizations opt for heavy jets when it comes to private plane charter. Travelers can stretch out and get a good night’s sleep, reaching their destination fully-rested, while key personnel can use their time onboard productively with Wi-Fi connectivity, club seating configurations, and the latest in audiovisual systems.

The private jet charter cost for a heavy jet may be more expensive than a lighter jet, but keep in mind that some high-end, luxury mid-size jets can be as expensive to charter as a heavy jet. Chartering a smaller plane over a longer distance can end up making your journey more expensive. Lighter jets that must cover longer distances will need to stop to refuel and this will increase the private jet charter cost of landing, refueling and the extra time added to your journey.

Choosing a heavy jet or airliner for range

Keep in mind when considering the best private jet to charter for ultra-long-haul travel, that the distance an aircraft can travel nonstop, depends on its payload (the weight of passengers, crew, baggage, and fuel) as well as conditions like head- and tailwinds, the weather, and even the elevation of the airports you travel into or out of.

The ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550 is a firm favorite with elite travelers headed to international destinations. The G550 combines incredible speed and range (7,767 miles) with excellent interior features. The airplane has set over 40 city-pair time-busting records, easily linking Washington with Dubai, London with Hong Kong, and Tokyo with Paris. The interior has up to four distinct areas and the latest multimedia resources that can be enjoyed by as many as 16 passengers.

The 6,846-mile range of the Dassault Falcon 7X coupled with a cruise speed of 615 mph, connects Berlin to Los Angeles and New York to Dubai without having to stop to refuel. An innovative wing and signature three-engine design mutes internal noise and vibration for a quiet ride, and the private plane has no problem taking off from shorter runways. The 7X cabin has plush seating for 14 passengers and there is the option to add queen-size beds to certain configurations.

Another winner in the ultra-long distance stakes is the Bombardier Global Express XRS, purpose-built to meet the expectations of the most discerning travelers. A Global Express XRS private plane rental can carry you 7,077 miles in true luxury and comfort, effortlessly connecting Los Angeles to Paris in eight hours, and London to Johannesburg in just 10 hours.

If you would like to book a private jet rental on the Bombardier Global Express XRS or any of our other heavy jets or VIP airliners, contact our charter experts. Or you can visit our private jet charter page to find out more about how a private plane charter can turn the frustrations of commercial airline travel into an experience of ultimate comfort and convenience.

Choosing a heavy jet or airliner for cabin and baggage space

If you need to transport loads of baggage, you can’t go wrong with the Embraer Legacy 600/650 series. The private plane has three distinct zones inside the cabin where passengers can choose to work, while others sleep or indulge in their cuisine of choice. Fully berthing seats, low cabin noise and a superior baggage hold make this aircraft an excellent jet charter option for elite group charters. The Legacy has the largest inflight accessible baggage compartment in its class with 240 cubic feet of baggage space. The plane also has the most spacious lavatory with the option of a second lavatory at the front of the cabin.

While most large-cabin jets feature a cabin height of at least six feet, some heavy jets like the Gulfstream G650/650ER offer a cabin height of 6.4 feet and the widest cabin at 6.5 feet.

If you’re looking to charter the biggest plane in private aviation, ask for the Boeing 747-8i VIP, part of the Boeing 787-800 series. The aircraft sells for between $367 and $660 million but is much cheaper to experience as a private plane rental. This is the longest and second-largest airliner ever built (and one of Boeing’s bestselling models). The aircraft’s price tag excludes the interior which is fitted post-purchase. Only the finest materials are used by Washington-based Greenpoint Technologies and the 747-8i VIP transports elite travelers in the comfort of two luxurious lounges, a dining room, a stateroom with its own lounge, and a sizable office and state-of-the-art conference room. This aircraft is often the transport of choice for Heads of State and the wealthiest VIPs.

For exceptional comfort the Airbus A318 Elite corporate jet ticks all the boxes. The private plane was launched as a smaller, shorter-range, lower-cost option to the successful A319 ACJ. Offering the comfort and roominess you’d typically enjoy at home or in the office, the A318 Elite has a lounge, dining area, and a private office that converts to a bedroom and bathroom. Seating up to 19 passengers in luxurious comfort, space, and style, it has the range for transatlantic flight, as well as intercontinental travel.

For more about the best private jet that will get you to your long-haul destination with room to spare, contact us to find out more about your various private jet charter options.

Group charter solutions

As the world shrinks and time is of the essence, group charter is gaining popularity as the transport of choice for larger groups and critical equipment. ACS’s Group Charter division has handled all the various types of group charter in the last two decades, from humanitarian aid missions and rock band world tours, to group travel for multinational corporations.

If you need to put a trip together for your valued clients or fly your team and their equipment to a convention, a group private jet rental using our wide range of heavy jets and VIP airliners, offers a personalized service with every aspect of the charter experience tailored to your requirements. 

Popular aircraft for group charter include the Boeing 777 with an impressive range of 10,793 miles which connects you to most international destinations. The 777 is the world’s largest twinjet airliner, and is often referred to as the ‘Triple Seven’. It offers more advanced technologies than any other Boeing airliner manufactured before the 777 came into service in 1994. This aircraft seats 300 to 450 passengers and offers a unique combination of superior range, fuel efficiency and passenger comfort.

Private jet charter is a great way to find the heavy jet that’s just right for you

If you don’t have a clear preference in the heavy jet or VIP airliner category, private jet rental exposes you to various types of planes in the heavy jet class. By chartering a different jet for each flight, you can experience the comfort and performance of the various aircraft available to you on the market.

An important piece of advice is to use the services of a professional private jet charter operator who will guide you through the process of selecting the best private jet that’s perfect for your requirements. As a jet charter customer, you’re automatically treated to a concierge service to ensure ultimate comfort and convenience on every mile of your VIP journey.

If you would like to find out more about private jet charter, please speak to our team about the benefits of fast, agile, and personalized air travel. We’d also be happy to speak to you about your other options for flexible, cost-effective jet charter, like our short-haul air taxi service or our jet card that offers you a range of benefits unsurpassed by any other product on the private aviation market.