The United States accounts for over 60% of global private jet flights. Here is what the routes Americans actually fly cost in 2026 — with federal excise tax, positioning fees, and seasonal premiums included in every number.
By Richard J. · Last reviewed April 2026
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The most common question in American private aviation is "how much does it cost to fly private to [destination]?" The answer depends on the route, the aircraft, the date, and whether your trip happens to coincide with Art Basel, the Kentucky Derby, or a ski season holiday week. This guide covers the ten most frequently chartered US domestic routes with all-in pricing that reflects what real quotes look like in 2026 — including the 7.5% federal excise tax that many guides omit and every charter invoice includes.
All prices in this guide are all-in estimates for one-way flights, including base flight time, standard positioning, landing and handling at both airports, crew expenses, and 7.5% FET. They do not include premium catering or de-icing (winter). For an itemised quote on any specific route, JetLuxe surfaces standard charter quotes alongside empty leg inventory in a single search — the fastest way to compare pricing across operators and find positioning-free options on high-frequency routes.
The highest-volume private jet corridor in the United States. Teterboro (TEB) is the primary departure airport for the New York metro area; arrivals split between Opa-locka (OPF) for North Miami and Fort Lauderdale Executive (FXE) for the broader Gold Coast. Art Basel week in early December is the single highest-demand period — rates can exceed the upper ranges above by 25 to 40%, and aircraft availability tightens days in advance. The winter season from January to March sustains elevated demand as the seasonal migration south drives consistent one-way traffic. Empty legs on this route are among the most frequent in the US market — particularly northbound in winter when aircraft reposition after dropping off southbound passengers.
The shortest high-frequency route in the US. The actual flight time is approximately one hour, but the two-hour minimum billing standard that most operators apply means the base hourly calculation starts at two hours regardless. Van Nuys (VNY) is the primary LA departure airport; Henderson Executive (HND) or Las Vegas Harry Reid's private aviation terminal handle arrivals. Weekend demand — particularly Thursday through Sunday — pushes rates 15 to 25% above midweek. Major event weekends (Las Vegas Grand Prix in November, major boxing and UFC fight nights, CES in January, Super Bowl when hosted) can double pricing and compress availability to near-zero on short notice.
Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK) has a 6,303-foot runway that restricts aircraft types — most heavy jets and several super-midsize models cannot operate there. Light jets and turboprops are the standard. The Hamptons route (East Hampton, HTO) follows a similar pricing and seasonal pattern. Both routes are defined by extreme Friday afternoon demand from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with Friday departures from Teterboro or Westchester commanding peak premiums. Sunday return pricing is similarly elevated. Midweek travel on these routes is significantly cheaper and operationally smoother.
Aspen's Sardy Field (ASE) sits at 7,820 feet elevation with a single 8,006-foot runway surrounded by mountains. The approach requires special crew training and is one of the most operationally demanding in US private aviation — not every operator or aircraft is approved for it. Weather-related diversions to Rifle or Eagle-Vail are a realistic possibility in winter. Christmas and New Year week pricing runs 30 to 50% above standard winter rates, and the best aircraft for the Aspen approach book weeks ahead. Similar pricing applies to other mountain ski airports including Eagle-Vail (EGE) for Vail and Beaver Creek, and Jackson Hole (JAC) for Jackson and Teton Village.
The highest-frequency corporate charter route on the West Coast. San Carlos (SQL) and Oakland (OAK) are the primary Bay Area departure airports; Van Nuys (VNY) and Hawthorne (HHR) handle most LA arrivals. Corporate traffic is steady year-round without the pronounced seasonal peaks of the leisure routes. Empty leg availability is consistently strong in both directions due to the volume of one-way repositioning flights. JetLuxe surfaces both standard and empty leg options — this is a route where empty legs appear frequently enough to check before committing to a standard charter.
Palm Beach International (PBI) is the primary arrival airport, with Boca Raton (BCT) serving the southern Gold Coast. This route mirrors the NY–Miami corridor in seasonality but with a more concentrated social season — the Palm Beach winter calendar (November to April) drives sustained one-way traffic south. Pricing and availability patterns closely track the Miami route; empty leg availability is similarly strong northbound in winter.
The same Aspen operational constraints apply as on the Chicago route — altitude, approach complexity, weather diversion risk. The shorter distance from LA makes this slightly more affordable but the Aspen premium on aircraft and crew training is consistent regardless of origin. The entertainment industry drives significant charter traffic on this route during ski season, adding a layer of demand that inflates weekend pricing beyond what the leisure market alone would produce.
A cross-border route that requires Mexican handling coordination and advance passenger information — your broker manages this, but it adds 24 to 48 hours of lead time versus a domestic-only flight. Dallas Love Field (DAL) is the primary Texas departure point. San José del Cabo International (SJD) handles arrivals with a private aviation terminal that processes customs efficiently. Spring break weeks in March and early April are the peak demand period alongside the October-to-April winter season. Houston (KHOU/Sugar Land) follows identical pricing patterns to Cabo from Dallas.
A corporate-dominated route with steady year-round demand and no pronounced seasonal peaks. Teterboro to Chicago Midway (MDW) or DuPage (DPA) is the standard routing. Empty leg availability is consistently strong due to the volume of one-way corporate positioning flights. This is a route where checking JetLuxe's empty leg inventory before committing to a standard charter frequently produces savings of 40 to 60% on the base cost.
The coast-to-coast requires a super-midsize jet at minimum — light jets and most midsize aircraft cannot fly New York to LA nonstop. The five-hour flight time makes cabin comfort, sleeping capability, and stand-up height genuine factors in aircraft selection. For groups of ten or more, the per-person cost on a heavy jet begins to approach — and sometimes undercut — first-class commercial fares, particularly when the time savings at both airports are factored in. Teterboro to Van Nuys is the standard routing. Westbound flights are typically 30 to 45 minutes longer than eastbound due to headwinds.
Every US domestic private jet charter is subject to a 7.5% federal excise tax (FET) on the total charter cost. This is not a small number: on a $30,000 charter, FET adds $2,250. On a $100,000 coast-to-coast, it adds $7,500. Some operators include FET in their quoted price; others quote pre-tax and add it on the invoice. Always confirm whether a quote is pre-tax or post-tax before comparing — this is the single most common source of price confusion between competing quotes on US domestic routes.
International flights departing from the US are exempt from FET but may be subject to customs, immigration, and handling fees at the destination. The route pricing in this guide includes FET in all estimates.
JetLuxe surfaces standard charter quotes and empty leg inventory side by side on every US domestic route — compare both before committing.
Get a US Route Quote — JetLuxeUS domestic routes produce the most empty legs in global private aviation. JetLuxe shows both standard and empty leg pricing in one search.
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