First time on a transatlantic private jet flight? Kyle Patel, CEO of private jet company BitLux, shares the facts you need to know before your next transatlantic private jet flight. Spoiler alert: although you will experience some differences compared to a domestic private flight, at the end of the day you will be glad you chose to travel private instead of commercial first-class.
Two of the most popular transatlantic routes are New York to Paris and Miami to London, with the first one, depending on the aircraft, taking roughly 6 hours and the latter a little more than 8. Those flight times are almost the same when flying commercially, with the advantage of business aviation coming prior to take-off and after landing.
The standard time you need to invest on a commercial South Florida to United Kingdom first class flight is approximately 13 hours, separated as follows: three hours prior departure at the airport, the eight-hour flight, an hour to pass through immigration, customs and baggage claim after arrival and the time it takes to move by land to your destination (usually international airports are far from where you need to go).
Immigration is one of those differences when experiencing a transatlantic private jet flight. It is only required during arrival and for private jet flights, it is a swift and uninterrupted process, taking place usually in a private terminal. With that accounted for, the same procedure should take roughly 9 hours; you can arrive just before take-off, you can land at any airport (minutes away from your destination) and your bags are with you at all time. Almost 4 hours less… priceless.
Another difference from your domestic private jet flight is that an additional pilot will be onboard. This is a global regulation for non-stop long-haul flights, thus allowing pilots to comply with the imposed hours of rest. But from there on, your first-time transatlantic experience will be no different from, say, a Miami to New York flight. The flexibility, comfort and time-efficiency that defines this industry will remain the same.
The aircraft
What aircraft to choose? Well, not every private jet gets you across the Atlantic Ocean and this is the main reason why this type of flights is not as popular. Although business aircraft manufacturers around the world are acknowledging the need to build more efficient long-haul private jets to meet the needs of the rising demand. BitLux offers a large range of the so-called ultra long-range jets, equipped for this type of long-range routes.
This class of private jets is the ideal option for those looking to travel extensively long distances on their private flight. This class comprises some of the most spacious, luxurious, and well-designed interiors, a sure crowd pleaser. The ultra long-range jets hold up to 18 passengers, offering an incredible overall experience, with a range of over 5,500 miles on most aircraft, or 12 to potentially 14 hours of flying time from runway to runway.
Some popular routes for ultra-long range jets are Palm Beach (West Palm Beach, KPBI) to Moscow (Vnukovo, UUWW), New York (KTEB) to Buenos Aires (SABE, EZE), or Los Angeles (Los Angeles, KLAX) to Hong Kong (Hong Kong, VHHH, HKG). The Falcon 7X, Global Express, Global 6000 and Gulfstream G550 are popular jets in this category.
BitLux provides various services across the air charter industry, but Executive Travel is one that is closest to heart. Whether you are flying for business or leisure, BitLux provides a top tier private jet service that actively exceeds expectations.
