Private jet travel is sometimes considered an indulgence, and indeed it’s a stretch to justify a flight on cost alone. You may get close if you filled every seat with a passenger who would otherwise be paying last-minute full-fare first class. But most private flyers cite the twin benefits of time savings and convenience as dominant in their decision-making. Often these justifications are as sufficient as a more tangible financial argument.

For those considering a private jet, it helps to enumerate the difficult-to-quantify benefits. You may attempt to attach dollar figures to these, though most flyers simply assess the aggregate effect and determine whether it’s an appropriate expense.

If you haven’t yet experienced private aviation, Helium Report suggests a simple charter flight or low buy-in card program. By understanding the advantages first-hand, you’ll be in a better position to evaluate the use of private jets on a per-trip or per-year basis. A directory of providers is available here.

To help frame your decision-making process, Helium Report has prepared the following list of intangible “paybacks” for private jet travel:

• Time Savings – This is the foremost benefit, and it draws from several unique characteristics of private flight. The flight leaves when you want it to. No need to arrive early and kill time in the airport or shuffling through security. Rather than negotiating your way through the metropolis that major airports have become, you simply drive your car right up to the aircraft at the much smaller general aviation airport. Substantial time savings can be gained in travel that is best served by smaller regional airports. Check your common destinations for the closest airport and estimate the time you’d save by five-minute car-to-plane transfers instead of the typical 1-2 hour commercial experience.
• Safety - There’s no better security than knowing everyone on the plane. With private travel, you can receive background reports on the flight crew, and verify their credentials and ID before boarding. Since you’re coordinating the flight, you know everyone on board and can fully relax and enjoy the trip.
• Productivity – Again, this comes from several aspects of private jet travel: overall time savings, schedule flexibility, extra room to spread out documents, phone and internet access, in-flight meeting capabilities and more.
• Privacy – Since you control the cabin, you can make any flight a confidential business gathering or an intimate family event.
• Bonding Time –A benefit of flight is that you’re aloft and isolated, giving you a few hours of exclusive one-on-one consultation with an important client or business partner. For personal travel, it provides special family bonding time without the distractions of life on the ground.
• Relax, Rest, Recharge – Whether you’re meeting, resting or shuffling papers, the serenity of cruising at 35,000 feet, and the calm of the general aviation terminal will recharge your batteries. By the time you land, you’ll be organized, rejuvenated, and ready to make the most of your destination.
• Special Occasions – There’s something special about a private jet, and hosting guests for a business off-site meeting, joint vacation or a surprise trip is a welcome treat of the highest order.
• Special Destinations – Certain destinations are well-served by private jets, especially vacation areas and locations where commercial hubs are either too far or too busy.

Most flyers benefit from a combination of these factors. In fact, the more of these that apply to your travel needs, the more likely private jets represent a smart choice. For instance, if your business or personal travel involves frequent trips to destinations with smaller airports nearby; and you can make productive use of in-flight time with family or colleagues; and you have special customers or partners who could collaborate en route, then private jets deserve serious consideration.

The Halogen Guides Decision Guide to Private Jet Travel includes a complete description of these considerations and a framework for deciding whether private jets suit your needs. Depending on your profile, you may be best served by fractional ownership (like NetJets), a card program (like Marquis Jet or Sentient Jet), or simply an occasional charter flight. The decision guide explains the differences of these programs and will help you identify the best fit.