Chartering a whole private jet is expensive because you are paying for everything: the schedule, the route, the aircraft and the service. There is a cheaper way in. Semi-private flights let you buy a single seat on a small jet or turboprop that flies from a private terminal. In the United States, the model has grown quickly. Here are the top semi-private flights in the US and what they cost.
1. What are Semi-Private Flights?
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On a semi-private flight, strangers share a private aircraft. Each passenger pays for one seat, not the whole plane. You get the private terminal, the short boarding process and the smaller cabin, at a fraction of the cost of a full charter.
Some operators sell seats one by one, like an airline. Others run membership programs: you pay a monthly fee and get access to discounted or included flights. A third option is the empty leg, a repositioning flight that a jet makes with no passengers on board. Operators often sell these at a steep discount.
2. How Much Do Semi-Private Flights Cost?
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Each company sets its own rules, and the price depends on the aircraft, the route and the date. Many operators sell tickets the same way an airline does. The difference is what you get: a private terminal, a small cabin with leather seats and a crew looking after only a handful of passengers.
One-way fares range from under $100 on short regional hops to several thousand dollars on premium leisure routes. Prices vary with demand and change often, so check the operator’s site before you plan around a fare. Membership programs add a monthly or annual fee on top.
3. Companies that Provide Semi-Private Flight Services
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These are the best-known names in the US semi-private market, plus one cautionary tale.
Boutique Air
Boutique Air sells seats at regular airline prices, but you fly on a private aircraft such as the Pilatus PC-12 turboprop or the Beechcraft King Air 350. Much of its network serves small communities under the federal Essential Air Service program. It codeshares with United and has an interline agreement with American, so you can connect to their networks and book on a budget.
The cabins are small but comfortable, and the seats are spacious. Onboard service is minimal. On short routes booked well in advance, fares can start from $39 one way.
Aero
Aero started in Europe in 2019 and launched in the United States in 2021. It flies Embraer ERJ-135 jets fitted with just 16 leather seats in a one-by-one layout, so every passenger has both a window and an aisle. Service is attentive throughout the flight.
Its scheduled flights leave from Van Nuys, near Los Angeles, for Aspen, Los Cabos and Sun Valley, Idaho, with extra seasonal routes around the holidays. Departures use private terminals. Expect fares of roughly $2,000 one way, though prices vary by route and date. It is not the cheapest semi-private option, but it costs far less than chartering an entire jet.
JSX
JSX is the largest semi-private carrier in the US. It flies 30-seat Embraer jets from private terminals, and you can arrive as little as 20 minutes before departure. Its network started on the West Coast and in Texas and has since spread to Florida, the New York area and other markets.
Fares are sold one way and change with demand. Sale fares have started from about $99, while longer routes such as the New York area to Florida cost several hundred dollars.
Surf Air
Surf Air began as an all-you-can-fly membership club. In January 2024 it dropped the membership requirement for its scheduled flights.
How it works today:
- You buy individual seats online, with no membership fee.
- Flights use Pilatus PC-12 turboprops with about eight passenger seats.
- Departures are from private terminals, mainly in California.
Fares vary by route. Surf Air also offers on-demand charter if you want the whole aircraft.
Set Jet
Set Jet was a Scottsdale-based membership club that sold seats on Bombardier Challenger 850 jets. It flew between Arizona, Nevada and California, with seasonal service to Cabo San Lucas and Aspen. Members paid a monthly fee of about $100, and regional seats sold for several hundred dollars one way.
Set Jet shut down abruptly in February 2024 after losing an investor, leaving members without flights. Before you prepay any membership or seat bundle, check who actually operates the aircraft and how your money is protected.
Tradewind Aviation
Tradewind Aviation has flown semi-private routes in the Caribbean and the Northeast for more than 20 years, using aircraft such as the Pilatus PC-12 and the Citation CJ3.
You can book seats directly with Tradewind.
- In the Caribbean, it flies between islands such as St. Barts, San Juan, Antigua, Anguilla and St. Thomas.
- In the Northeast, seasonal flights leave White Plains, New York, and Teterboro, New Jersey, for Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.
- Weekend service has included flights to Vermont for the ski season and to Newport, Rhode Island, in the summer.
Flights depart from private terminals, and champagne is served on board. Seats typically cost from a few hundred dollars to more than $1,000, depending on the route and date.
Blade
Blade’s BladeOne service flies converted Bombardier CRJ200 jets with 16 leather seats. The seasonal route links Westchester County Airport in New York with Miami-Opa-locka Executive Airport and West Palm Beach, usually from late fall to spring. Joby Aviation bought Blade’s passenger business in 2025.
Service includes onboard menus, tablets loaded with movies and travel kits. You can wait in a lounge before departure. Seats cost several thousand dollars one way and vary by date. Blade has offered discounts on multi-flight packs of 10 or 20 seats.
Flying on a private jet is a wonderful experience, but a full charter is out of reach for many travelers.
Semi-private flights give you most of the private experience at a lower price. You skip the crowded terminal, board a small cabin and enjoy personal service from the start to the finish of your flight.