Jet cards — how prepaid hour programs work
How jet cards work: prepaid hour blocks, aircraft type or class, interchange rates, fuel and tax, terms, and how to pick a base aircraft that fits.
The short answer
A jet card is a prepaid block of flight hours. You buy the hours up front, in a specific aircraft type or class, and each flight draws your balance down based on actual flight time.
You track hours, not dollars. In return, you get set terms: call-out times, cancellation rules, and peak-day access, usually on the operator’s own fleet.
Buying the hours
- Block sizes. Cards are often sold as 25, 50, 75, or 100 hours a year.
- Commitment. Some cards need only a one-year commitment. Others ask for up to three years.
- Rigid terms. Jet cards are specific programs with set terms. Hours are drawn down by actual flight time, under the rules in your contract.
Type or class
Some operators let you buy into a specific aircraft type from their fleet. For example, if an operator flies the Phenom 300 and has enough of them, you can buy hours in that exact aircraft.
Other operators sell cards by aircraft class, such as light or midsize, if they run that kind of program. Either way, the type or class you buy becomes your base aircraft.
Interchange rates
Your base aircraft always burns 1.0 hour per flight hour. If you fly a different class, an interchange rate applies:
| You fly | Example rate | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Your base class | 1.0 | One hour of flying uses one hour |
| One class up | 1.1 | One hour of flying uses 1.1 hours |
| One class down | 0.9 | One hour of flying uses 0.9 hours |
Rates vary by program. Check them for every class you might use.
How you pay
At the start, you pay for the whole block: the base hourly rate, a fuel charge, and federal excise tax (FET) on the hours. After that, you simply draw your hours down.
Many cards also carry a fuel surcharge, especially when fuel prices across the industry run high. Ask how it’s set and when it applies.
What a jet card can include
Terms vary by operator, but cards can include:
- Guaranteed call-outs — how far ahead you must book
- Favorable cancellation terms
- De-icing
- Catering
- Peak-day access to the fleet
Jet cards vs. memberships
| Jet card | Membership | |
|---|---|---|
| What you prepay | A block of hours | A funds deposit |
| What you track | Hours balance | Funds balance |
| Aircraft | A specific type or class | Any class the program offers |
| Fleet | Usually stays on the operator’s own fleet | Often can go off-fleet |
| Best fit | Predictable flying | Flexible, pay-as-you-fly flying |
Jet cards tend to come from larger operators that control their own fleet, and they’re built to stay on that fleet, as long as the fleet is big enough. Memberships are more of a come-as-you-go model. See how memberships work.
Where jet cards fit today
Jet cards were very popular for years. They’re less common now. Memberships offer more flexibility, and many fleets have consolidated into the fractional model. Cards that remain work the same way, on set terms.
Where jet cards work well
Jet cards need predictable travel throughout the year. When you know you’ll take the flights and use the hours, they can be strong value for trips that are hard or costly to book On-Demand:
- One-way flights to regions where charter is scarce and the aircraft has to fly empty to reach you or get home
- Peak-day travel
- Trips where guaranteed call-outs and favorable cancellation matter
Limits to watch
- Use the hours. Once you buy a block, plan to use it well across the term. Unused hours are money spent.
- Interchange adds up. If you often move up a class, rates like 1.1 can eat your hours quickly.
- Commitment. Multi-year terms lock you in, even if your flying changes.
How to choose a base aircraft
Pick a base aircraft you can use for 75% or more of your flights. It should fit your typical mission on:
- Range — your longest regular trip, nonstop
- Passengers — your usual group size
- Bags — what you typically carry
If the base aircraft fits most trips, you’ll rarely pay an interchange rate. For help sizing, see choosing an aircraft size.
Compare jet cards on your own flying
- Program Comparison — compare jet cards and memberships by hours, class, and terms
- Aircraft models and range — see which aircraft fly your routes nonstop
- Route Estimator — jet card estimates next to On-Demand, membership, and fractional
- Track Spend — track your hours balance and pacing once you fly
Frequently asked questions
How does a jet card work?
You prepay a block of flight hours, often 25, 50, 75, or 100 hours a year, in a specific aircraft type or class. Each flight draws down your hours based on actual flight time, so you track an hours balance, not a funds balance.
How long is a jet card commitment?
Some jet cards need only a one-year commitment. Others ask for up to three years. Terms are set and fairly rigid, so read them before you buy.
What is a jet card interchange rate?
An interchange rate is how many of your hours an hour in a different class costs. Your base aircraft burns 1.0 hour per hour. Moving up a class might burn 1.1, and moving down might burn 0.9.
Does a jet card include fuel and federal excise tax?
Usually you pay for the base hours, a fuel charge, and federal excise tax up front for the whole block. Some cards also add a fuel surcharge when fuel prices run high.
What is the difference between a jet card and a membership?
A jet card is a prepaid hours block, often tied to one aircraft type or class and usually flown on the operator's own fleet. A membership is a funds deposit drawn down flight by flight, and the operator can often send trips to other operators.
How do I choose a jet card aircraft?
Pick a base aircraft that fits 75% or more of your flights on range, passengers, and bags. If you often move up a class, interchange rates can use up your hours quickly.
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