Piston
Piston aircraft are options for smaller groups with relatively light luggage and short trips. These planes range in size from small single engine pistons to larger “Cabin Class Piston Twins”. These are most frequently chartered as a shuttle flight between major cities such as: New York to Toronto; Los Angeles to San Francisco; and Dallas to Houston. In the North East they are great options for trips from Boston to Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard and Block Island. Piston options are a popular way to reach the Bahamas and Caribbean with the best deals available at airports across South Florida.
Who: Capacity of 3-8 passengers, depending on seating arrangements and size of aircraft
What: Limited to no in-cabin amenities, Lavatories very rare
Where: Comfortable flying range of 400-600 miles
Why: Can access almost any airport in America; Best priced options, however, not the best options for larger groups on longer trips
How: Speeds 170 - 200 mph
Turbo Prop
Turbo props are large aircraft with propeller(s) powered by jet engine(s). They can get into most of the smaller airports that the larger jets cannot. Many are certified to carry up to 8-9 passengers along with luggage and multiple golf clubs; making them preferable over jets in some situations. On shorter trips, turbo props can fly lower altitudes allowing for more direct routing and comparable flight time to their jet counterparts.
Who: Capacity of 8-9 passengers depending on seating arrangements
What: Limited in-cabin amenities, but lavatories are available in most models
Where: Range of 1,000 miles
Why: Small airport accessibility; shorter runway landings and ability to carry larger groups and more luggage than many of the jets. Also priced much better than jets
How: Speeds up to 330 mph
Light Jet
This category also benefits from being able to land at smaller airports while also delivering intra-continental capabilities. These are very popular options as they are priced much better than the larger jet options. Examples include Bombardier Learjet 35, 45, and 75 models; Hawker Beechcraft 400; Embraer Phenom 300; Dassault Falcon 10; and Cessna Citation CJ1-CJ5, Bravo, Encore and Ultra models. If you have many people and lots of luggage, larger turbo props or mid size jets would be better options.
Who: 5-6 passengers is typical for comfortable seating
What: More in-cabin comforts (e.g., reclining seats, air conditioning, some electronics) are typically included.
Where: Medium ranges (up to about 1,500 miles non-stop), which is about 2 ½-3 ½ hours
Why: They can land on shorter runways, giving you access to smaller, less busy airports
How: Cruising speed typically is 400-450 miles per hour
Mid Size Jet
This category emerged to accommodate transcontinental flights for larger groups of passengers. While they generally need longer runways than the light jets, they can still get into most of the smaller airports and towns around the country. Midsize jets enable both comfort and in-cabin productivity during long flights. Examples include Cessna Citation XLS and Sovereign; Embraer Legacy 450 and 500; Bombardier Learjet 60, Dassault Falcon 20; Hawker Beechcraft 700, 800, and 900; and Gulfstream 150 and 250.
Who: Typically up to 8 passengers
What: A pressurized cabin makes at-altitude travel comfortable; all models have a lavatory; in-flight work is possible. Many options have Wifi and Flight Phones.
Where: Range generally is 2,000-3,000 miles non-stop (about 5 hours flying time)
Why: They can land on smaller runways, but these aircraft are suitable for longer-range travel such as transcontinental flights and for travel with larger passenger capacity requirements
How: Cruising speed typically is 430-480 miles per hour
Super Midsize Business Jets
The super midsize jet is a larger aircraft, that you can stand-up in and combines speed, productivity, luxury, and ultra-range capabilities. They can climb high quickly, yet comfortably, making this category a good choice for longer flights. Examples include Dassault Falcon 2000 and 900, Cessna Citation X, Embraer Legacy 600, Gulfstream G280, Bombardier Challenger 300, and Hawker Beechcraft 4000. Depending on the number of seats in the Super Midsize Jet, these aircraft can come with cabin attendants.
Who: Typically up to 10 passengers
What: These are luxurious aircraft with elite amenities; they can accommodate a large number of passengers and baggage comfortably
Where: Range generally is 3,400-3,600 miles non-stop
Why: These jets are fast and can support intra-continental travel needs
How: Cruising speed typically is 490-590 miles per hour
Heavy Jet
Heavy jets are purposely designed for business travel for larger groups. The robust cabin of these jets can be customized for luxurious and productive flight with dedicated work spaces, conference rooms, and full-service galleys. Intercontinental travel is the goal. Heavy jets include Bombardier Global and Challenger models; Dassault Falcon 7x; and Gulfstream G400, G450, G500, G550, and G650. Boeing Business Jets and Airbus models are also examples. These aircraft all come with cabin attendants
Who: 10-18 passengers
What: Any amenity you can imagine, including state-of-the-art electronics, highly customizable jets; they enable business as usual during flight
Where: Range is 6,000+ miles (about 5-8 hours)
Why: These aircraft are able to cruise at higher altitudes, allowing for smoother flights by operating above the weather
How: Cruising speed typically is 480-560 miles per hour