Fractional Jets - Drawbacks

Drawbacks

• Convenience - Being locked in to a plane, or even a class of plane, can mean not having the right aircraft for each trip (e.g. too many passengers, unable to land in certain airfields, unable to take off at certain high altitudes—as is the case with many aircraft in places such as Telluride and Aspen).
• Cost - Private jet travel is expensive, and the fractional model can be the most costly option (when compared to memberships, charter brokerages, etc.). The plans are also complex, with multiple layers of cost that make it nearly impossible to calculate a realistic fully loaded bottom-line per-flight cost. Owners are charged a monthly fee whether or not they fly, and the often-overlooked fuel surcharges can add up to over $1,000 per flight-hour. When owners sell their share back to the provider, the "residual value" calculation can vary substantially due to market conditions. Additionally, planes in fractional fleets tend to be flown harder, with more hours and takeoff/landing cycles than the average. This negatively affects residual value.
• Flexibility - The purchased share is for a specific plane. Any variations for a specific mission brings additional costs and calculations. Companies such as NetJets allow a customer to change a/c type.