There is an element to travelling often forgotten when you’ve been bitten by the overseas travel bug, namely, comfort — especially on long-haul flights. Some people need extra legroom, while others just want to feel relaxed in their seats. Because of this, it can be beneficial to research the aircraft you are flying in to understand what level of comfort and service you can expect in private jets. Let’s explore this luxurious mode of travel.
What Can I Choose From?
When you and a group of friends plan to charter a jet, discuss the must-have services and the nice-to-have ones. This allows you to establish a base and set your comfort expectations in advance. Long-haul flights can cause you to be irritable if you are uncomfortable — especially if you don’t receive the service you need. However, to pre-empt this, look at the different types of aircraft and plan accordingly. You are in luck because we have looked at a few private plane types we think are an excellent choice for those long flights.
Heavy Jets
One thing we simply love about these types of aircraft is that many of them can accommodate overnight flights that require beds or at least seats that can be converted into beds. Heavy Jets are great for long-haul flights and accommodate up to 12 passengers. If you have an upcoming flight of 14 hours, here are some planes in this category we recommend.
Bombardier Challenger 601
This is one of our favourite business jets since it has ample space and can complete transcontinental flights. First delivered in 1983, the Challenger 601 is configured to comfortably seat up to 11 passengers. The spacious baggage section can hold about 12 suitcases, and with its impressively large cabin, everyone has enough space.
Its interior is quite large, which is a welcome surprise for many people, and its typical layout includes a forward galley with two seating zones. This area is normally fitted with a four-chair club, a conference area with a divan, and a lavatory. Moreover, the chairs can recline all the way, and they can swivel — which is quite an excellent addition.
The seats can easily be converted into beds if your flight is overnight. Expect an entertainment system, lighting controls and foldaway tables, all to make your experience great.
Fun fact: This plane has a pair of wardrobes, one at the fore and the other at the aft. These can be used for hand luggage and other small items.
Dassault Falcon 900DX
The Falcon 900DX has impressive long-distance capabilities, a large cabin and a short runway performance; what more could anyone want? Well, it only gets better. Seating up to 16 passengers, the 900DX is better suited for 14 passengers. There is enough luggage space for 12 suitcases and a small wardrobe for other small essentials and hand luggage. What makes this aircraft special is that it makes long-haul flights look easy — think Geneva to Detroit or New York to Athens. However, its interior is what truly sets it apart.
This plane’s roomy cabin is split into three sections arranged in a double-club configuration with a three-person divan. Two seats are converted into a full-length bed for overnight flights, while the remaining seats are comfortable enough for a night of sleep since they recline, track and swivel. Overall, the cabin detail is superb and exudes business luxury.
Fun fact: Taylor Swift added this private jet to her collection but sold it recently.
VIP/Executive Airliners
These types of planes are at the top of the range and fly intercontinental routes of up to 17 hours, which is impressive! You might be thinking about the comfort levels, but these planes were designed to offer unbeatable comfort, which puts them in a class of their own. Here are two of our favourite options.
Airbus A318 Elite
If you could feel at home while flying, wouldn’t you opt for this? Well, if this is what you want, then the A318 Elite is precisely for you. This plane is known as a corporate jet since it can seat 19 passengers and has a shorter range. It offers one-of-a-kind comfort that makes you feel right at home. The interior includes a lounge, dining area, private office that converts into a bedroom, and a bathroom. The best part is that it works well when flying from one country to another.
Onboard, you can expect to be treated like a VIP with internet connectivity and various entertainment options, including a surround sound system and DVD players, noise-cancelling headsets, a Bluetooth printer, and so much more. The interior can also be configured in two ways: seating and sleeping. The seating includes a table and four seats, three three-seater type seats, six single seats and two tables. For sleeping, expect two double beds and four single beds.
Fun fact: The plane’s range is 7800 km.
Airbus A319 CJ
This is another plane we simply love since it caters to up to 19 passengers and can pretty much fly to any place in the world. The A319 CJ is one of a few iterations in this range, with some flying up to 48 passengers comfortably; this is the level of detail and special attention Airbus prides itself on. The A319 CJ is a corporate and leisure traveller’s dream. The cabin is divided into VIP quarters and features an office, bathroom, bedroom and shower (this is an en-suite).
While there are only 19 passengers allowed onboard, you can have 45 bags, which is quite a nice feature for those who love having multiple suitcases. The interior boasts all the bells and whistles one has come to expect from such a luxury aircraft.
Fun fact: Its maximum speed is 871 km/h.
Long Yet Comfortable Flights
Forget everything you know about long-haul flights being crampy, unforgettable and unpleasant. With private flying, there are several jets that will take you from point A to B in style, comfort, and luxury. Opt for the Bombardier Challenger 601 if you wish to stick to a plane with a history that proves the aircraft’s worth; the Dassault Falcon 900DX if you want to experience impressive long-distance capabilities; the Airbus A318 Elite for one-of-a-kind comfort, and the Airbus A319 CJ for an en-suite in the air.
