Magellan Jets Hourly Rate: Jet Card and Flight Hours Overview

For discerning travelers, time is more than money—it’s irreplaceable. In a world where commercial aviation often delivers frustration rather than convenience, Magellan Jets offers a structured, transparent jet card model that promises predictable costs, comfort, and exceptional value in private aviation. But how do their hourly rates work? What determines the overall cost? And is it truly cost-effective for frequent flyers?

Let’s break down Magellan Jets' jet card pricing, how flight hours are structured, and the several factors you should consider before choosing this model.

Overview of Magellan Jets' Jet Card Hourly Rate

Founded in 2008 by Joshua Marc Hebert and Anthony Tivnan, Magellan Jets has grown to offer premium, all-inclusive jet card programs that simplify private aviation. These cards typically include fuel, de-icing, catering, and Wi-Fi, often with no peak-day surcharges, making them an attractive option for frequent flyers seeking convenience and transparency.

Magellan Jets uses a network of pre-qualified aircraft and provides several semi-specific aircraft choices rather than broad cabin categories, allowing members to select aircraft that best match their travel needs. As of 2025, the company offers category jet cards, premium jet cards for specific aircraft types, memberships, and a corporate jet card program.

Jet Card Offerings and Membership Options

Magellan’s jet card is available in prepaid 25-hour blocks, starting with light jets and scaling up to larger aircraft, including ultra-long-range jets suitable for transatlantic flights. Your card provides consistent aircraft quality, guaranteed aircraft availability, and fixed pricing. Some cards may include bonus perks such as no peak-day surcharges, complimentary catering, and ground transportation options.

In 2019, Magellan Jets relaunched its jet card program, eliminating peak-day surcharges and introducing a popular Phenom 300 option, enhancing value and flexibility.

Membership allows for pay-as-you-go access to the fleet with locked rates, while prepaid cards require upfront purchase of flight hours. For example, the Explorer Membership requires an initial investment of approximately $11,500 to $16,500 with annual dues of $4,500.

Federal Excise Tax (FET) and Additional Fees

Federal Excise Tax (FET) is typically added to the base hourly rates at 7.5%, unless specified as included in the quoted price. Additional fees such as fuel surcharges, repositioning charges, and de-icing during winter months may also apply, so it’s important to confirm these details with your provider to avoid surprises.

Booking and Advanced Planning

Booking on approximately 20 Advanced Booking Days in 2026 will require a longer call-out window of 120–240 hours, reflecting the demand and planning required for peak travel periods.

How Jet Cards Work and Flight Hours

Jet cards function like a preloaded aviation debit card—you buy a set number of flight hours, and those hours are deducted as you fly, measured from takeoff to landing, including taxi time.

Hour Allocation and Use

Flight time is calculated from wheels-up to wheels-down, with potential minimum flight time policies (e.g., 60-minute minimums). Your card may cover additional charges, such as repositioning or de-icing, depending on the tier.

Rollover and Refill Policies

• Rollover: Most cards offer a 12- to 24-month expiration, with unused hours often forfeited afterward.

• Refill: You can reload with new blocks, often at better rates with larger commitments, matching your travel needs.

Jet Card Hourly Rates by Program and Aircraft Type

Hourly rates vary based on aircraft category and total hours purchased. Here’s how typical pricing structures look:

Rates by Aircraft Size

• Light Jets (e.g., Phenom 300, CJ3): Approximately $6,750–$8,000/hr

• Mid-Size Jets (e.g., Hawker 800XP): Approximately $8,250–$10,000/hr

• Super Mid-Size Jets (e.g., Citation X, Challenger 350): Approximately $10,250–$13,000/hr

• Heavy Jets (e.g., Falcon 2000, Gulfstream GIV): Approximately $12,500/hr and above

Magellan Jets offers fixed hourly rates for jet cards and memberships, generally ranging from about $6,750 for light jets to over $12,500 for heavy jets. A 10% discount is often available for qualifying round-trip flights, providing additional savings.

Hourly Rate Scaling by Hours Purchased

The more hours you purchase in a jet card program, the lower the hourly rate tends to be:

• 25 Hours: Standard rate

• 50 Hours: Approximately 3–5% discount per hour

• 100 Hours: Approximately 7–10% discount per hour

For frequent flyers, purchasing larger blocks can result in significant annual savings, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars.

What Drives the Cost?

Several factors influence jet card hourly rates:

• Aircraft type and size

• Provider pricing models and perks

• Additional fees such as fuel surcharges or peak day premiums

• Booking time and demand

Comparing Jet Cards, Chartering, Fractional Ownership, and Ownership Costs

Chartering a Private Jet

Chartering costs depend on the type of aircraft, number of passengers, and booking time. Additional fees such as catering, de-icing, hangar fees, and taxes may apply. Market-based pricing means costs can fluctuate with demand, particularly during peak seasons or holidays.

Fractional Ownership

Fractional ownership involves purchasing a share of a private jet, offering many benefits of private aviation without full ownership costs. Costs include an initial capital purchase, monthly maintenance fees covering crew salaries, hangar, insurance, and ongoing hourly flight fees.

Fractional ownership requires a significant upfront investment, often six to seven figures, and long-term contracts with management responsibilities.

Owning a Private Jet

Purchasing a private jet varies significantly in cost based on the jet's category, model, and age. Operational costs include crew salaries, maintenance, insurance, fuel, and taxes. Ownership offers ultimate convenience but comes with substantial financial and management commitments.

Why Choose a Jet Card?

Jet card programs provide guaranteed access to aircraft at fixed hourly rates, usually with a minimum annual commitment. They offer predictable costs, eliminate the complexities of ownership, and protect against market price volatility.

What to Ask When Evaluating Magellan Jets Jet Card Hourly Rates

• Are the Federal Excise Tax and all additional fees included in the quoted rates?

• What are the policies on repositioning charges and peak-day surcharges?

• Can I see detailed rate sheets for specific aircraft?

• How does the membership compare to pay-as-you-go options?

Conclusion and Recommendation

For flyers seeking reliability, transparency, and premium service without the financial complexity of ownership, Magellan Jets’ Jet Card offers strong value—especially for users with 25+ hours of flying.

Its fixed hourly pricing, curated fleet, and clear policies make it a compelling choice. However, it’s critical to compare rates across tiers, ask for full cost breakdowns, and tailor the card to your travel needs.

Discover a Smarter Way to Fly

If you’re ready to elevate your private aviation experience without overcommitting, explore how a BlackJet Jet Card can offer similar or even better value with carbon-neutral flights, elite safety standards, and world-class access.

Explore premium jet access → BlackJet.com.