Midsize vs Super Midsize Jet Charter: Which One Do You Need?

You ask a broker for a charter quote. They come back with two options. One is a midsize jet. The other is a super midsize jet and costs more. Is the bigger one worth it? This guide explains the difference in plain words.

The short answer

A midsize jet is the right size for most trips up to about five hours with up to seven or eight people. A super midsize jet adds range, a wider cabin and more baggage room. Pick it when the flight is long, the group is large, or you want to cross an ocean or a continent without a fuel stop.

What counts as midsize

Midsize jets usually seat seven to nine passengers. Most have a cabin you can stand up in, but not all. Typical range is 2,000 to 2,700 nautical miles. That covers New York to Los Angeles with a good tailwind, or London to Dubai with one stop.

Common midsize charter jets:

• Cessna Citation Latitude. Flat floor, stand up cabin, about 2,700 nm, up to nine passengers.
• Cessna Citation XLS. One of the most common charter jets in the world. About 2,100 nm.
• Hawker 800XP. Older but roomy. About 2,550 nm.

What counts as super midsize

Super midsize jets seat eight to ten passengers, sometimes twelve. The cabin is wider and longer. Range is 3,200 to 4,000 nautical miles. That means coast to coast in the US against the wind, London to New York with a fuel stop or sometimes nonstop, and London to Dubai nonstop.

Common super midsize charter jets:

• Bombardier Challenger 350. About 3,200 nm, up to ten passengers. Very common on fleet operators.
• Cessna Citation Longitude. About 3,500 nm.
• Gulfstream G280. About 3,600 nm.
• Embraer Praetor 600. About 4,018 nm, the longest range in the class.

Side by side

	Midsize	Super midsize
Passengers	7 to 9	8 to 12
Range	2,000 to 2,700 nm	3,200 to 4,000 nm
Nonstop time	Up to about 5 hours	Up to about 7 or 8 hours
Cabin	Stand up on newer types	Wider and longer, flat floor
Baggage	Limited for a full cabin	Room for a full cabin
Hourly cost	Lower	Higher

Range numbers are the makers' published figures. Real range is lower with a full cabin, bad weather or a headwind. Ask the operator what the aircraft can do on your route, on your date.

When midsize is enough

• Up to six or seven people with normal bags.
• Flights up to four or five hours.
• A day trip where you fly out and back.
• You want the lowest price for a stand up cabin.

When to pay for super midsize

• Eight or more people.
• Flights over five hours, or routes where a midsize jet would need a fuel stop.
• Lots of luggage. Skis, golf bags, equipment cases.
• Overnight flights where people want to stretch out.
• Routes where a stop would add an hour and a landing fee anyway. The bigger jet can be the same total cost.

Bags decide more trips than you think

A midsize jet can seat eight people. It cannot always carry eight people's bags. James Ison, founder of a London concierge firm, told us in his guide to planning a private jet trip: "Flying privately doesn't mean unlimited baggage, so we need to know what clients are bringing." Tell the broker what you are packing before they pick the aircraft.

Comfort is personal too. "Some feel more comfortable in a midsize or heavy jet," James says, even when a smaller aircraft could do the trip.

How the price compares

Charter is priced by the flight hour, plus fees. A super midsize jet costs more per hour than a midsize jet. But it also flies faster on long legs and may skip a fuel stop. On a long route the gap can shrink. Ask for both quotes and compare the total, not the hourly rate. Our guide on how to read a charter quote shows what to look for.

If you only have four or five people, look one step down. Our light jet vs midsize jet guide covers that choice.

Questions to ask the operator

1. Can this aircraft fly my route nonstop with my group and bags?
2. What is the total price, including fees and taxes?
3. How old is the aircraft and when was the cabin last refreshed?
4. Is there a lavatory with a door, and is there Wi-Fi?
5. Where will the aircraft start from? A long positioning flight adds cost.

Sources: Bombardier, Textron Aviation, Gulfstream and Embraer published aircraft specifications; FAA.

Ready to compare operators? Browse charter companies in our Private Jet Charter directory.