With over 7000 private jets available to charter worldwide, choosing the right private jet for your trip can often be a difficult decision. Here is an overview of the most popular aircraft types available, making sure you choose the best private jet for your trip.
VLJ (Very Light Jet)
A Very Light Jet (VLJ) also known as an entry-level jet is the smallest private jet category, seating 4-5 passengers. They are cheaper to run than their standard private jet counterparts making them a more cost effective choice for short-haul journeys of up to 2 hours. They can also use smaller runways. However, there is limited cabin space and baggage capacity is often restricted on these types of jets.

VLJ examples: Citation Mustang, Citation M2, Phenom 100
Light jet
The light jet is a very popular private jet within the marketplace. It has a flight range of up to 2.5 hours with seating for up to 8 passengers. It is a very economical choice making it an ideal choice for short to mid-range city hops. This jet category also benefits from being able to land at smaller airports, getting you closer to your destination. Light jets have been a popular option since the launch of the business jet market about 50 years ago.

Light Jet examples: Citation CJ2/CJ3/CJ4, Citation Bravo, Learjet 40, Premier 1
The super light jet category offers even more cabin and luggage space compared to a light jet. They are a popular choice, appreciated for their speed, comfort and performance. With a flight range of up to 4.5 hours, enabling non-stop flights between cities such as Paris and Moscow.
Super light jet examples: Learjet 75, Phenom 300, Citation XLS
Midsize jet
The midsize jet category offers a sleeker, more comfortable stand-up cabin, with greater luggage capacity. There is seating for up to 10 passengers, with some models offering flight attendant services. With a flight range of up to 5 hours, it makes it an ideal choice for longer range travel or for travel with larger passenger capacity requirements. A pressurized cabin makes at-altitude travel comfortable; all models have a lavatory and some models are WI-FI enabled, making in-flight work possible.

Midsize jet examples: Hawker 800XP/900XP, Learjet 60XR
Super midsize jets are luxurious aircraft with upgraded amenities such as galley kitchen, bathroom facilities, in-fight entertainment and beds. These private jets jets are fast and fuel efficient, with the ability to climb high, making this category a good choice for longer flights.
Super midsize jet examples:Challenger 300/350, Citation X, Citation Sovereign, Legacy 500
Large jet
The large jet category is the ultimate in private air travel. With a seating capacity for up to 18 passengers and a flight range of up to 6.5 hours, these private jets are ideal for transcontinental flights. All aircraft in this category have a fully enclosed lavatory and flight attendant services. High ceilings means comfortable movement around the cabin and lie-flat beds makes those longer flights much more comfortable. WI-FI on board most models also means you will never miss that all important work deadline. The Legacy 600/650 offers the largest baggage capacity in its class.

Large jet examples: Legacy 600/650, Challenger 850, Falcon 900EX
Ultra long range jet
The ultra long range jet offers the ultimate in luxury and style. These jets are ideal for intercontinental travel, with a range of up to 12.5 hours. , connecting virtually any two cities in the world. Arrive at your destination feeling refreshed and revitalised after a good nights sleep in a comfortable lie-flat bed or relax and enjoy the state-of-the-art entertainment systems. A well-appointed galley, means all your catering requests can be met and a flight attendant on-board means your every whim will be taken care off. These private jets offer plenty of passenger and baggage capacity with seating for up to 16 passengers.

Ultra long range jet examples: Gulfstream G550, Global XRS, Falcon 7X
So when choosing a private jet for your next trip, ensure you have taken into consideration; the number of passengers travelling, the amount of luggage you will have, how far you are travelling and the amenities that you require on-board. If you ask yourself these 4 questions you should be able to make a more informed decision on which private jet is best for your trip.
Vickie Clark is Client Services Director at The Private Jet Boutique Ltd. The Private Jet Boutique Ltd. is a one-stop shop for private jet charter, helicopter charter, scheduled flights and luxury holidays.