Inside private jet bedrooms: Why private flyers are choosing sleep over champagne

• PrivateFly says clients are becoming more particular about sleeping on private jet flights, as it releases latest insights report.

• This follows the certification of the Bombardier Global 7500, the biggest ever purpose-built private jet, offering a master bedroom & ensuite shower room.

You might think you’d want to stay awake to remember every second of a private jet experience, but according to PrivateFly, increasing numbers of private jet customers are choosing to sleep while they fly. And they are becoming more particular about their onboard sleeping options as a result.

The finding is part of PrivateFly’s latest insights report Private Jet Charter Trends Q3 2018*, which reveals the booking and flying behaviour of its private jet customers between July and September this year.

Carol Cork, co-founder and marketing director of PrivateFly, comments: “We’re finding more and more clients are looking to sleep on our flights – to arrive feeling rested, recharged and ready to work or play. In today’s hectic world, sleep has become the biggest luxury. The ability to sleep undisturbed and comfortable, in a private space, is - for many - a higher priority than indulging in champagne and caviar.

“We’re seeing this on flights of all types. On smaller jets for shorter flights, fully-reclining and swivel seats can make it easier to nap than in a crowded airline cabin. But it’s on long flights that sleep becomes a major priority. One regular client has chosen a Gulfstream G550 in the past for flights of 7-10 hours, but for a recent longer flight between Europe and Asia, sleeping and cabin space became the top priority. So he booked a Global 6000, which has an exceptionally comfortable double bed, and a wider cabin - allowing him to sleep for a solid 6-7 hours of the flight."

PrivateFly’s report comes as the Bombardier Global 7500, the most luxurious business jet ever built, is getting ready to enter the market, following its recent certification. Particular emphasis in its four-zone cabin has been given to creating a dedicated master suite and bathroom with shower - something that has only been available in VVIP converted airliners in the past (such as the Boeing Business Jet or Airbus Corporate Jet), not in purpose-built private jet aircraft. The Global 7500’s larger cabin allows it to offer a full-time, private master bedroom and ensuite shower room, rather than converting another cabin zone into a sleeping area.

PrivateFly’s Private Jet Charter Trends is a quarterly publication by the global private jet booking service, based on thousands of flight searches and hundreds of flights every month.

Other findings from the new edition include:

• The Q3 report reflects PrivateFly’s busiest quarter ever, with flight volumes 42% up on the same period last year.
• Luxury travel hotspot Mykonos flew into PrivateFly’s destination top 10 for the very first time, with London, Nice and Ibiza the top three.
• The midsize Hawker 800 grew in popularity and became a top 10 aircraft, due to its increasing availability and competitive pricing in Europe.
• More clients booked further ahead to secure availability in this peak period, with 25% of flights booked 30+ days before departure.
• Saturday 4th August was PrivateFly’s busiest take-off day in Q3, with Fridays and weekends very busy all quarter.
• 14% of passengers in this period were children under the age of 16.

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