VISITING THE STRIP: HOW TO TAKE A PRIVATE JET TO VEGAS

Las Vegas is among the most popular global cities for tourists and business travelers. Visitors try their luck at the casinos, watch the Super Bowl, see F1 cars zoom by at the Grand Prix, or listen to Mariah Carey hit that whistle note. The City of Sin has something for everyone.

It’s also one of the most popular destinations to visit by private jet. Here are ways to do so without breaking the bank.

Private jet services to LV

Many operators offer flights from all over the US to Las Vegas. You can book individual seats on these flights or charter an entire plane for privacy. Services like FlyXO connect you to a range of operators with various aircraft to fly you to wherever you need them.

Chartering an entire aircraft isn’t cheap, though. According to PrivateFly, these are the costs of some popular routes to Vegas:

• Los Angeles to Las Vegas (overnight return)
• Aircraft: Learjet 31
• Trip time: 44 minutes
• Seats: 7
• Cost estimate: $11,000
• New York to Las Vegas (overnight return)
• Aircraft: Citation XL
• Trip time: 5 hours 21 minutes
• Seats: 8
• Cost estimate: $41,000
• Florida to Las Vegas (one-way)
• Aircraft: Citation VII
• Trip time: 4 hours 30 minutes
• Seats: 8
• Cost estimate: $44,100

Flying on an empty leg

It’s common for private jet operators to reposition their aircraft without paying passengers to pick up clients from a different location. Seats on these empty legs are often offered at a highly discounted rate as operators simply try to reduce their costs.

The availability is highly subjective and requires potential passengers to be flexible with their travel times. Services such as Catch-a-Jet offer customers a platform to find such flights and save money while flying private.

VistaJet, a large private jet operator, also offers these empty-leg flights on its platform. The operator claims these flights are up to 75% cheaper than chartering a private jet. However, these empty-leg flights are one-way. So, passengers must book a return leg with another provider.

Private jet memberships

Many private jet operators are out there; almost all offer memberships for customers looking to utilize their flight network. These programs give customers access to private jets with as little as 48 hours' notice.

Pricing for flights is dynamic. However, there is an hourly cap on the rate they can charge. XO offers three membership options, starting at as little as $595 a year for a shared membership that allows customers to book seats on private jets. There are tiers to these cards that offer more benefits as the price increases. The XO Reserve membership, which costs $995 per year and requires a refundable deposit of $250,000, avails customers of the following:

• Priority access to the Vista Member's fleet of more than 300 aircraft
• No blackout days
• Guaranteed recovery
• Ability to sell shared seats on charters

RELATED: High Roller? 5 Ways To Get A Private Jet To Vegas For Less

Airport options

Las Vegas has many airports, private and otherwise. However, these are the ones that will accommodate almost any type of jet and have the most options for private jet operators.

Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport

Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is located in Paradise, Nevada, approximately five miles from Downtown Las Vegas and two miles from the Las Vegas Strip. It is the largest commercial airport in Nevada and sees more than 500 commercial flights depart daily, making it the 8th busiest airport in the US by passenger volume.

For private aircraft, the airport has two remote terminals with security checkpoints, shopping, restaurants, and other amenities. They are located opposite the commercial terminals.

Being a commercial airport gives it an edge over other airports. It has more runways and multiple instrument approaches per runway, allowing for a safe landing even in inclement weather. The longer runways are made to handle jetliners, so landing a private jet should pose no issue whatsoever.

Henderson Executive Airport

Henderson Executive Airport (HSH) is a small to medium-sized airport located 11 miles south of Las Vegas’s Central Business District. The airport's private terminal opened in 2006 and offers many services and amenities for discerning travelers.

The airport is the preferred landing spot for training aircraft, helicopters, and large cabin-class private jets that operate in the Las Vegas area.

The airport has two parallel runways, the smallest of which is 5,000 ft long. This means most private jets should have no issue landing and taking off from the airport. The airport is equipped with GPS R-NAV and VOR instrument approaches to allow for takeoff and landing during inclement weather.

North Las Vegas Airport

North Las Vegas Airport (VGT) is a medium-sized airport three miles northwest of downtown Las Vegas. The class-delta airport caters mainly to business and corporate aviation.

There is only one terminal at the airport, but it's well-equipped for private travelers. Services such as luggage assistance, catering, and aircraft maintenance are all available. There are three runways in use, the shortest of which is 4,200 ft. Two of the three runways are equipped with IFR approaches. Both ILS and GPS approaches are available.

Boulder City Municipal Airport

Boulder City Municipal Airport (BLD) is a small to medium-sized airport five miles southeast of Las Vegas City. The airport has two FBOs and plenty of parking for private jets. It serves a lot of general aviation traffic, which makes it the third busiest airport in the state.

The airport has two runways, the smallest of which is 3,852 ft long. Runway 27, the larger of the two, has a GPS approach available for instrument traffic.

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