Skiing by private jet – it’s all about the stats
European airports serving ski areas are some of the hottest picks on our flight search and with enquiries to the team at this time of year. And more than with any other private leisure flights, it’s all about the stats.
And I don’t just mean numbers and facts about the terrain, trail ratings, powder and lifts.
Many of our our clients heading to ski resorts by private jet or helicopter are very time poor. They may only be able to get away from their working lives for a weekend, rather than a week or more. So how to get there and back – and more importantly, how long it takes, can become something of an obsession.
When you are only getting a couple of days’ away, you don’t want to waste half of that time getting there and back.
Designing the schedule is key. We often fly clients in very early in the morning, then out again in the evening, to maximise those first and last days on the slopes, without additional overnight stays. Often clients will arrive at the airport for their return flight still in their ski gear, having enjoyed their final run just minutes beforehand. As you only need to arrive at the airport a few minutes before take-off, there’s no wasted time.
And using the closest airport & the quickest possible transfer routes and methods are essential. In some cases using a smaller and closer airport, not offered by airlines, can save many hours of travel time.
Take St Moritz for example. If you’re flying from London, the door-to-slope time to St Moritz, using Samedan-Engadin airport, can be just a little over two hours, rather than over seven hours using scheduled airlines. That’s a saving of over ten travelling hours on a return journey, which skiers can spend on the slopes instead.
Verbier too. Airlines fly into Geneva, two and a half hours away. But private jets can use Sion airport – just 50 minutes in the car, or 20 by helicopter.
Here’s how airline and private jet flights compare:
London to St Moritz
| Scheduled airline | Private jet | |
| Route | London – Zurich | London – Samedan St Moritz |
| Check-in time at airport | 2 hrs | 15 mins |
| Flight time | 1 hr 40 mins | 1 hr 35 mins |
| Baggage claim/arrival airport waiting time | 30 mins | N/A |
| Ground transfer to resort | 3 hours | 10 mins |
| Total journey time each way | 7 hrs 10 mins | 2 hrs |
| TIME SAVING BY PRIVATE JET | 10 hrs 20 mins return(5 hrs 10 mins each way) | |
London to Verbier
| Scheduled airline | Private jet (+ helicopter transfer) | |
| Route | London – Geneva | London – Sion |
| Check-in time at airport | 2 hrs | 15 mins |
| Flight time | 1 hr 40 mins | 1 hr 35 mins |
| Baggage claim/arrival airport waiting time | 30 mins | N/A |
| Ground transfer to resort | 2 hrs 30 mins | 50 mins (20 mins by helicopter) |
| Total journey time each way | 6 hrs 40 mins | 2 hrs 40 mins(2 hrs 10 mins with helicopter transfer) |
| TIME SAVING BY PRIVATE JET | 8-9 hrs return(4 hrs each way – or 4 hrs 30 mins each way with helicopter transfer) | |
And if you prefer your stats in more graphic form, our new European ski infographics give closest airports, transfer times, altitudes and other ski and private jet facts. A quick way to digest how to reach 14 of Europe’s most exclusive ski destinations, including Zermatt, Chamonix, Lech and Gstaad.
We are also offering all-inclusive luxury ski experiences to Verbier this season – in partnership with Ski Verbier. Staying in the some of the most exclusive chalets in the resort, travelling by private jet, and with every other detail covered and included – in VIP style.
Our stats-loving, 24-hour flight team can give advice and prices on reaching ski resorts by private jet or helicopter. Contact us or call on
+44 1747 642 777.
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