Here’s how a $92 flight compared to a Bombardier Global 7500, which can cost $20,000 an hour to charter.

• There are many ways to fly these days, from luxury private planes to economy-class flights.
• I flew on a private jet and Spirit Airlines in one day to see how they treat customers.
• One serves catered food from Nobu; the other charges for a bottle of water.

When it comes to flying, there’s a spectrum of comfort and entertainment options.

Private planes are the transportation of choice for the ultra-wealthy like Donald Trump and Elon Musk and celebrities like the Kardashians.

Huge, lavish jets with bedrooms and theater systems fly every day, shuttling people from New York to Miami for business or to Spain for luxury vacations.

Flying private costs a pretty penny: Prices range from $6,550 an hour on the charter company Volato’s midsized Gulfstream G280…

… to a whopping $20,000 an hour on a VistaJet Bombardier Global 7500, the world’s largest charter company flying the world’s biggest purpose-built private jet.

While most of the world can’t fathom that kind of money being spent on just an hour of flight time, I can see why those who can afford it pay for the experience.

Not only are these planes personalized for peak comfort, but passengers can also bypass security and crowded airports because the aircraft typically fly out of fixed-based operators.

The majority of commercial travelers will find themselves on an economy flight, with budget carriers like Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines considered the lower end of the spectrum.

These low-cost airlines are infamous for tight seats and add-on fees, though the fares are usually lower than mainline carriers like Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines.

But there are plenty of people — myself included — who prefer flying with low-cost carriers and will happily forgo mainline airlines to save some money.

Thanks to my position as an aviation reporter, I’ve seen what both ends of the spectrum look like for passengers.

I recently flew on the low-budget Spirit Airlines and the giant Bombardier Global 7500 private jet within a 24-hour period.

Here’s what $92 got me on Spirit from New York to Miami, and what over $10,000 an hour got me on VistaJet.

As a seasoned traveler, beginning my journey on Spirit was relatively easy. I checked in online to avoid any potential boarding-pass fee and made my way to security.

I didn’t need to check a bag, but for those that do, be sure to stay within the size and weight limits, or you’ll find yourself paying upward of $99 at the airport.

While I typically only bring a free personal item, I bought a carry-on bag for $60 for this trip, which could not exceed 22-by-18-by-10 inches.

While regular passengers have to abide by airline rules, VistaJet guests don’t need to worry about such things.

The Global 7500 — as well as most other business planes — has plenty of storage for several bags and carry-ons. Granted, travelers are paying much more than $60 for the “free” amenity.

As for accessing the jet, there’s a stark difference between flying commercial and flying private.

On Spirit, I had to traverse the crowded LaGuardia Airport and clear security, which can take a lot of time during peak season. Fortunately, I have TSA Pre-Check, so the process only took about 10 minutes.

When I flew on VistaJet from Miami to New York, it took less than five minutes from the moment I parked outside the FBO — which was free — to board the Global 7500.

I simply walked into the terminal — no security needed — and took a one-minute shuttle ride to the plane. A friendly cabin host greeted me with Champagne and a hot towel.

There were no bag checks, no waiting for my zone to be called, and none of the cattle-call feel of most major airports.

The lack of security checks for the private plane was a shock, but the interior of the plane really impressed me.

VistaJet’s Global 7500 comes with a meeting room, a bedroom, a theater room, a six-person dining area, a large gallery with snacks and coffee, and two lavatories.

The giant reclining lounges were comfortable and came with power ports, storage, and cupholders, among other amenities.

VistaJet guests also have the opportunity to get catered meals during the flight, from Shake Shack to high-end plates from the award-winning restaurant Nobu.

Meanwhile, on Spirit, the $32 I paid for the seat alone got me 28 inches of pitch, a tiny tray table, no recline, no TV, no snacks, and not even a sip of water.

About 30 minutes into the flight, the flight attendants came around with things like diet soda, alcohol, and Pringles — but for a fee.

While the experiences were dramatically different, I’m happy that the industry has evolved to open up travel opportunities to people of various economic means.

You don’t need to fly private to have a comfortable experience. Singapore Airlines’ first class suites offer plenty of luxury …

… as does JetBlue Airways’ Mint business class …

… as well as Qatar Airways’ QSuite, which has been named the world’s best business class airline for 2022 by the ranking company Skytrax.

These flight experiences can be posh — and certainly more realistic than flying private.

A first-class suite on Singapore between the island nation and Sydney, Australia, comes with a lounger, a huge TV, a desk, and a bed — all for about $8,000 round trip, a spokesperson told Insider.

The same eight-hour flight could cost tens of thousands of dollars on VistaJet, though the company does not make its rates public.

Flying private would be a dream for many travelers, but most of us are happy to earn points with our favorite mainline airline or fly as cheaply as possible with a low-cost carrier.

For me, Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant Air, Ryanair — it doesn’t matter. These carriers get me from point A to point B safely with little-to-no hassle.

Source: I N S I D E R