We’ve been conditioned to think that flying private is a luxury reserved for the Jeff Bezoses and Kim Kardashians of the world … but is a seat on a jet actually within reach for us mere mortals?To answer this question I reached out to Navair, an Australian-owned and operated company that offers private jet charters for business travel, holidays and special occasions.Not only did they agree to answer all my questions, but CEO Rick Pegus also invited me to experience what it was like to fly on a private jet from Sydney’s Bankstown Airport (you can watch it in the video player at the top of this page).So, back to the original question, how much does it cost to fly private, say from Sydney to Melbourne and back?“It starts from about $11,000 plus GST for a four-seater jet and then you go upwards from there,” Mr Pegus said.An eight-seater jet, such as the one I got a peek inside, would cost you about $16,500 plus GST total for a return flight to Melbourne.“It can work out to be very similar to business class travel,” Mr Pegus said about the cost (once divided by the number of passengers).Not all of Navair’s clients are people you’d consider to be ‘rich’, with some everyday Aussies splashing out a private jet simply for a memorable experience.“I’m probably not far off being the average person myself,” Mr Pegus said, before explaining that he and his group of mates once chipped in to hire a jet to play golf.“We load our clubs and our overnight bags and we go to King Island for three days and play some of the world’s best golf,” he said. “It worked out at about $3500 per head, so that’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip.”What’s included when you hire a private jet“We normally include basic snacks and drinks, but we can cater to anything that you want,” Mr Pegus said. “It’s really all about the passengers and what they want on board.”There’s also high-speed internet available on board most of the jets, ideal for business travellers or those eager to catch up on the latest episode of Real Housewives.Main perks of privateThere’s a reason the wealthy and famous fly private … It’s a heck of a lot more convenient than flying commercial.Let’s start with access to the aircraft.As you can see in the video, there’s no queuing or security lines … you simply get driven onto the tarmac and walk a few steps onto the jet.“Being able to drive up to the aircraft at both ends saves a lot of time and discomfort,” Mr Pegus said. “You basically walk straight on board and your baggage is taken care of.”You also don’t have to worry about missing your flight, with private jets able to take off earlier or later depending on their customers’ arrival time.“We had someone this morning who locked themselves out of the house,” Mr Pegus said. “They were running an hour late but it wasn’t a problem … When you get to the airport we’re ready to go.”At the end of the day, flying private is still a splurge, but it’s no longer a ‘billionaires only’ club. Whether you’re a busy executive looking to save time, or someone who wants to celebrate a milestone birthday, or you just really want to dodge the airport chaos for an upcoming holiday, the dream is officially within reach. So, if this is something you decide to do, just make sure you don’t forget the obligatory photo on the tarmac. Because let’s be honest … if you flew private and didn’t brag about it on Insta … did it even really happen?