Private aviation has been considered the last great divider between the haves and have-nots. But with the growing variety of models, the line is fading a bit. Starting with NetJets and the fractional model in 1986 and progressing to jet cards like Sentient and Marquis Jet, to the promise of personal aviation with very-light jets like the Eclipse and per-seat private flyers such as DayJet, private jet travel is now in the reach of an unprecedented number of customers.

It’s still not an average Joe proposition, but it’s also not limited to the oil tycoons and trust fund babies.

To help assess the advantages of flying, we’ve assembled a list of the Top Ten Benefits of Private Aviation:

Flexibility in destinations Commercial air travel is generally reserved for the largest 500 airports in the country, with 75 percent of all traffic directed through the 30 major hubs. These airports have the long runways to accommodate the largest commercial jets, and the scale and infrastructure to move thousands of passengers hourly. When overlaid with heightened security, this results in a generally miserable experience.

Private aviation broadens your prospective airports to over 5,000 in the U.S. Instead of LAX, try landing at Santa Monica. Any two cities can become nonstop. Greenwich to Key West? No problem.

General Aviation (GA) terminals Even at major airports, private planes are handled separately, with a special terminal that achieves the relaxed professionalism and crisp customer service that abandoned commercial aviation long ago. “GA” lounges feature complimentary coffee, tea, pastries, newspapers, magazines and television, along with internet access, private meeting rooms and special staff. Some providers have layered additional amenities, such as NetJets’ private lounges at select terminals.

Flexibility in scheduling and flying Depending on your program, private aviation can be available within 4-48 hours of your phone call. This availability is usually guaranteed and is a core benefit of all programs except on-demand charter. Adjustments and rescheduling are part of the process. Destinations, stopovers or departure times can be reconfigured at the last-minute. You can even change destinations en-route to adapt to business or personal needs.

With private aviation, there’s no rush, unless it’s for you. No need to worry if you’re running late or take an extra 40 minutes for a lunch meeting. The plane waits for you.

Avoiding the airport cattle run No trams, no trains, no tunnels, no moving sidewalks. No long security checkpoint lines, where someone makes off with your laptops while you’re fumbling with your shoes. The process of getting from car seat to plane seat on even a first-class commercial flight is a journey to the customer service twilight zone. It targets your humility, your humanity, your patience and your parenting (if traveling with children, God forbid).

With your own flight, transferring your baggage and your guests is fast, efficient and hassle-free. Most airports allow you to skip the terminal and drive right up to your plane. Your bags go directly from car to plane. Some clients suggest that these on-the-ground benefits alone justify the premium of private aviation.

Time savings and in-flight productivity These are frequently cited by clients as the dominant benefit, and come in three forms: gaining access to more convenient airports, scheduling flights according to your day-planner, and simplifying the process of getting in and out of planes and airports. Nearly all your flights will be nonstop, and even when you need to stop to refuel, you can remain in your seat or stretch your legs in the GA lounge. There is none of the commercial hassle of layovers, connections and reboarding.

For business executives, the time and energy gained by sidestepping the commercial gauntlet translates to a clearer mind for focusing on business issues once aloft. In-flight time on a private plane is considerably more effective for conducting meetings, conference calls and brainstorming sessions.

Business entertaining The special intimacy and prestige of private aviation provides a unique environment for candid discussions and social bonding. Inviting a business partner or prospective client aboard makes a strong statement about your company’s success and status, and your commitment to your guest. The “magic” of private jets has irresistible allure, especially to invited passengers. You can employ this appeal to secure an exclusive captive audience with nearly any prospective partner. In this aspect, there’s absolutely no substitute for a private jet.

Special cargo handling Sometimes the only way to ship precious cargo is to do it yourself. Delicate scientific equipment, trade show displays and fragile prototypes can be placed in the baggage compartment or cabin under you direct control.

Security The best security is knowing and controlling who’s on board. Aside from the comfort of traveling with familiar faces, you’ll benefit from the security measures of your flight operators. All pilots, crew and maintenance staff are required to have photo identification that you can verify on-the-spot. Each employee is typically subject to numerous background checks. Overall, general aviation lacks the passenger anonymity and sheer size that has made commercial aviation more of a target. A secondary security benefit stems from your control of the schedule and itinerary. You have the ability to quickly fly into emergencies that might require your on-the-ground attention, or to quickly depart from unpleasant surprises such as riots or political upheaval.

Five-star Service Acknowledging that the cost premium demands top-drawer intangibles, each provider aspires to true white-glove service. On-call concierges can attend to all travel requests, and some non-travel needs. Food, beverages and media choices are all tailored to you and your guests. Your kids and pets may wander the cabin during the flight, plug in a game console and turn up the music as loud as you’d like. During your flight, the cabin becomes your living room, your office, your family room or your bedroom. It’s your plane.

Ego For many flyers, behind their carefully-crafted justifications lies a panting alpha-dog eager to wave the ultimate trophy. For better or worse, private aviation packs substantial status, prestige, even swagger. Comers fly first-class; players fly private. Personal owners need not apologize for this, but corporate flyers should pay heed to the special “image sensitivity” of private flight.

We address the sensitivity issues in a special section of our Decision Guide to Private Jet Travel. These range from maintaining a low corporate profile to keeping your kids grounded and preventing any awkward “reimbursement moments” with guests. You can download your copy of our report here.