Flying private isn't just about slashing travel time and skipping airport lines: it's a subculture with a dialect all its own. So before you add yourself to the manifest (the listing of flight passengers), get the low down on going wheels up.

The Airports

London: Private fliers to the UK enjoy perhaps the greatest luxury of all: avoiding Heathrow. Instead, the London-bound flier might land in Luton (LTN) or, if they plan to head straight to their Hampshire country home, Farnborough (FAB—yes, FAB). The single-runway London City Airport (LCY) is a favourite among the banker crowd for its easy access to their Canary Wharf offices.

New York: Teterboro (TEB) may get all the attention, but the New Jersey airport synonymous with flying private isn't the only option for jet setting New Yorkers. Westchester's White Plains airport (HPN) is often a calmer place to take off, despite the few commercial flights in and out of the airport. Not to mention that the traffic en route to Teterboro can be so bad that you delay liftoff (see private jet faux pas #9).

Paris: The city's first airport is now its most choice: Le Bourget (LBG) operates almost exclusively for the sake of the business jet community, leaving Charles de Gaulle to the unwashed masses.

Los Angeles: Could any city be more obsessed with flying private than LA? Its general aviation airport, Van Nuys (VNY), is one of the most popular private plane destinations in the world, with runways that run over with Hollywood's most pampered celebs (and execs). So strong is the Angeleno love for PJs that uberagent Ari Emanuel tried to broker a deal in which he'd wear a NetJets hat to Lakers games in exchange for free private flights.

Caribbean: Flying commercial to the Caribbean can cost you a full day at the beach on each end. The problem are the runways: Mustique's airport, for instance, can't accommodate most private planes due to its short strip (try St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Grenada or Barbados instead). St. Barts (SBH) also has a famously inadequate runway, but at least the planes fly out directly over St. Jean Beach, a favourite spot for aviation enthusiasts. At Tortola's Beef Island Airport (EIS) in the British Virgin Islands, you can land your private plane and take a short ride directly to your boat.

The Planes

All private jets are not created equal. While the Gulfstream has long been the most well known (thanks to lyrics like Drake's "I know G4 pilots on a first name basis"), there is a wide range of makes and models that serve the private aviation community. The midsize Hawker and Citation jets, for instance, are known for speed and comfort, and best suited for shorter trips and lower passenger counts. (Think weekend getaways from London to Gstaad or New York to Nantucket with a few friends, but leave room in your bag. On these smaller planes, you'll have two pilots but no flight attendants, which means you can stock up on the mini-bottles of alcohol without shame. )

The Falcon jet, manufactured by Dassault, has transcontinental range and a sleek and airy interior. As for the Gulfstreams, G4 or G5, there is little difference between the two best-known models: Both have a full-service galley and can seat over a dozen passengers, though the G5 can go farther. The holy grail of private aviation, however, is the Boeing Business Jet. As the largest non-commercial airliner, the BBJ fits 18 passengers, features a living room, two bedroom suites, and two bathrooms (with showers!). Forget the mile-high club. How many people can say they've showered at 40,000 feet?

Boeing Business Jet images courtesy of www.boeing.com