It's no secret that business travelers are forced to pay higher airfares than leisure travelers. But price increases in business travel have narrowed the gap between full-fare commercial travel and private charter jets to the point where it sometimes makes more sense to fly in style.

A study by New York-based Harrell Associates found that chartering a plane for as few as four people is often cheaper than buying full-fare coach tickets and first-class tickets. Full-fare coach prices have increased an average of 16% from January 2000 to January 2001 to $1,382, and the price of a first-class seat increased by an average of 22% to $1,847. Air charter prices increased an average of 3% in the same time period.
http://biz.yahoo.com/fo/010327/0327jet.html