Check-in can be a very stressful part of being at an airport. There is the parking of the car, getting the luggage into the terminal and then lining up to be allocated your seat on the plane. This has been a problem ever since large-scale commercial plane travel started. With charter flights, the plane is run by a smaller company and there are far fewer people on the flight, so the check-in time is greatly reduced.
Since 9/11, it is common for people to have to turn up at least three hours before scheduled departure to ensure that all the necessary safety checks can be completed both on the plane and the passengers. Even on private flights, there is no way of getting around this necessary inconvenience, but due to the smaller plane and fewer people, the process is completed a lot faster with private planes.
Because there is less hassle with checking in and security, combined with fewer people, it is quicker for private planes to depart from airports. They still have to wait for a take-off slot and ground clearance, but the entire process, from arriving at the airport to taking off, tends to go a lot more smoothly, as there are fewer things that can go wrong.
The story is similar at the destination. Going through customs and collecting baggage is a lot simpler, as there are fewer people to deal with.
Being on a commercial airline can be stressful. The conditions are cramped, there is a lack of oxygen in the air, and you may be seated next to a screaming baby. This can mean that at the other end, you disembark the plane in a foul mood and in no condition to enjoy your holiday or concentrate at a business meeting. With private travel, this does not happen. It is a much smoother operation, from the moment of arrival at the airport to disembarking in a much better mood.
Commercial airlines have to fly to major airports. This is because they require a certain length of runway to take off and land and maintenance facilities and infrastructure to deal with passengers, luggage and security. Private planes require less of this, so while departure may need to be from a major airport, landing can be achieved anywhere with a landing strip. This means connections will not have to be taken to get to hotels and resorts. The advantage is that most major airports are near the places people want to go or have excellent connections to the surrounding areas.
The difference in environmental impact between commercial and private planes is very hard to judge. Large commercial planes, like Boeing 747 and Airbus A320, produce a lot of pollution but carry a lot of people and cargo. A private plane produces less pollution but carries much less. The environmental impact here is comparable to a bus and a taxi; both produce a level of pollution, but the question is more one of efficiency in terms of people moved per ton of carbon dioxide produced.
There is a good reason why people take commercial flights instead of chartering private planes: commercial flights are substantially cheaper. The average person could not possibly afford to book a private plane to go on vacation, as it costs several thousand dollars per person even for the shortest of flights, so until you can afford to buy a plane for yourself it is probably best to stick to the major airlines.
