Oct. 2--Lionel Andre recently found a new way to deal with the hassle of big airports and big airlines, namely, avoid them altogether.

Andre, 30, a business analyst with Siebel Systems Inc., lives in South Boston, barely 3 miles from Logan International Airport, but since June he's been heading almost every week to Hanscom Field in Bedford to fly to New Jersey. Andre takes Linear Air LLC, a new private-plane service that flies four days a week to Teterboro, N.J., across the river from New York City.

Flying takes longer in the 10-seat Cessna Caravan turboprop than in a commercial jet, but the overall trip can be shorter when factoring in security lines and other traffic at Logan. At $438 round trip, it can cost roughly the same as a commercial flight. Pretzels and cookies are served, Andre can spread out to work on his laptop, and valet parking at Hanscom can make it a 10-foot walk from the plane to his car.

"It's superconvenient, and it's really first-class treatment," Andre said.

Andre is among a growing group of business travelers and affluent vacationers who have flocked to new ways of flying to avoid the frustrations of big airports, long security lines, and enervating commutes to and from the flight.

While three of the six major US airlines are still operating in Chapter 11 protection and while US Airways Inc. left bankruptcy court last week, the business of private plane service is thriving.

Companies such as Linear -- which plans to add new service Tuesday between Hanscom and Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y. -- and others that sell time on charter jets are making private-plane service increasingly affordable.

Another impetus: Passengers often get to decide when they want to fly and where they want to fly to.