Soaring Out of Your Hangar: A Comprehensive Guide to Selling Planes in GTA Online

Grand Theft Auto Online offers a vast playground of criminal activities, high-octane races, and, of course, a dazzling array of vehicles. Among these, aircraft hold a special allure, allowing players to traverse the map with speed and style. However, the time may come when you need to declutter your hangar and part ways with a prized plane. Unlike cars, selling aircraft in GTA Online isn’t as straightforward. This guide will provide you with a detailed, step-by-step process for selling your planes, helicopters, and other aerial vehicles, ensuring you maximize your return on investment and avoid common pitfalls.

Understanding Aircraft Sales in GTA Online

Before we delve into the nitty-gritty, let’s understand a crucial distinction: not all aircraft can be sold directly. Rockstar Games has implemented a system where some high-value and unique aircraft are considered ‘personal’ vehicles and cannot be resold through the conventional methods used for cars. This typically includes aircraft purchased from Warstock Cache & Carry. These vehicles often have significant modifications or special features.

The key to selling an aircraft in GTA Online lies in understanding the difference between:

• Purchased Aircraft: Aircraft bought from websites like Elitás Travel or Warstock Cache & Carry. These generally cannot be sold directly.
• Stolen Aircraft: Aircraft that you acquire through means other than direct purchase (e.g., finding them in the world or stealing them). These aircraft can sometimes be sold at certain locations, but the value is typically very low.

The main method for ‘selling’ a plane, as it were, involves trading it in for another plane or, more specifically, taking a new plane from an appropriate vendor, and this method will be the focus of this guide.

The Core Method: Trading In Your Aircraft

Since direct sales of purchased planes aren’t possible, the primary method for getting some return on your aircraft investment involves “trading in” your existing aircraft for a new one. The amount you receive as a trade-in value is a percentage of the original purchase price. The process is relatively straightforward, but careful planning can maximize your return.

Step-by-Step Guide to Trading In Your Plane

Here’s a breakdown of the process:

1. Choose Your Desired Replacement:

   Before initiating the trade, decide which new aircraft you want. This is crucial because the trade-in value will be applied as a discount on your new purchase. Browse the relevant in-game websites (Elitás Travel and Warstock Cache & Carry) to identify your next plane. Make a note of its price.

2. Locate Your Hangar:

   You’ll need to be at your hangar to begin the trade-in process. The hangar acts as your central hub for aircraft storage and modification. You can own multiple hangars throughout the Los Santos area, so be sure you’re going to the correct one, i.e., the one where your current aircraft is stored.

3. Access the Computer Terminal:

   Inside your hangar, locate the computer terminal. This is usually located near the entrance, often on a wall, or on a desk.

4. Open the Aircraft Management Menu:

   Interact with the computer terminal. A menu should appear. This menu allows you to manage your stored aircraft, and more importantly, to purchase new ones.

5. Navigate to the Purchase Menu:

   Within the computer terminal interface, find the option to “Purchase Vehicle”, or a similarly worded menu option. This will take you to a list of purchasable aircraft from the in-game websites, depending on the computer terminal used.

6. Select Your New Aircraft:

   Browse through the available aircraft and select the plane you want to purchase. Remember, the more expensive the plane you choose, the better return you will likely get on a very expensive trade-in.

7. Initiate the Trade-In:

   After selecting your new plane, a confirmation screen will appear, displaying the full price, and a reduction that is equivalent to the trade-in value of your current aircraft. Ensure that the vehicle you want to sell is shown as the traded vehicle. If it’s not correct, back out and double check your hangar.

   Important Note: This step is crucial! Double-check that the plane you intend to trade in is listed. Once you confirm the purchase, your previous plane will be replaced. There is no way to undo this transaction, so be sure you have selected the correct vehicle to sell.

8. Confirm the Purchase:

   Once you are absolutely certain everything is correct, confirm the purchase. Your new plane will be delivered to your hangar, and the old plane will be gone. The trade-in value will have been deducted from the cost of your new plane.

Maximizing Your Trade-In Value

While trading in planes is straightforward, there are a few tips to help you get the most out of your trade:

• Expensive Aircraft = Higher Trade-In: The trade-in value is a percentage of the original purchase price of the aircraft you are trading in. The more expensive the original plane, the more you’ll receive as credit. So, if you want to get the most out of your trade-in, sell expensive aircraft. This seems obvious, but bear in mind that trading in a very cheap plane for another cheap plane is going to be a largely pointless exercise.
• Avoid Selling Cheap Aircraft: If you have a lot of very cheap planes, perhaps free promotional aircraft, or very low-cost purchases, trading them in is almost certainly not worth it, as the small trade-in will have next-to-no impact on the price of your new purchase.
• Wait for Sales: Rockstar Games regularly holds discounts on vehicles, and these include aircraft. Consider waiting for sales events where you can purchase a new aircraft for a lower price. This can maximize your trade in value against a new plane purchase.
• Consider the Upgrade Costs: The upgrades on your plane don’t affect the trade-in value. So if you’re thinking about trading in a high-end plane, it doesn’t matter how much you have spent on upgrading it. This means it’s often more profitable to trade in an expensive, fully upgraded plane, rather than trying to sell a cheaper plane that may be partially or not upgraded at all.

Dealing with Special Aircraft

Some aircraft are more complicated to ‘sell’ due to their unique nature or origin:

• Pegasus Vehicles: Aircraft purchased through Pegasus Lifestyle Management cannot be traded or sold. These are ‘special’ vehicles with their own spawning mechanics. If you’re trying to sell or get rid of a pegasus vehicle, the only method would be to simply stop using it. These vehicles are permanently attached to your account.
• Aircraft Purchased at Fort Zancudo: If you purchased a military aircraft (like the Lazer or the Hydra) inside the military base at Fort Zancudo, this aircraft will still follow the normal rules, and be tradeable against another plane via the computer terminal.
• Personal Aircraft with Modifications: Custom modifications do not affect trade in value. You will not get credit for any upgrades or special modifications you have made to your aircraft.

Alternatives to “Selling” Aircraft

While you cannot directly sell purchased aircraft for cash, here are some alternative methods for managing your hangar space:

• Strategic Storage: Prioritize the aircraft you use the most and store them strategically in your hangar. If you have multiple hangars, store different aircraft types to make accessing them easier and more convenient.
• Destroying Aircraft: While not a way to recoup your investment, you can intentionally destroy aircraft to make room in your hangar. This is a last resort option if you have no need of a particular aircraft anymore. Be aware that destroying aircraft may have additional in-game costs such as insurance or mechanic repair fees. However, this does not apply to aircraft.
• Purchasing Additional Hangars: If you’re a frequent flyer, consider purchasing additional hangars. This increases your storage capacity and reduces the need to sell aircraft. Owning multiple hangars allows you to essentially store more planes which means you don’t have to think so hard about which planes you choose to trade in.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

To ensure a smooth trade-in process, avoid the following mistakes:

• Trading the Wrong Plane: Double-check the trade-in vehicle listed on the confirmation screen to avoid accidentally selling a plane you wanted to keep. Make extra sure you’re trading the plane you intend to trade. This is the single biggest mistake players make when trying to sell or trade-in planes.
• Forgetting to Select a New Plane: The trade-in process requires you to purchase a new vehicle to apply the trade in value. Ensure you’ve already made a selection before attempting to start the trade in process, and that the plane you’re buying is one that suits your purpose. Don’t choose a new vehicle, then change your mind later. This will cause you to lose the trade in value if you back out without purchasing a new plane.
• Ignoring Sales: Failing to check for sales or discounts can cause you to miss out on opportunities for a better deal. Pay attention to Rockstar’s newswire, and don’t rush into trading until you’re happy that you’re getting the best price.
• Assuming Modifications Increase Trade-In Value: Don’t waste money upgrading a plane with the sole purpose of increasing its trade-in value. Modifications do not impact the amount you receive.

Conclusion

Selling aircraft in GTA Online is more about strategic management and trading than direct sales. By understanding the limitations, utilizing the trade-in system effectively, and avoiding common mistakes, you can efficiently rotate your hangar inventory and continue to enjoy the vast aerial playground Los Santos offers. Trading your way through the aircraft is certainly an experience that requires planning and attention, but it is very manageable with a little forethought. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll have no problem managing your growing fleet of planes. And remember that Rockstar updates the game regularly, so it’s important to stay up to date to see if any changes have been made to aircraft sales in GTA Online.

Fly safe, and trade smart!