Standard, deluxe, premium deluxe, aviator...

I'm an airliner (PMDG 77, Fenix A320 etc) user of MSFS 2020, looking to upgrade. Do I need the Aviator version or should I save some pennies...?

12 minutes ago, BWBriscoe said:

Standard, deluxe, premium deluxe, aviator...

I'm an airliner (PMDG 77, Fenix A320 etc) user of MSFS 2020, looking to upgrade. Do I need the Aviator version or should I save some pennies...?

No. Do not waste your money on the Aviator Edition. If you're a serious airliner guy it will just make you cross.

Much better to save those pennies for something like the iFly Max when it's released for 2024.

Unless you plan on using the planes in the sim there is little point

And by the sounds of it. You don't

Edited May 19, 20251 yr by Ron Lefebvre

Yea, honestly, if like me you are flying third party aircraft into payware airports there is no benefit in getting anything above the standard version. 

I purchased Prem Deluxe only for the additional airports knowing full well that apart from the Cessna and the Optica i wont be messing with any of the default aircraft

1 hour ago, BWBriscoe said:

Standard, deluxe, premium deluxe, aviator...

I'm an airliner (PMDG 77, Fenix A320 etc) user of MSFS 2020, looking to upgrade. Do I need the Aviator version or should I save some pennies...?

If you have the premium version of 2020, you can get the standard version of 2024 and still use some of the aircraft and airports from 2020. I bought the standard on sale from CDKeys.

Check out the Bargain Bin forum, Premium Deluxe Boxed version for $64.99 in the US.

https://www.avsim.com/forums/topic/670168-microsoft-flight-simulator-2024-premium-deluxe-steelbook-65/

I liked the price and bought it, Darryl

1 hour ago, Cognita said:

Yea, honestly, if like me you are flying third party aircraft into payware airports there is no benefit in getting anything above the standard version. 

If flying 3rd party aircraft there is no reason to purchase 2024.  Not until 3rd party developers receive the SDK support they, and we, deserve. Not to mention SDK and support for 3rd party flight environment developers.  This is shameful after six months. 

The NIHS (not invented here syndrome) needs to be loaded and jettisoned as far from this earth as possible at this time! There have been clear improvements and enhancements, but they fall woefully short of the communities overall wants and needs.

3 hours ago, BWBriscoe said:

Standard, deluxe, premium deluxe, aviator...

I'm an airliner (PMDG 77, Fenix A320 etc) user of MSFS 2020, looking to upgrade. Do I need the Aviator version or should I save some pennies...?

The Hoizon Simulatons 787 is decent and is now working for MSFS 2024. Do you fly it in MSFS 2020? If you do, you need to consoder which version of MSFS 2020 you have, to get it in MSFS 2024. I have the Premium Deluxe version of MSFS 2020 and when I bought the Standard Version of MSFS 2024, the 787 carried over.

 But if you don't have the 787 in MSFS 2020, consider the version of MSFS 2024, to get it. The 787 does not come with the Standard Version of MSFS 2024, so if you have the Standard Version or Deluxe Version of MSFS 2020, and you buy the Strandard Version of MSFS 2024, you won't be able to fly the Horizon Simulations 787.

Edited May 20, 20251 yr by abrams_tank

1 hour ago, fppilot said:

If flying 3rd party aircraft there is no reason to purchase 2024.  Not until 3rd party developers receive the SDK support they, and we, deserve. Not to mention SDK and support for 3rd party flight environment developers.

With work and life I don't think I can keep up with all the MSFS developments. Almost every 3rd party plane I flew in 2020 seems to be natively available in 2024, the Fenix lineup, PMDG 777s, the Comanche and the excellent COWS DA40 and DA42. I am missing only the Blacksquare TBM; I have the Duke's working well but I appreciate they are not 2024 native versions yet -- is that because of a lack of SKD support? That is all I fly so for me 2024 is basically complete, I am just waiting on the iFly Max, which I hear is getting close. What else is missing? The ground, lighting, and atmosphere seem much superior to me than in 2020 as does ground handling so I am quite happy with 2024, the terrible UI aside.

Edited May 20, 20251 yr by Cognita

I bought the Aviator version, frankly I’d recommend you go with the cheapest version.  3rd party is the solution to getting MSFS 2024 looking better in many areas, especially PNW (thank you Orbx and FSDT). 

Personally I went for the Aviator's edition. It is my hobby and I don't mind paying a bit more to support the franchise. However I haven't really used any of the additional stock content that you get with it and if you plan to only use the third party content you've listed then you really don't need anything more than the Standard edition. In fact, if you're in to PC games in general then the most effective way I would suggest would be to just get a Game Pass subscription and you can have it along with hundreds of other PC games all included.

Edited May 20, 20251 yr by Tom Wright

Even though I got a pretty good deal on the Premium Deluxe Edition, I would very highly recommend that you spend the absolute minimum to get 2024. Especially if you're an airliner guy, nearly all of the default aircraft, across every edition, are garbage--buggy, broken, or incomplete--and very unlikely to be properly fixed anytime soon (perhaps the sole exception to this is the outstanding HU-16/G-111). You'd be much better off saving that money and buying one of the many great addons that already are or will be available instead.

Edited May 20, 20251 yr by GregP

Premium is what I did - I like what it has to offer.  No need for aviator.

15 hours ago, fppilot said:

 Not until 3rd party developers receive the SDK support they, and we, deserve. Not to mention SDK and support for 3rd party flight environment developers.  This is shameful after six months. 

There have been clear improvements and enhancements, but they fall woefully short of the communities overall wants and needs.

What is it you think is so deficient that v2024 isn't even under consideration...?

We've got Leonardo, PMDG, Just Flight, a host of high quality GA, a smattering of very good .mil jets, and even Fenix is mostly functional in the sim (last I heard).

And, heck, many of the Default aircraft are legitimately Payware Grade. And a few (e.g., Longitude & CJ4) are "study level".

I'm having a great time with it and in balance, it's working just as well as the other flight sims I use. I can't even be bothered to crank up v2020...

So what gives...?