18 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...?

If you're strictly payware and strictly airliner, probably just get Standard. 

The base sim is the same no matter what edition you get.

The Ed's are only differentiated by extra Hand Crafted airfields and aircraft.

Given the existence of FlightSim.to, the value of the Hand Crafted airports is greatly lessened vs when v2020 first released.

For me, Aviator was a good deal because I really enjoy exploring many different aircraft of all types and sizes, and the "per airplane" price is very low.

The only type I haven't tried is the hot air balloon and the blimp (tho the blimp is on the list as I used to see Goodyear's flying overhead frequently 🙂).

Depending on your actual use, I can highly recommend the CJ4 and Longitude (Longitude is included with Premium, or $20).

IMHO, the only "wrong" decision is not getting started with v2024, because you can always keep flying v2020, too 🤙

17 minutes ago, UrgentSiesta said:

 

So what gives...?

Change is scary.

1 hour ago, GregP said:

. 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.

With the general exception of the complex Carenado add-ons like the PC-24, that just hasn't been my experience.

And, my goodness, the SU 2 update was just chock full of Default aircraft updates...

The iB Airbuses have all reviewed well by trustworthy guys, the A400 "problems" that were widely reported mostly came down to people trying to fly a turboprop like a jet, and a host of other misconceptions.

Now, if you're a guy who dives deep on every airplane and references IRL POH's, sure - the Defaults are "incomplete".

And yes, there is a wide spectrum of fidelity to the Defaults, particularly the carry-overs from v2020.

But then again, if that's the kind of flying you do, it's unlikely you really have the time to deeply explore all the Defaults.

I still use P3D a bit, and just a few years on, I can't help but think the v2024 Defaults are really rather good. 🤙

the cheapest version possible, gamepass even, because the majority of the default aircraft are diabolical

The Citation Longitude on its own is worth the extra cost of the Premium Edition IMO, and you also get a 787 with much higher than average fidelity for a default aircraft. Along with those there are a fair number of default aircraft which are all way above the bar for default aircraft which we're accustomed to in previous flight sims (including the ini A330, ini A310, CJ4, etc). IMO the premium edition is worth it, but not the Aviator's edition, for my use.

 

2 hours ago, EGLD said:

the cheapest version possible, gamepass even, because the majority of the default aircraft are diabolical

In my case I went with Standard, and I do not regret.

In times of FS 2020 I also started with Standard, and then purchased the Deluxe upgrade, but I don't think I would do the same with FS 2024.

The default aircraft I use are more than enough, and there are even a good many I don't even plan to ever use. OTOH I really prefer some high quality addons, like the Fenix, the FBW and the PMDGs, eventually other with time...

So, Standard is just good!

On 5/19/2025 at 6:12 PM, CFIJose said:

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.

How?  Does ‘24 recognize those assets on a ‘20 premium installation ?  I’m curious.  Thx! 

On 5/19/2025 at 5:53 PM, 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. 

There is some benefit if mainly to buy time til more 3rd party arrives.  It's been useful to get access to the upgraded Longitude, 737 Max and 787X.  I do have Fenix 320 now but use these defaults and the 737 Max is actually quite decent.  AS CRJ series are actually really well done and work well in 2024 and I got the free update to V2 from AS and strangely they threw in the 900/1000 which I never paid for.

I can verify that I bought the standard version of MSFS 2024 (I checked on Steam and it lists the prior purchases) and I have the new Longitude and CRJ.  I know it is the new Longitude as it has the walk-through cabin and isn't just the 2020 version.   According to steam, I bought a Premium Deluxe Bundle of MSFS2020 back in 2021.  I did not do anything in particular, those planes were just there in the sim.

How is the Saab 340 in Prem Deluxe 2024? That is one of the few aircraft I could be interested in but only if it is well executed.

Visual quality is much the same in 2024 as in 2020 … but I don’t use fake frames and don‘t use blur vision (aka DLSS) and do max SSAA.  What is improved in 2024 over 2020 is flight physics and weather/atmospherics (very good simulation of crepuscular rays).  Lighting is still al little unbalanced thru-out a day cycle … for example in Oregon/Portland area the sun is setting at 7pm in MSFS 2024 which is NOT the case this time of year.  Cloud cover produces an environment that is too dark and mid-day clear too bright.  2024 still has some work, hopefully SU3, SU4, etc. will address some of it’s issues, but these are all core engine issues and not “Edition” specific.

Edited May 21, 20251 yr by CO2Neutral

Standard Steam version here because I almost never fly default planes 😁

Good luck with your purchase mate.

11 hours ago, joby33y said:

How?  Does ‘24 recognize those assets on a ‘20 premium installation ?  I’m curious.  Thx! 

Since both versions are "store" not "steam" versions, some add-ons appear on your marketplace account. You just add the upgraded aircraft as a for free purchase. Other add-ons appear in your content manager and can be enabled or disabled.

Edited May 22, 20251 yr by CFIJose