About 29 some years ago my husband was sent to London by Boeing on short notice, thus getting CW both over and back. On the same flight were Charleton Heston and Patrick Stewart, both in F. About 10 years ago my husband and I , while waiting in CW, spotted Hugh Grant and Elizibeth Hurley debording at LHR from F. These days I don't ask because of security but we've never heard of most of the PAX who are mentioned on this site. Mainly British? I'd guess that most of the famous flying these routes either fly by private charter or own their own planes. Who, other than Tom Cruise and John Travolta [so sorry about his son] own and or pilot their own planes across the pond? And, if you had the money, would you give up BA and do this as well?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by daph
Who, other than Tom Cruise and John Travolta [so sorry about his son] own and or pilot their own planes across the pond? And, if you had the money, would you give up BA and do this as well?
Can't answer 'who' else has their own plane but if I had the money to charter my own jet I certainly would, why wouldn't you?!
From experience, Kate Moss (international British super model) flies BA as she was on one of my flights to JFK recently.....
__________________ Nov 2009: LHR-SIN-MEL-ASP-SYD-HKG-LHR then Feb 2010: LHR-SIN-DPS-SIN-LHR
I'd guess that most of the famous flying these routes either fly by private charter or own their own planes. Who, other than Tom Cruise and John Travolta [so sorry about his son] own and or pilot their own planes across the pond? And, if you had the money, would you give up BA and do this as well?
A short answer: yes, but we'd probably still use scheduled flights from time to time.
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I've been fortunate enough to take a flight from LHR to AMS on a private jet a few years ago and the amenities were delightful and I felt quite special. However I don't think I would forego the finery of flying in F on a top tier carrier to exclusively fly on them.
I know there are a variety of private jets and with the exception of the amazingly opulent Netjets BBJ they don't seem to offer F levels of interior appointments. The jet I flew on had large squashy business class seats that were great for a 1.5 hour flight but I would be missing my flat bed on a long haul.
There is another thread which gives a very interesting and often amusing account of the various celebs that like to fly BA.
Last edited by tony2x; Jan 4, 09 at 11:55 pm.
Reason: Found a better URL for the fancy pants BBJ
The cost of having a private jet that is capable of crossing the Atlantic in both directions and the hourly cost of operating such a plane exponentially dwarf the costs of even midsize/midrange business jets and their hourly operating costs. There are people who have jet shares for intra-European/USA domestic flights who wouldn't even dream of stepping up to an intercontinental jet. It is solely the realm of billionaires (and those who spend money to be seen spening money). It just doesn't make much sense to use a BBJ/GIV/GlobalExpress for NYC-LON when there are so many timing options at a fraction of the cost with higher ammenity levels.
Where the jet is owned by a corporation as used by the directors for company business on other continents, these long range corporate jets are far more common. When a CEO is earning millions a year in salary and stock options, his/her time is valuable enough to the company to drop $10K per hour on a GV.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CoachBoy
The cost of having a private jet that is capable of crossing the Atlantic in both directions and the hourly cost of operating such a plane exponentially dwarf the costs of even midsize/midrange business jets and their hourly operating costs. There are people who have jet shares for intra-European/USA domestic flights who wouldn't even dream of stepping up to an intercontinental jet. It is solely the realm of billionaires (and those who spend money to be seen spening money). It just doesn't make much sense to use a BBJ/GIV/GlobalExpress for NYC-LON when there are so many timing options at a fraction of the cost with higher ammenity levels.
Where the jet is owned by a corporation as used by the directors for company business on other continents, these long range corporate jets are far more common. When a CEO is earning millions a year in salary and stock options, his/her time is valuable enough to the company to drop $10K per hour on a GV.
In fact quite a few Fortune 500 type companies have it written into their bylaws that the Chairman, CEO etc "must" fly privately for security reasons. That said, on a small percentage of the worldwide private jet fleet - probably about 10 percent - have nonstop range for North America - Europe so many times commercial can be faster.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CoachBoy
There are people who have jet shares for intra-European/USA domestic flights who wouldn't even dream of stepping up to an intercontinental jet. It is solely the realm of billionaires (and those who spend money to be seen spening money).
I personally know one person who insists on private jets for all travel unless absolutely unavailable, including going non-stop from San Francisco (his principal home) to London, although even he doesn't own a jet with that range. And yes, he is a billionaire. Even his second home (which I have been in) is one of the most talked-about apartments in Manhattan.
I believe when he hires a long-range jet then it does have big comfortable beds, but probably no more so than the SQ A380 Suites (although I don't know - I haven't seen either myself and didn't ask him in that much detail). The main reason is the speed, convenience and flexibility. Drive up to plane (or walk from nearby helicopter) - walk on to plane - plane takes off. On the other hand, a very close friend who frequently flies with him, prefers flying commerical F because he doesn't get that kind of treatment on the private jet: on the contrary, he has to be on the plane well in advance to make sure he is there before said billionaire, because it isn't going to wait after he gets on.
Last edited by LeisureFirst; Jan 5, 09 at 9:11 am.
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I have had the good fortune of taking a half dozen private jet trips ( mostly SEA to Mexico or Costa Rica). I have written a few trip reports about the experience.
I find commercial FC more comfortable than private. The BIG difference, and it is a BIG, is that you literally drive up to the jet, board and take off 5 minutes later. A trip to our Mexico destination takes 15 hours from door to door on commercial. On private about 7.5 hours.
If I had all the money in the world would I buy my own aircraft capable of crossing the Atlantic? Probably not.
For me, a lot of the fun is in the 'travel' experience - I would just enjoy being able to travel in international F class every time.
Genius1,
There is a huge difference between enjoying F on holiday or when with somebody but when having to spend many hours every week the whole thing can get tiresome, there is only so much time you can enjoy in lounges etc.
Being able to avoid these and sexurity, queues, delays can be worth hell of a lot. Pity I or my company can't afford private.
If you are into celeb spotting, the fashion and movie people tend to fly VS mor than BA especially if they do not get SS to automatically upgrade to FIRST.
Booked my own private jet to whisked me away for my honeymoon (a short 1.5 hour flight). We were provided with a bottle of Dom and a bottle of Moet and on the way out a picnic hamper of beluga, canapes, sandwiches. Had to service it ourselves but it was fun working the tiny bar that served at the galley. It was a bit fun but nothing compared to all the trimmings on FIRST if you wanted to be waited on hand.
Private jets are really to get from point A to point B where there are no direct commercial services for the time of day required. Thats why they are big in the US where the US airlines mainly operate on a hub and spoke routing plan - it can take up to 3 flights to get from point A to point B.
The thing about private jets is that there is a cost to them standing-by waiting for the passengers to turn up. For a business executive who calendar can change day by day; cancelling a private jet at short notice will be expensive. There is zero cost for a fully refunding FIRST ticket. Running a private jet is not just about fuel costs, the interest or least costs are pricey too.
I think there is a YouTube clip of the tour of AirForce One. The President and First Lady get nice comfy beds in the nose (in the 1A/1K position) with fantastic window blinds. The BA FIRST area is their personal bedroom.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CT-UK
when having to spend many hours every week the whole thing can get tiresome
I suppose at some stage it must become tedious doing the same thing day in day out, but for someone who only ever flies for pleasure (at least at the moment) then being able to afford F every time is quite a nice thought .
Whilst I've flown J many times (although most not on BA) I've only flown international F once (MFU on BA), and that (needless to say) was the best flight I've ever taken, so F on a regular basis is a nice thought.
I suppose at some stage it must become tedious doing the same thing day in day out, but for someone who only ever flies for pleasure (at least at the moment) then being able to afford F every time is quite a nice thought
I think flying is flying even if it is in F. Folks just board, eat, watch a movie and sleep. Nice food/wine and comfortable bed but after a few trips, I think even the novelty wears off.
On a rare SQ F flight, I once picked up 3 extra sets of unopenned men's amenities kit left by other F pax as there is a nice Bvglari cologne in it. Since then, I always keep my eyes open if I get through walk through the FIRST cabin on any flight.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KenJohn
I think there is a YouTube clip of the tour of AirForce One. The President and First Lady get nice comfy beds in the nose (in the 1A/1K position) with fantastic window blinds. The BA FIRST area is their personal bedroom.
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