Last edit by: elitetraveler
JetSmarter is a membership program that allows members to fly on empty legs of private jets (JetDeals) and seats on scheduled private jet shuttles (JetShuttle).
JetSmarter - discussion and experiences
#1111
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA Plat, UA Club, Marriott/SPG Gold, Fairmont Premier, Amex Plat
Posts: 62
The Verge is doubling down after their "journalist extortion" article. All in all, this seems like a fair article which highlights the major issues people have been complaining about here (ever-changing benefits, membership fees, non-disparagement language, etc.)
FLIGHT RISK
Legal threats and disgruntled clients: inside the Uber for private jets
http://www.theverge.com/2017/3/28/15...rices-lawsuits
FLIGHT RISK
Legal threats and disgruntled clients: inside the Uber for private jets
http://www.theverge.com/2017/3/28/15...rices-lawsuits
But when members complain, the response from the company has been to blame the entitlement of the rich. What youre talking about is somebody wont pay a few hundreds dollars to take a helicopter, to get on a private plane? asked Torossian. It sounds to me like very wealthy people, most of whom are very happy with the company, who might feel like the company should be subsidizing everything they do.
The talk about going after the super wealthy and claiming it is not a fit for everyone, trying to be exclusive, also does not jive with their pushy sales attitudes and 'buy now before prices go up a couple thousand' pitch we have all heard. If the former is true, they should know how to sell to this clientele, which they clearly do not.
What do people think about the $28,000 avg rev/client claim? Actual users, are you spending 2x+ base? Do the $45,000 memberships and some big charter spenders skew the mean (i.e. what is median spend)?
Overall a very interesting company to watch.
#1112
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Oakland CA
Programs: DL Gold, AS MVPG, Globalist
Posts: 1,007
I'm surprised by the $28K number, although per the article it supposedly came from JS. I suspect they're playing with statistics here, using average and not median. I've heard rumors of $500K charters, so if you add a few of those in and take the average, it could be $28K, while the median is probably less than $10K. That means the revenue number ( $232M ) is probably right, but it misrepresents what the 'typical' user is paying per year.
JS isn't helping itself with stuff like the non-disparagement clause, which they should just remove. The good news is that while they have that in the TOC, to my knowledge they've never used it on anyone. The guys the article cites that were kicked off were doing dumb sh*t that nobody wants to hear about, like talking about their latest female exploits.
#1113
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA Plat, UA Club, Marriott/SPG Gold, Fairmont Premier, Amex Plat
Posts: 62
I thought the article had some reasonable points, but in some ways felt like a hit piece on JS. The way that Collin et. al. did the research, including via this FT thread, sort of lends some credence toward that. The thing that I don't think the authors did a good job of explaining is that almost all startups go through business model changes, and JS is no exception. Anybody who has enough money to join is (hopefully) business savvy enough to know that they're losing money on the current model, so it either changes or they go out of business. For the most part, changes happen when you renew (e.g. helicopters) and sometimes not even then ( e.g. old smart members aren't being forced to pay for > 3hr shuttles when they renew ). Occasionally, changes happen mid-stream; e.g. food no longer being free.
#1115
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Oakland CA
Programs: DL Gold, AS MVPG, Globalist
Posts: 1,007
I hope it's just a temporary glitch like we've had with XO every once in a while, but I'm a little worried it may not be.... Those XO glitches were usually fixed within 24 hours.
#1116
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 4
Just got an email from Jetsmarter that they are running a buy one Simple membership for $5k, get one free. So equivalent of $2.5k for 12 months. Seems like a great deal if you use it more than say 10 times in year which shouldn't be hard between use of the Shuttles and the JetDeals. I have a flexible schedule and can work from anywhere so I have no problem waiting a few extra days to get a shuttle or jetdeal. The Simple membership includes all empty legs and scheduled shuttles under 3 hours but excludes the South Florida to NYC shuttle. You can still get to NYC, by doing South Florida to Atlanta and then Atlanta to NYC though. I'm completely new to private jets and jet sharing, so was hoping to get some thoughts on this?
Also, if I sign up, I plan on only using the "free" shuttles and jetdeals. Does anyone know if there are any hidden costs to those flights (like a hidden tax or airport fee or who knows what)? I know food and drink costs extra, but I don't mind picking up a sandwich on the way to the flight : )
Also, if I sign up, I plan on only using the "free" shuttles and jetdeals. Does anyone know if there are any hidden costs to those flights (like a hidden tax or airport fee or who knows what)? I know food and drink costs extra, but I don't mind picking up a sandwich on the way to the flight : )
#1117
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Virtuoso Travel Agent, Commercial Pilot
Posts: 2,117
Also, if I sign up, I plan on only using the "free" shuttles and jetdeals. Does anyone know if there are any hidden costs to those flights (like a hidden tax or airport fee or who knows what)? I know food and drink costs extra, but I don't mind picking up a sandwich on the way to the flight : )
On shuttle flights the drinks (including beer and wine) and snacks (chips, cookies, etc.) are complementary. If you're departing from one of the airports with premium catering (currently New York and South Florida) you'll have the option to pay $150 for a meal on heavy jets. For heavy jet shuttles from other airports they usually cater complementary salads and sandwiches in addition to snacks. (The heavy jet meals aren't THAT relevant to the Simple membership, but I think that there are a handful of routes served by heavy jets that you can book.)
On JetDeals, technically drinks and snacks aren't supposed to be free, but the vast majority of the time the operator lets you have them for free anyway.
#1118
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 629
Mine says buy "SMART" get one "SIMPLE" membership free. So are there different offers going around? If someone wanted to split a 2 for 1 SIMPLE membership with me, I'd go in with you.
Just got an email from Jetsmarter that they are running a buy one Simple membership for $5k, get one free. So equivalent of $2.5k for 12 months. Seems like a great deal if you use it more than say 10 times in year which shouldn't be hard between use of the Shuttles and the JetDeals. I have a flexible schedule and can work from anywhere so I have no problem waiting a few extra days to get a shuttle or jetdeal. The Simple membership includes all empty legs and scheduled shuttles under 3 hours but excludes the South Florida to NYC shuttle. You can still get to NYC, by doing South Florida to Atlanta and then Atlanta to NYC though. I'm completely new to private jets and jet sharing, so was hoping to get some thoughts on this?
Also, if I sign up, I plan on only using the "free" shuttles and jetdeals. Does anyone know if there are any hidden costs to those flights (like a hidden tax or airport fee or who knows what)? I know food and drink costs extra, but I don't mind picking up a sandwich on the way to the flight : )
Also, if I sign up, I plan on only using the "free" shuttles and jetdeals. Does anyone know if there are any hidden costs to those flights (like a hidden tax or airport fee or who knows what)? I know food and drink costs extra, but I don't mind picking up a sandwich on the way to the flight : )
#1119
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 4
Shoot, you're right. I read the email wrong. Mine is also buy one Smart, get a Simple. That certainly changes the economics of the deal : ) Sorry for the false info.
#1120
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Oakland CA
Programs: DL Gold, AS MVPG, Globalist
Posts: 1,007
#1121
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 4
A few more questions please:
1)For flights out of a commercial (non executive) airport like FLL or PBI, do you use the normal terminal or there is a separate entrance?
2) Do you still go through TSA or you basically just walk up to the plane and hop on?
3) I assume a bag or two is free to bring along. Is there a policy on at what point they charge you for excess baggage? Golf clubs and surfboards would be free?
4) If a shuttle only has one or two persons reserved, will they still definitely run the flight or do they cancel low turnout shuttles?
5) How often are new shuttle routes introduced? Removed?
6) So the $5k membership includes all shuttles below 3 hours except NY to FL which is excluded. I came up with this list of all such "free" shuttles. Does this sound right?
Miami to Orlando
Miami to Tampa
Miami to Bahamas
Miami to Chicago
Miami to Atlanta
Atlanta to New York
New York to DC
New York to Boston
New York to Chicago
Scottsdale to Las Vegas
Las Vegas to LA
LA to San Francisco
London to Paris
Paris to Nice
London to Milaga
London to Milan
London to Geneva
London to Ibiza
1)For flights out of a commercial (non executive) airport like FLL or PBI, do you use the normal terminal or there is a separate entrance?
2) Do you still go through TSA or you basically just walk up to the plane and hop on?
3) I assume a bag or two is free to bring along. Is there a policy on at what point they charge you for excess baggage? Golf clubs and surfboards would be free?
4) If a shuttle only has one or two persons reserved, will they still definitely run the flight or do they cancel low turnout shuttles?
5) How often are new shuttle routes introduced? Removed?
6) So the $5k membership includes all shuttles below 3 hours except NY to FL which is excluded. I came up with this list of all such "free" shuttles. Does this sound right?
Miami to Orlando
Miami to Tampa
Miami to Bahamas
Miami to Chicago
Miami to Atlanta
Atlanta to New York
New York to DC
New York to Boston
New York to Chicago
Scottsdale to Las Vegas
Las Vegas to LA
LA to San Francisco
London to Paris
Paris to Nice
London to Milaga
London to Milan
London to Geneva
London to Ibiza
#1122
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Virtuoso Travel Agent, Commercial Pilot
Posts: 2,117
They were added pretty regularly in 2016, but they seem to have slowed down adding them a bit as of late. Every once in a while one disappears (San Diego <-> LA specifically comes to mind), but they have lately been adding them more than removing them. While I have no specific basis for this, I wouldn't be surprised if they cull a few routes over the next year to optimize their spend, so I wouldn't buy if you only have a single route in mind (but instead are interested in a variety of the offerings). What does change more often are the timings/frequencies of the routes.
I didn't check your list, but it looked about right. SF<->Vegas was missing. Last year they also ran seasonal NYC<->Hamptons helicopter shuttles during the summer ... they seem to be suggesting they'll come back, and while they're definitely under 3 hours, I'm not sure if they would be included.
Last edited by Sykes; Apr 5, 2017 at 9:58 am
#1123
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 4
Wow, thanks so much for the answers Sykes. You're more helpful than my jetsmarter rep : ) A few follow ups if you don't mind. I think I'm getting ready to pull the trigger.
1) Are the member initiated shuttles free as well? Only the ones under 3 hours I assume?
2) For the short hauls, it seems like they tend to use turboprops. Are these comfortable/desirable?
3) On full flights, does it ever feel cramped, or no matter what, it's still always better than flying commercial?
4) What kind of deals have you guys heard of being negotiated. My current rep is offering an extra 3 months on the 12 month for $5k simple plan. I'm wondering if I can get something better.
1) Are the member initiated shuttles free as well? Only the ones under 3 hours I assume?
2) For the short hauls, it seems like they tend to use turboprops. Are these comfortable/desirable?
3) On full flights, does it ever feel cramped, or no matter what, it's still always better than flying commercial?
4) What kind of deals have you guys heard of being negotiated. My current rep is offering an extra 3 months on the 12 month for $5k simple plan. I'm wondering if I can get something better.
#1124
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Oakland CA
Programs: DL Gold, AS MVPG, Globalist
Posts: 1,007
#1125
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Virtuoso Travel Agent, Commercial Pilot
Posts: 2,117
The jets tend to be quite a bit more comfortable. In many cases the seats still face each other so you have to do the same negotiation, but there's a lot more space to work with. On heavies, the worst seats tend to be when there is a table that seats four people like is pictured at the bottom of the image here. Then you're negotiating leg room and elbow room.
Having said that, on the whole even the worst seats are still more comfortable than many airline seats. Something that is super-relevant is that, even in a less-optimal seat, you're actually in that seat far less time than you are on a commercial flight. You don't go out to the plane until the flight is ready to depart, and only 8 or 12 people have to get seated, so you're not sitting in your seat for 45 minutes waiting for 150 other people to cram the kitchen sink into an overhead bin. You basically sit down, they close the door, and you're departing within 5 minutes.
That seems like a pretty good deal to me, but it's been a while since I signed up so I'm not hearing much about deals they're offering.