Apr 16, 2016, 7:33 am
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
Sep 26, 2016, 9:51 am
#676
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Paris, France
Programs: Over-entitled UA 1PMM; JetSmarter; HHonors Gold
Posts: 9,723
Sep 26, 2016, 11:14 am
#677
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Virtuoso Travel Agent, Commercial Pilot
Posts: 2,117
Has anybody checked on data usage for the Jetsmarter app?
I've been going through a lot more data than I used to, and so I checked the iOS statistics (Settings -> Cellular & then scroll down ). I reset them last Sunday, and during this last week JS has used 2.1GB (!!!). Nothing else has used more than a few hundred MB in the same period.
Now I do check the app probably 4-5 times a day while I'm not on wifi, but that's not that much.
Can somebody check their iOS stats and see what your data usage is? Trying to figure out if I'm an oddball, or there's some issue with the app (or if it's just that bad.)
I've been going through a lot more data than I used to, and so I checked the iOS statistics (Settings -> Cellular & then scroll down ). I reset them last Sunday, and during this last week JS has used 2.1GB (!!!). Nothing else has used more than a few hundred MB in the same period.
Now I do check the app probably 4-5 times a day while I'm not on wifi, but that's not that much.
Can somebody check their iOS stats and see what your data usage is? Trying to figure out if I'm an oddball, or there's some issue with the app (or if it's just that bad.)
I investigated and it looks like the JS client is downloading all of the images of the planes for all of the empty legs available every time you a) open the client, or b) refresh the available empty legs. Even if you have the images from a previous download, it re-downloads them on every single refresh. Even when the available empty legs don't change, it still re-downloads them. For the empty legs available right now, I estimate that opening the app or refreshing empty legs a single time costs you about 5 MB in data ... which is pretty absurd.
The images also aren't particularly well optimized either. Most of the images are around 250 KB, which is pretty excessive for the size of the client window ... although I suspect that they're using the same images for the iPad where it might make more difference.
I'm glad that I'm on unlimited data!
Sep 26, 2016, 1:33 pm
#678
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 90
Sep 26, 2016, 3:02 pm
#679
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 319
JS is using roughly 6x the data that any other app is using on my phone (Google Inbox, Facebook, and my Reddit client are all roughly equal for #2).
I investigated and it looks like the JS client is downloading all of the images of the planes for all of the empty legs available every time you a) open the client, or b) refresh the available empty legs. Even if you have the images from a previous download, it re-downloads them on every single refresh. Even when the available empty legs don't change, it still re-downloads them. For the empty legs available right now, I estimate that opening the app or refreshing empty legs a single time costs you about 5 MB in data ... which is pretty absurd.
The images also aren't particularly well optimized either. Most of the images are around 250 KB, which is pretty excessive for the size of the client window ... although I suspect that they're using the same images for the iPad where it might make more difference.
I'm glad that I'm on unlimited data!
I investigated and it looks like the JS client is downloading all of the images of the planes for all of the empty legs available every time you a) open the client, or b) refresh the available empty legs. Even if you have the images from a previous download, it re-downloads them on every single refresh. Even when the available empty legs don't change, it still re-downloads them. For the empty legs available right now, I estimate that opening the app or refreshing empty legs a single time costs you about 5 MB in data ... which is pretty absurd.
The images also aren't particularly well optimized either. Most of the images are around 250 KB, which is pretty excessive for the size of the client window ... although I suspect that they're using the same images for the iPad where it might make more difference.
I'm glad that I'm on unlimited data!
Sep 26, 2016, 5:59 pm
#680
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Wanting First. Buying First.
Programs: Lifetime Executive Diamond Platinum VIP with Braniff, Eastern, Midway, National & Pan Am
Posts: 17,481
How ironic would it be if JetSmarter's own app was consuming so much data during members' flights that it was the reason that operators shut off their inflight internet access? 
Sep 26, 2016, 11:32 pm
#681
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Oakland CA
Programs: DL Gold, AS MVPG, Globalist
Posts: 1,008
@Herb687, have you had flights where they've blocked you from using wifi? I haven't yet, although its generally a SUPER slow connection.
Sep 27, 2016, 6:54 am
#682
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: AMEX Centurion, Skywards, JetSmarter, Etihad Guest, BA Executive Club
Posts: 16
how is this Jet Deal a member initiated flight? didn't know you could initiate other routes other than the ones listed on the app.
Last edited by Boodb772; Sep 27, 2016 at 7:03 am Reason: missing word
Sep 27, 2016, 11:49 am
#685
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Virtuoso Travel Agent, Commercial Pilot
Posts: 2,117
It also appears that they plan to build into the app the capability to do this automatically on a large number of routes in the not-so-distant future.
Also, unrelated: the Press Release for the XOJet Partnership says "Access to XOJET's charter fleet will be available on the JetSmarter app starting October 1 2016." ... I assume that this just means more favorable guaranteed charter rates on XOJet's fleet, but I'm hoping it means that the expanded empty leg inventory will start appearing in a few days too.
Sep 27, 2016, 9:50 pm
#686
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: QF LTG
Posts: 1,200
It has shown as a member initiated shuttle at least since there was 3 open seats on the iOS app
Sep 28, 2016, 5:51 pm
#687
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 55
Sep 29, 2016, 1:34 am
#688
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Paris, France
Programs: Over-entitled UA 1PMM; JetSmarter; HHonors Gold
Posts: 9,723
Oct 5, 2016, 9:21 am
#689
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: FLL
Programs: Delta PM, Marriott Plat., SPG Plat.
Posts: 127
My experience matches Acrbag. I've been on over 10 flights in Europe and had the same process. There has been one time when the flight was actually cancelled after confirmation due to a mechanical issue. It was only two hours before the flight, and the rep called me immediately. But that was a fluke I believe (the rep said it was the first time they had ever experienced it).
I am also a JetSmarter member and have not encountered a cancellation with them, and hope not to. But seeing you may have experienced a cancellation, what was their service recovery? Did they get another charter to your destination, or rebook you in first/business class on an airline? I have a flight out of Fort Lauderdale tomorrow and there is currently a hurricane warning in the area.
Thanks,
Wes
Oct 5, 2016, 9:29 am
#690
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,590
I am also a JetSmarter member and have not encountered a cancellation with them, and hope not to. But seeing you may have experienced a cancellation, what was their service recovery? Did they get another charter to your destination, or rebook you in first/business class on an airline?
In the event of a cancellation, you are on your own to get to your destination.
