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
Feb 25, 2017, 10:02 pm
#1068
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SMF
Posts: 1,251
Ok, so here's the thing. I looked into the Barsky issue. He is charged with five counts of grand theft by embezzlement. This was a multi-state operation as he will be extradited to California. I know everyone is innocent until proven guilty, etc., but usually you don't get five charges and face extradition for a clerical error.
Here's the biggest issue for me. From my experience with the the company, it does not strike me as surprising. He fits the flashy, style over substance mould of what I've come to know as a JS member.
Simply reviewing his personal website (http://gennadybarsky.com/) is enough to convince me within 5 minutes that I would never want him working for my company. He describes himself as a, "brilliant lesson in quality time management." Huh? And they hired him for president? Then it's followed by two bizarre run-on sentence that describe him "generously" putting his heart into "structuring vital financial transactions." But JS decided he should not only work for them, but lead their entire organization. Where did he go to school? Harvard? Stanford? On Quora he describes himself as a "renowned real estate mogul."
I met a guy on a JS flight to Miami who asked me to book hotel rooms for him so he could have "girls" over without him being on the reservation. JS has received no funding from smart money (Kleiner Perkins, Benchmark, Sequoia, etc.). All the videos and promos show them drinking champaign with fancy watches and boats. Sales are slimy AF.
Everyone gets their day in court, but this is all smelling way to rotten for me to hang around. As much as I loved some of the experiences, and love the idea, I don't think it can last. Just my two cents.
Here's the biggest issue for me. From my experience with the the company, it does not strike me as surprising. He fits the flashy, style over substance mould of what I've come to know as a JS member.
Simply reviewing his personal website (http://gennadybarsky.com/) is enough to convince me within 5 minutes that I would never want him working for my company. He describes himself as a, "brilliant lesson in quality time management." Huh? And they hired him for president? Then it's followed by two bizarre run-on sentence that describe him "generously" putting his heart into "structuring vital financial transactions." But JS decided he should not only work for them, but lead their entire organization. Where did he go to school? Harvard? Stanford? On Quora he describes himself as a "renowned real estate mogul."
I met a guy on a JS flight to Miami who asked me to book hotel rooms for him so he could have "girls" over without him being on the reservation. JS has received no funding from smart money (Kleiner Perkins, Benchmark, Sequoia, etc.). All the videos and promos show them drinking champaign with fancy watches and boats. Sales are slimy AF.
Everyone gets their day in court, but this is all smelling way to rotten for me to hang around. As much as I loved some of the experiences, and love the idea, I don't think it can last. Just my two cents.
Mar 1, 2017, 8:34 am
#1070
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Virtuoso Travel Agent, Commercial Pilot
Posts: 2,117
On a shuttle or empty leg, the dog must be a service animal and must be coordinated in advance--the terms don't alllow pets. If you're paying for a full aircraft charter, then pets are allowed if the operator allows them (most do, but some planes are excluded).
Mar 1, 2017, 1:22 pm
#1071
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 8
It was on a JetDeal..
Mar 4, 2017, 4:59 am
#1072
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 9,916
http://www.theverge.com/2017/3/3/148...sored-articles
"We’ve seen plenty of aggressive requests from companies that want positive coverage, but perhaps none as absurd as what we just got from JetSmarter — a startup that’s been called the “Uber for private jets.” In exchange for a demonstration of the service (a round-trip flight in the US), JetSmarter sent us an agreement that demands an uncritical puff piece.
The rub? JetSmarter wanted the credit card number of a Verge reporter, so that it could charge them $2,000 if they didn’t publish a positive story “within 5 business days.”
"We’ve seen plenty of aggressive requests from companies that want positive coverage, but perhaps none as absurd as what we just got from JetSmarter — a startup that’s been called the “Uber for private jets.” In exchange for a demonstration of the service (a round-trip flight in the US), JetSmarter sent us an agreement that demands an uncritical puff piece.
The rub? JetSmarter wanted the credit card number of a Verge reporter, so that it could charge them $2,000 if they didn’t publish a positive story “within 5 business days.”
Mar 4, 2017, 8:47 am
#1073
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
dval44, interesting post, especially re member on flight..
heh, a new classic, unless this happens more than one would think
heh, a new classic, unless this happens more than one would think
Mar 5, 2017, 11:02 am
#1074
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 2
Mar 5, 2017, 11:08 am
#1075
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 2
Mar 5, 2017, 2:22 pm
#1076
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Miami
Programs: UA Gold, TK Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 29
For the Empty-Leg flights only, a $50.00 fee shall be assessed for each mini-bottle of alcohol consumed (beer, wine or liquor). A flat fee of $100.00 will be assessed for all refreshments and snacks consumed (other than water), regardless of the amount consumed.
Just checked again their terms, maybe it's new but wow it's insane
EACH MEMBER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT, EXCEPT FOR THE EXPRESS REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT AND IN THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, IN EACH CASE AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, (A) NEITHER JETSMARTER NOR ANY OTHER PERSON ON JETSMARTER'S BEHALF HAS MADE OR MAKES ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EITHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, WHETHER ARISING BY LAW, COURSE OF DEALING, COURSE OF PERFORMANCE, USAGE, TRADE OR OTHERWISE, ALL OF WHICH ARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED, AND (B) EACH MEMBER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT IN DECIDING TO PURCHASE A MEMBERSHIP HE, SHE OR IT HAS NOT RELIED UPON ANY REPRESENTATION, WARRANTY OR DISCLOSURE MADE BY JETSMARTER OR ANY OTHER PERSON ON JETSMARTER'S BEHALF, EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, IN EACH CASE AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME.
Means that they have the right to delete all shuttles flights, all flight deals, all perks. And we can't complain !
It's crazy if you're reading the Jetsmarter terms, they're protecting themselves against everything. They declared that they can do what they want, and that we the members can't say a word about it.
Even complaining online is strictly forbidden by this agreement..
Feel free to read again the agreement, I'm convinced that some lawyers will find this case on the edge of legality
https://jetsmarter.com/legal/membership-agreement/
Mar 5, 2017, 9:28 pm
#1077
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 637
Two new articles that may interest people:
1.) The Verge wrote an article entitled, "JetSmarter tries to extort journalists for positive coverage." The basic idea is that journalists get a free ride but must produce a full-length, positive story within 5 days or get charged $2k.
2.) Forbes wrote a quick piece on the Barksy arrest. The tone was negative, it talked about shuffling among the executive team, and has an auditor on record saying it "Raises red flags."
1.) The Verge wrote an article entitled, "JetSmarter tries to extort journalists for positive coverage." The basic idea is that journalists get a free ride but must produce a full-length, positive story within 5 days or get charged $2k.
2.) Forbes wrote a quick piece on the Barksy arrest. The tone was negative, it talked about shuffling among the executive team, and has an auditor on record saying it "Raises red flags."
Mar 6, 2017, 1:23 pm
#1079
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Oakland CA
Programs: DL Gold, AS MVPG, Globalist
Posts: 1,008
IMO Jetsmarter has that term in there for the abusers, which I think is pretty reasonable. If you clean them out it that's borderline stealing, and means the crew has to run to the liquor store between flights to restock. If you do that you should be paying through the nose... or just have your membership revoked.
Mar 7, 2017, 1:58 am
#1080
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 9,916
http://www.theverge.com/2017/3/3/148...sored-articles
"We’ve seen plenty of aggressive requests from companies that want positive coverage, but perhaps none as absurd as what we just got from JetSmarter — a startup that’s been called the “Uber for private jets.” In exchange for a demonstration of the service (a round-trip flight in the US), JetSmarter sent us an agreement that demands an uncritical puff piece.
The rub? JetSmarter wanted the credit card number of a Verge reporter, so that it could charge them $2,000 if they didn’t publish a positive story “within 5 business days.”
"We’ve seen plenty of aggressive requests from companies that want positive coverage, but perhaps none as absurd as what we just got from JetSmarter — a startup that’s been called the “Uber for private jets.” In exchange for a demonstration of the service (a round-trip flight in the US), JetSmarter sent us an agreement that demands an uncritical puff piece.
The rub? JetSmarter wanted the credit card number of a Verge reporter, so that it could charge them $2,000 if they didn’t publish a positive story “within 5 business days.”
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/jetsmarter-...ervice-1610036
I wonder if any lawyers have a viewpoint on some of the other elements in the Jetsmarter contracts that have been discussed here?
Would they hold up in court?
