Private Jet Experience for $109? JetSuiteX Launches Passenger Service
Luciana Mangas April 06, 2016
A new option for flyers on the West Coast will be available soon, USA Today reports. JetSuite, a California-based company, will launch a new scheduled passenger service on selected West Coast routes.
The company, which began its operations in 2009 and usually offers private jet charters, plans to introduce a public charter service under the brand “JetSuiteX.” According to the company’s website, their “new fleet of [30-seat] E135s combines all the best comforts of private air travel at commercial fares.” JetSuite promises passengers will get a “private jet experience.” Flights begin April 19 with fares starting at $109 each way for departures from private-jet terminals.
JetSuite CEO Alex Wilcox says JetSuiteX hopes to lure well-heeled, time-sensitive flyers looking for something between low-fare “cattle car” domestic flights and more expensive private jet options. “That’s created a space for this kind of product where we can charge a little bit more, but provide a lot more – especially in terms of time savings,” he says.
The first route will operate within California, connecting Burbank’s Bob Hope Airport to Concord’s Buchanan Field, about 30 miles away from downtown San Francisco.
JetSuiteX will operate on Embraer E135 crafts, but the company has completely remodeled the interior of the jet, configuring them with 30 seats. All have at least 36 inches between seats. According to the company, that is comparable to business class service on domestic carriers.
“There’s no plastic in the cabin anymore,” Wilcox says. “It’s all leather sidewalls like a private jet would have.”
The company plans to expand to new routes soon, according to the CEO. San Diego, Santa Barbara and Phoenix are among the cities that JetSuiteX has singled out for destination expansions.
JetSuiteX hopes to have all 10 of its E135s flying by mid-2017. For schedules, routes, on board amenities and their app, you can visit their website.
[Photo: JetSuiteX]
You’re Reading
Other than the $25 change fee - they're giving all the amenities at least at the beginning to all passengers. Their biggest problem is flying into an airport [Concord] that most don't know where is - and probably doesn't have the infrastructure like car rentals etc. to support it. Then the inability to learn/book it via other sites & agent systems means it's probably not going to be around doing it for long. They could possibly turn themselves into a more upscale version of Allegiant - flying to places nonstop that otherwise have only connecting service, but without frequencies, business people won't use them.
Two other commenters hit it on the head. Seat width is the same as a regular ERJ, just a a couple extra inches of legroom, if that. And yeah, 109 for the no free bags, no snacks experience. Aside from no TSA, this is a bit of a joke.
Seems like the only real benefit here is the ability to skip TSA. Other than that, it's a scheduled flight on a regional jet with a bit more legroom than a traditional RJ.
All the best comforts of private air travel? There are 30 seats. UA's E135s have37. This is 2 rows difference. Also, a quick look at their website shows that, if you don't pay for the nearly treble-the-price fare, you don't get free snacks, free bags etc. I can't imagine this lasting long.