Flying Private Jets (for Cheap) - Anyone Tried It?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Programs: United (Silver), Marriott (Silver), Starwood
Posts: 47
Flying Private Jets (for Cheap) - Anyone Tried It?
Has anyone flown on a private jet (for cheap)? If so, how did you find the flight, did you book the entire plane or just a seat on the flight, and how was your experience? Ran across an article in the Huffington Post yesterday detailing companies who offer discounted private jet flights by connecting customers with empty leg segments and/or unfilled seats on said flights: JetSuite, Surf Air, Victor, Arrow, Jumpseat/FLITE Air Taxi (website and phone number don't seem to work), and PrivateFly. Business models vary from chartering last-minute empty legs to Airbnb-like arrangements of filling available seats on already chartered flights to memberships. The concept sounds cool and fun to try, as perks include quick and easy onboarding, free wifi, pets allowed, gourmet food and bevs.
Many of the companies focus on renting entire jets or membership plans. I'm hoping y'all will have recommendations on how to book one or two seats as I'm not in the chartering an entire plane category (or paying thousands annually for a membership club) yet.
The article that spurred my interest:
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5717881
Two other related articles:
http://www.details.com/blogs/daily-d...ne-ticket.html
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/how...son-2014-07-01
*Apologies if I've started this thread in the wrong forum - please move if so.
Many of the companies focus on renting entire jets or membership plans. I'm hoping y'all will have recommendations on how to book one or two seats as I'm not in the chartering an entire plane category (or paying thousands annually for a membership club) yet.
The article that spurred my interest:
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5717881
Two other related articles:
http://www.details.com/blogs/daily-d...ne-ticket.html
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/how...son-2014-07-01
*Apologies if I've started this thread in the wrong forum - please move if so.
#3
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
Has anyone flown on a private jet (for cheap)? If so, how did you find the flight, did you book the entire plane or just a seat on the flight, and how was your experience? Ran across an article in the Huffington Post yesterday detailing companies who offer discounted private jet flights by connecting customers with empty leg segments and/or unfilled seats on said flights: JetSuite, Surf Air, Victor, Arrow, Jumpseat/FLITE Air Taxi (website and phone number don't seem to work), and PrivateFly. Business models vary from chartering last-minute empty legs to Airbnb-like arrangements of filling available seats on already chartered flights to memberships. The concept sounds cool and fun to try, as perks include quick and easy onboarding, free wifi, pets allowed, gourmet food and bevs.
Many of the companies focus on renting entire jets or membership plans. I'm hoping y'all will have recommendations on how to book one or two seats as I'm not in the chartering an entire plane category (or paying thousands annually for a membership club) yet.
The article that spurred my interest:
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5717881
Two other related articles:
http://www.details.com/blogs/daily-d...ne-ticket.html
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/how...son-2014-07-01
*Apologies if I've started this thread in the wrong forum - please move if so.
Many of the companies focus on renting entire jets or membership plans. I'm hoping y'all will have recommendations on how to book one or two seats as I'm not in the chartering an entire plane category (or paying thousands annually for a membership club) yet.
The article that spurred my interest:
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5717881
Two other related articles:
http://www.details.com/blogs/daily-d...ne-ticket.html
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/how...son-2014-07-01
*Apologies if I've started this thread in the wrong forum - please move if so.
Note that the really cheap deals are typically last-minute affairs.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Programs: United (Silver), Marriott (Silver), Starwood
Posts: 47
I'm most keen on advice on the "best" website to book 1-2 seats on an existing charter. The companies listed in the articles mostly require membership fees or booking an entire plane. Jumpseat was described as the Airbnb of private jet travel, where you can book an available seat on a private jet flight, but I wasn't able to find current deals on its website, and the phone number on the site doesn't work.
No miles, true, but it sounds like a quicker, smoother, nicer travel experience that I'd like to try.
No miles, true, but it sounds like a quicker, smoother, nicer travel experience that I'd like to try.
#10
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: BAEC Silver, SPG Gold
Posts: 465
Flying Private Jets (for Cheap) - Anyone Tried It?
I've read a few post open segments on their Facebook and/or twitter pages so you may want to try those sites if applicable to the airlines in your area - I'd also call the local airport that they fly from and maybe someone has contact info
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
i do not know if you are talking about the same thing, but wife and i flew chartered flights for about 50% of regular fee from iAd to europe or carriabean. the tickets were advertised in ny times. i thought they were called"chartered flights". we flew about 4-6 rt a year for about 10 years. no points or miles. Y seating only.
#12
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Neither here nor there
Programs: UA Slvr, DL Slvr, AA plt, HH LTD, MR tit/LTP at least two of those buy 10 get 1 free coffee cards
Posts: 3,419
https://www.jetsuite.com/suitedeal is the link to the actual deal page for Jet suite. Most are not worth writing home about.(SFO-OAK for $536? No thanks, I'll take BART). some are good. Most of the part 135 ops rarely sell their empty legs at any meaningful discount. I'll see if I can find the article explaining this.
ETA: Here it is, the last paragraph is the key.
http://www.bjtonline.com/business-je...airline-prices
ETA: Here it is, the last paragraph is the key.
http://www.bjtonline.com/business-je...airline-prices
Last edited by aroundtheworld76; Aug 28, 2014 at 7:30 pm