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-   -   JetSmarter - discussion and experiences (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other-air-travel-including-private-non-airline-aviation/1747464-jetsmarter-discussion-experiences.html)

gooseman13 Mar 14, 2016 9:19 am

Yep, I've seen that too. Honestly, it makes sense. $144 to fly from Austin to Dallas a couple weekends ago seemed to not be worth their effort to coordinate the flight for me.

My big concern is how things just change willy-nilly. Particularly with the expiration of the credits without warning. If they do things like that now, what's to say they won't change the terms of the program after I sign up and give them $12,000?

oenophilist Mar 14, 2016 10:36 am

As I understand it, they are changing things for non-members. This doesn't surprise me either because their business model is based on memberships.

Just looking at the transcontinental flights, it looks like they are not all full. At least the NYC-SFO flights. Some are barely booked.

backdoc Mar 14, 2016 10:56 am

The first NYC-SFO shuttle flight is on 3/18
 
They just started that route.

The first NYC-SFO shuttle flight is this Thursday 3/17 and is sold out. The return SFO-NYC on Friday 3/18 has 4/12 seats remaining. I'm pretty sure that those 4 remaining seats on Friday will be gone.


Originally Posted by oenophilist (Post 26330839)
As I understand it, they are changing things for non-members. This doesn't surprise me either because their business model is based on memberships.

Just looking at the transcontinental flights, it looks like they are not all full. At least the NYC-SFO flights. Some are barely booked.


mattack4000 Mar 14, 2016 12:47 pm

Prices have gone up, by I think double. I think I am out of this right now unless they offer something good. As I said, I would be willing to do a membership with just the jet deals and not the shuttle service for a lower price

expatOWflyer Mar 14, 2016 1:43 pm

It appears to be a hell of a deal. As I have a relatively flexible schedule, I can make use of their deals both in the US; from coast to coast and LA to Las Vegas , and in Europe. If I can travel coast to coast 1-2x RT per week on certain days of the week, it is a steal.

gold23 Mar 14, 2016 1:46 pm


Originally Posted by mattack4000 (Post 26331510)
Prices have gone up, by I think double. I think I am out of this right now unless they offer something good. As I said, I would be willing to do a membership with just the jet deals and not the shuttle service for a lower price

I'm in the same boat. I have no use for the shuttles. If they offered a hybrid membership where I could utilize their jet deals (don't even need them for free...just the pricing they were until this past week) I would likely join.

mattack4000 Mar 14, 2016 5:03 pm

The same flight I took for "$210" a few weeks ago is like $700 something now. I don't know if it goes straight to profit or if the promo is gone after a larger influx of membership?

The thing is that I get emails from them offering $2000-$3000 flight credit, they are essentially useless now.

nux Mar 17, 2016 2:53 am


Originally Posted by expatOWflyer (Post 26331828)
It appears to be a hell of a deal. As I have a relatively flexible schedule, I can make use of their deals both in the US; from coast to coast and LA to Las Vegas , and in Europe. If I can travel coast to coast 1-2x RT per week on certain days of the week, it is a steal.

Would that be in addition to all your last minute F travel that has made you BA GGL?

Townshend Mar 20, 2016 3:24 pm

2 Attachment(s)
I've been a member for about a month and a half now and have flown six times; 5 shuttles and 1 deal (which was operated by Delta). Overall, I am enjoying the experience. As I live in Chicago and frequent NYC (all shuttles have been to/from KHPN, I'll likely use the KVNY and KFLL shuttles next month when they start) the helicopter transport is a great benefit.

The shuttles were all Bombardier Challenger 850 and the deal was on a Cessna CJ2. Their customer service is decent although could use some polishing. There were a few times where I've requested something and either don't get a response or I have to follow back up. The crews that work the flights have been exceptional. Four out of six flights I've been with at least one other person I was not acquainted with and thus far everyone I've flown with has been great. As far as demographics on my flights: mostly male, maybe late 20s to 50s, varying backgrounds. All very professional and friendly people. If you want to be left alone not a problem, if you want to mingle go for it. No one seemed to mind either way.

Regarding the flight credit disappearing, it sounds like they finally fixed the glitch in their system. All flight credits I've seen had the fine print of "get $xxxx as credit when you become a member!" I found that entering a code when I wasn't a member still gave me credit.

As far as wifi is concerned, it is not great. It's enough to get e-mails through and basic browsing. Since these are not owned by JS I doubt there is much they can do. I'll grab a Speedtest report on the next shuttle I take, here is a report from the Delta Private flight I took however. Also a snap I grabbed at KHPN

SFO777 Mar 20, 2016 4:02 pm

Thanks oenophilist for starting this thread.

I've been a member for a more than a year, fortunately at the original price, and am very pleased. I've taken 8 "entire plane only" flights and one HPN-VNY G-IV shuttle. Although I'm not happy with the new shared concept, the new affiliations have brought a lot more inventory into the mix.

I've renewed for another year (fortunately grandfathered at the old rate) and will likely get a 2nd membership for Mrs. SFO (I'll get a referral fee). This will enable us pretty much "buy out the plane" for light and midsize repo flights. The second membership will get us two shuttle seats at no extra cost.

gooseman13 Mar 21, 2016 9:50 am

The email I received six weeks ago said the following: "No strings attached, simply download the JetSmarter app, register and use your invite code FLY1000 for $1,000 of flight credit."

To me, that doesn't set an expectation of membership. Also, I have no problem of there being an expiration date associated with the credit, just that the date isn't shared with customers and only discovered when the credit is no longer available.

To be clear, I managed to get two completely free flights in with my credit, so I'm more than happy. I just am very reticent to invest $12,000 in a membership with a company that lacks some transparency when it deals with customers.

Townshend Mar 21, 2016 3:21 pm


Originally Posted by SFO777 (Post 26360904)
Thanks oenophilist for starting this thread.

I've been a member for a more than a year, fortunately at the original price, and am very pleased. I've taken 8 "entire plane only" flights and one HPN-VNY G-IV shuttle. Although I'm not happy with the new shared concept, the new affiliations have brought a lot more inventory into the mix.

I've renewed for another year (fortunately grandfathered at the old rate) and will likely get a 2nd membership for Mrs. SFO (I'll get a referral fee). This will enable us pretty much "buy out the plane" for light and midsize repo flights. The second membership will get us two shuttle seats at no extra cost.

SFO777, book out a flight as long as you have guests. My understanding is even though you get 2-5 seats free on Jet Deals you have to actually use those seats otherwise you are charged a no show fee.

Townshend Mar 21, 2016 3:22 pm


Originally Posted by gooseman13 (Post 26364356)
The email I received six weeks ago said the following: "No strings attached, simply download the JetSmarter app, register and use your invite code FLY1000 for $1,000 of flight credit."

To me, that doesn't set an expectation of membership. Also, I have no problem of there being an expiration date associated with the credit, just that the date isn't shared with customers and only discovered when the credit is no longer available.

To be clear, I managed to get two completely free flights in with my credit, so I'm more than happy. I just am very reticent to invest $12,000 in a membership with a company that lacks some transparency when it deals with customers.

In that case you should be entitled to the full $1k credit.

The specific code I was referring to was SOCIAL which offered $3k credit which in the e-mail stated I needed to be a member to utilize even though it credited to my account when I wasn't a member.

SFO777 Mar 21, 2016 3:30 pm


Originally Posted by Townshend (Post 26365986)
SFO777, book out a flight as long as you have guests. My understanding is even though you get 2-5 seats free on Jet Deals you have to actually use those seats otherwise you are charged a no show fee.

My understanding is that the no show fee only applies if nobody in your party shows. I've had other guests on a Rez who had to cancel and I was not charged when it was just me flying..


Update: Confirmed with my JetSmarter rep, as long as the member is on board, there is no "no show" fee if any others in your party do not show.

Townshend Mar 21, 2016 7:16 pm


Originally Posted by SFO777 (Post 26366041)
My understanding is that the no show fee only applies if nobody in your party shows. I've had other guests on a Rez who had to cancel and I was not charged when it was just me flying..


Update: Confirmed with my JetSmarter rep, as long as the member is on board, there is no "no show" fee if any others in your party do not show.

Great to hear, thank you!


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