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
#901
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 469
What would be really great for this $1 billion+ company ( ) to do would be to have its concierge be prepared to cater JetDeals when requested at reasonable fees, rather than seem flummoxed by a simple request for a bottle of wine, and then ultimately offer a $35 bottle for $165. (I was prepared to pay more than the retail price, and it's not like the money would break me, but you have to draw a line somewhere.)
#903
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: DL, UA
Posts: 572
Do you think that is the JS model? To get flight hours at 50% discount? Even half price makes me wonder if they have enough revenue to cover that.
#904
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, Wheels Up, Inspirato Pass, Marriott Titanium Elt, Hilton Diamond, Hertz Pres, Ntl P
Posts: 246
Fair point about the JS rule, although was not enforced when I brought my own to drink on a shuttle once. Aside from JS policy the CFR doesn't mean you can't bring your own. Having said that I've had drinks on empties on multiple carriers where I have just served myself, in fact I can't ever recall a pilot serving me a drink they've just offered to help myself.
#905
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 1
London
I'm a happy JetSmarter member and considering flying to London in January. Question I have for anyone who has flown it is what are the advantages/disadvantages to flying this over Air France first class or British Air or Virgin? Seats do not lie flat on JetSmarter which is not good but what is the situation with customs especially coming back into Westchester? Are the flights quiet? Any other help would be appreciated.
#906
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: DL, UA
Posts: 572
I'm a happy JetSmarter member and considering flying to London in January. Question I have for anyone who has flown it is what are the advantages/disadvantages to flying this over Air France first class or British Air or Virgin? Seats do not lie flat on JetSmarter which is not good but what is the situation with customs especially coming back into Westchester? Are the flights quiet? Any other help would be appreciated.
Last edited by T-15.01; Dec 26, 2016 at 4:42 pm Reason: .
#907
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, Wheels Up, Inspirato Pass, Marriott Titanium Elt, Hilton Diamond, Hertz Pres, Ntl P
Posts: 246
I'm a happy JetSmarter member and considering flying to London in January. Question I have for anyone who has flown it is what are the advantages/disadvantages to flying this over Air France first class or British Air or Virgin? Seats do not lie flat on JetSmarter which is not good but what is the situation with customs especially coming back into Westchester? Are the flights quiet? Any other help would be appreciated.
#908
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, Marriott Plat, Hertz Pres
Posts: 3,649
I can only speak on the Westchester to Luton flight, it was rather pleasant. As far as if it is worth it, for myself, the answer is yes if it's half full, no otherwise. There were four of us on board and I was able to stretch out and the FA had gotten a request ahead of time to make up beds for two of the passengers on board. Clearing customs at Luton was nothing at all; a woman boarded the flight, asked for my passport, then said ok have a good night! I called an UberX and an hour and 42.86 later I was at my hotel, Grosvenor House in Mayfair. Ahead of the flight I had to send a scanned copy of my passport and a Remote Clearance Form from UK Border Force. I suspect there is a similar setup entering the US. Flight time to London was around 6 hours.
#909
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, Wheels Up, Inspirato Pass, Marriott Titanium Elt, Hilton Diamond, Hertz Pres, Ntl P
Posts: 246
I'm not sure if you can do it commercially, though you can try reaching out to the Border Force and asking. The form is the same one that can be found here: http://www.iwm.org.uk/sites/default/...nClearance.pdf
Commercially, I'm a Registered Traveller in the UK otherwise.
Commercially, I'm a Registered Traveller in the UK otherwise.
#910
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Oakland CA
Programs: DL Gold, AS MVPG, Globalist
Posts: 1,007
Wow, just went through my msg history... of empty leg flights I've booked, I'm 2 of 6 in Q4. Fully 66% have been cancelled by the operator.
Two for maintenance, and two for schedule changes (e.g. 'Your reservation was not confirmed.') Only two actually flew.
I really hope it gets better In Q1 next year. The amount of effort that goes into planning for an empty leg (hotels, car, flight home, etc.) isn't worth it w/o better reliability.
Two for maintenance, and two for schedule changes (e.g. 'Your reservation was not confirmed.') Only two actually flew.
I really hope it gets better In Q1 next year. The amount of effort that goes into planning for an empty leg (hotels, car, flight home, etc.) isn't worth it w/o better reliability.
#911
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: DL, UA
Posts: 572
Wow, just went through my msg history... of empty leg flights I've booked, I'm 2 of 6 in Q4. Fully 66% have been cancelled by the operator.
Two for maintenance, and two for schedule changes (e.g. 'Your reservation was not confirmed.') Only two actually flew.
I really hope it gets better In Q1 next year. The amount of effort that goes into planning for an empty leg (hotels, car, flight home, etc.) isn't worth it w/o better reliability.
Two for maintenance, and two for schedule changes (e.g. 'Your reservation was not confirmed.') Only two actually flew.
I really hope it gets better In Q1 next year. The amount of effort that goes into planning for an empty leg (hotels, car, flight home, etc.) isn't worth it w/o better reliability.
#913
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Oakland CA
Programs: DL Gold, AS MVPG, Globalist
Posts: 1,007
#914
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: DL, UA
Posts: 572
Splitting hairs. I view JS membership fee as being for shuttles, which confirm in some cases months in advance, immediately. You can say membership (and therefore the associated costs) also should 'guarantee' and instantly or latterly confirm seats on empty legs, that JS gives you access to see, but I think that's drawing a long bow. Empty legs rarely instantly confirm, if they confirm at all, they are by nature last minute, and extreme caution should be used when 'requesting' a seat or seats on such repositioning aircraft. I count myself lucky to ever get confirmed on a single one of these and figure it enhances my membership value, rather than seeing an empty I have requested that doesn't eventuate as taking away value from my membership. The old 'social' membership which was ultimately pitched at those who wanted only empty leg access might have been more up your alley? Or even better, a founders card membership which gives 3 months access to 1 seat empty leg access on JS is even better! Do you know of any other company that offers you an ability to access multiple operator empty repositioning flights at no incremental cost to your existing membership with them?
Last edited by T-15.01; Dec 31, 2016 at 7:28 pm Reason: .
#915
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Virtuoso Travel Agent, Commercial Pilot
Posts: 2,117
Splitting hairs. Your membership fee is for shuttles. And access to empty legs. Empty legs are by definition being repositioned and if you ever get on a single one, via JetSmarter you should count yourself lucky.... To imply the value of membership diminishes if you don't confirm on them implies your membership basis was for empty legs (some or all of it....). Which other company offers you an ability to access multiple operator empty repositioning flights at no incremental cost?
We each value different aspects of the service differently. I'd happily give up shuttles for more reliable empty legs if the exchange enabled more reliable empty legs, but obviously that isn't something that they can actually offer.