dordal

Well, more props where props is due. Was scheduled to fly SF->Denver today ( XOJet empty leg ) but the flight cancelled due to a schedule change, after it had confirmed. I needed to make the trip, and figured I'd be on United. But instead, Jetsmarter chartered a replacement jet, a JetLinx Challenger 604, to take us out to Denver.

It was an absolutely beautiful plane, and one that apparently wasn't part of the standard charter/empty leg fleet, as the pilots had never done a Jetsmarter flight before. Gave them a full demo of the app, etc.

I'm absolutely blown away that JS would do this. I do think putting you in F on a commercial flight is a reasonable accommodation if an empty cancels (and wish they'd do that for maintenance issues, too), but chartering a replacement plane goes above & beyond, IMO.

aceman

So there appears to be a 241 in london for the smarter membership.

Can someone explain what that is? Their website doesn't seem to list it!

Worth doing for Europe based? $2.5k each

ensnare

Wow, that's generous. Are you "Smart" or "Sophisticated?" FWIW, my experience with JS customer service hasn't been perfect, but overall positive: courteous and accommodating.

Apache137

Has anyone noticed the new language of "shuttle flights of less than three hours are included."
Does that mean that coast to coast are no longer included?
I was up for renewal this month, and after speaking with the reps, I was able to negotiate that I would renew for the "simple" membership, which gives me one token instead of two, and I still get jet deals and so on. It's 5000 instead of 10 or more depending on whenever you got your smart membership. For me, sticking to mostly shorter shuttles on the east coast and the odd jet deal, it's much better price wise. They did assure me, in writing, that I can upgrade back to my original "smart" membership at the same "Grandfathered" rate I had before. So I still have that.
Before I agreed to renew at the simple price, they did make sure to tell me all shuttles longer than 3 hours are not included, and that while newyork to miami is listed at 2:45, it isn't included as well. Having only done that shuttle once in the last year, it's fine by me. And since they told me straight up, and let me decide, I'm okay with that too.
Got an email today about buying a "smart" membership at 14k (generic email I'm sure, since I still have my grandfather option). This email said, with respect to the SMART membership, that it has "free seats on shuttle routes less than three hours."
I'm not quite sure how to interpret that other than one of two ways. It's a mistake (unlikely as it's in a professionally and purposefully made flyer), or they're taking away coast to coast shuttles as part of the smart membership, and possibly with the same caveat of removing the nyc to mia shuttles. ....
Can anyone confirm?
This is really infuriating if true. what the hell are we getting grandfathered in for if they continually remove benefits and move them to a higher tier? I can understand removing the benefits across the board, but taking them from one membership (smart, which didn't exist when I signed up originally) and moving them to another (sophisticated), is simply charging more for what you promised originally, and not actually removing a service.

Sykes

They announced that new "Smart" members that joined after January would have to pay a per-flight fee for shuttles longer than 3 hours (I think it's around $700 for a transcon, but haven't verified); however, all existing members would be grandfathered in.

zyavka

WHY JETSMARTER SUCKS ?

Jetsmarter took the private out of private aviation !

All of Jetsmarter shuttle flights are 100% occupied which means you wont be able to move your feet or even recline your seat

Jetsmarter makes you sit at dining table for duration of your flight which means you are unable to freely move and going to the restroom requires you to ask everyone to move. Or better yet you will get stuck on sofa seat with 2-3 other angry members...

Most of their shuttle flights are on learjets which are horrible to say the least. Feels like a small box with everyone crammed inside and unable to move

Forget about FREE flights because they are first offered to members who are stupid enough to pay $50k for the membership

You think helicopter is a nice touch ? Think again !! Only offered in NYC and Chicago and you wont feel safe when they cram 5-6 people into one chopper with 4 seats only....​
​

Cant make your flight ? NO PROBLEM !!

WILL SET YOU BACK ONLY $1000

Want to book a roundtrip coast to coast ? You cant !! Jetsmarter only allows you to book one way and since everything is usually booked 2-3 weeks in advance you will most likely end up paying for commercial flight for your return
Former JetSmarter executive arrested on grand theft charges:

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/the-s...t-chartes.html


Anything ran by Russians is usually a scam so judge for yourself how a 20 something Russian can run so called billion dollar company lol....

​ READ JETSMARTER EXTORTION ATTEMP:

http://www.theverge.com/2017/3/3/148...sored-articles


http://jetsmarterreview.weebly.com/

Townshend

I can verify this. I renewed my Smart membership last month and have not paid a surcharge on >3 hour flights. Only change I've had since renewal was the loss of free heli transfers

backdoc

I agree. I renewed in January and haven't paid any surcharges >3 hour flights.

Steve

backdoc

I'm exploring JetSmarter alternatives to single cross country shuttle flights which are increasing more difficult to book. I've done the HPN-LAS shuttle and stayed overnight in Vegas and flew Southwest to LAX the next morning.

Today I fly VNY-MDW, land at 10pm stay overnight near the airport and then fly MDW-HPN at 2pm tomorrow. I've got the time and its fun. Next month I'll be flying HPN-OAK then an hour later flying OAK-BUR on Southwest.

One I'll be trying is LGA-MDW on Southwest then the MDW-VNY shuttle. I was getting frustrated by not being able to get shuttle flights across the states, and I've mapped out alternative ways of making the hop.

Steve

dordal

Gets frustrating though. You lose all the time savings of flying private if you have to do NY-Chicago on Southwest first, and you're not that comfortable in a packed G4. Then you start to ask yourself how many $599 Jetblue Mint tickets you could have bought for the $10K+ you spend on JS.

I really think they should concentrate on the short-haul, where the timesavings really is significant. But those aren't the 'prestige' routes.

backdoc

The $599 Mint flights are unicorns now. $799 is a blessing and $1099 is my cut-off.

The joy is being Mosaic and therefore not being charged for changing/rebooking a ticket.

My biggest fear with JetSmarter is being stuck having to cancel a flight at the last minute and getting dinged for a HUGE amount.

Steve

piiit

This is the email:

Title: BUY ONE SIMPLE MEMBERSHIP
AND GET A SECOND ONE FREE

Through March 24th, we’re giving you one free SIMPLE Membership (a $5,000 value) to share with whomever you like when you purchase a membership.

Join the world’s largest members-only private air travel community, and immediately start enjoying:

One-way, single-seat bookings on scheduled flights less than three hours*
Unlimited access to two free seats on last-minute jetaway flights worldwide
Access to exclusive lifestyle benefits from global brand partners
24/7 support from our Aviation Specialists

PLUS, pay-as-you-fly access to whole aircraft charters.


CALL +44 (20) 3905 2320 TODAY

*Excludes New York-South Florida and Jeddah-Riyadh routes. This offer is valid through March 24, 2017. Purchase of SIMPLE Membership is required. Membership will give users access to various membership benefits that are subject to change. Additional restrictions may apply. JetSmarter may offer number of programs including whole aircraft charters and Public Charters. For whole aircraft charters, JetSmarter will act solely as your agent in arranging the flight. For Public Charter operations, JetSmarter will act as principal in buying and reselling the air transportation. JetSmarter does not own or operate any aircraft. All flights are performed by licensed air carriers. See Membership Agreement, Terms of Use, and additional related terms and conditions for full membership details

DLH441

That's really not fair for the members who paid the full price.. They're attracting tons of new members and still no new empty leg operator or new shuttles. Yes, they're doing the exact opposite, cancels deals with operators and they're deleting shuttles routes in Europe. Insane.

OptionsCLE

The Verge is doubling down after their "journalist extortion" article. All in all, this seems like a fair article which highlights the major issues people have been complaining about here (ever-changing benefits, membership fees, non-disparagement language, etc.)

FLIGHT RISK
Legal threats and disgruntled clients: inside the ‘Uber for private jets’
http://www.theverge.com/2017/3/28/15...rices-lawsuits

TravelerMSY

Did they add a new empty legs partner? I'm seeing more out of New Orleans in the last month than since their inception.

Almost pulled the trigger on NEW to SJC, but I'm a piker and $1200 is too rich just for a bucket list flight.