Fly Private for the Price of a First-Class Ticket

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (MainStreet) -- Scorned by Washington and detested by the populist, private jet travel is often a guilty pleasure, especially for those choosing it rather than being forced into it by schedule. But an innovative American company could change the way many people think of flying private. JetSuite is a private jet solution based in Southern California that looks to ease the guilt and reduce the price of flying private with a fleet of all-new Embraer Phenom 100 aircraft, considered the most affordable and fuel-efficient private jet in its class.

What looks like a pricey toy at L.A.'s Van Nuys Airport, where passengers park terminal-side and board without so much as an interruption in texting, the super-light four-passenger Embraer Phenom 100 makes quite a first impression with its remarkably stout design and compactness (often resulting in "It's so cute" remarks and photo-ops from passing passengers getting on far larger G4-size aircraft). JetSuite planes, with red striping from tail to nose, have twin jets at the rear of the plane and just four porthole windows gracing its sides.

A pull-down staircase leads to a BMW-designed interior with a two-facing-two passenger configuration. Some gripe about its size, but the interior is taller than many other superlight jets and it is well tailored, with amenities such as noise-canceling headphones, wood detailing and creamy leather seats. There's also a dog-friendly flight policy, meaning the family friend can ride inside the actual aircraft.

While most private jet charters on the market try to lure budget-conscious consumers with everything from shared fares to deals on empty repositioning flights, JetSuite finds a consumer base with impressively competitive prices for business- and first-class travelers. Aside from the obvious perks of choosing their own takeoff time and seating chart, passengers avoid some waste in airport logistics, security hassles and aircraft delays. 

Launched in 2009, JetSuite is one of the most affordable private jet options on the market. Officials say it will soon be launching nationwide from its base in the West covering cities (or "SuiteSpots") including Los Angeles; Phoenix; Austin, Texas; Dallas; Las Vegas; Palm Springs, Calif.; San Diego; and San Francisco.
The company is led by a airline veteran with more than two decades of experience: CEO Alex Wilcox, a founder of JetBlue and a major force in that airline's stewardship of a higher-quality passenger experience with amenities such as leather seats and free in-seat televisions. 

A combination of affordable pricing plans allows for whole-plane jet charters with tiered fares starting at $999 each way and SuiteKey membership plans that cap maximum hourly flight rates. Those looking for an even more affordable option can book last-minute SuiteDeals as low as $499 one-way for trips to select destinations available only through the JetSuite corporate Facebook page. (Buyers should keep in mind that many deals are on a one-way basis, sometimes from private airports that make returning on a commercial flight likely through a different airport -- complicating picking up your car. A limo service or taxi might be needed.) 

On Sept. 8, JetSuite also announced an exclusive partnership with Singapore Airlines providing U.S.-based passengers flying Singapore's first-class service with special JetSuite rates that raise the exclusivity of domestic transfers for those connecting to and from Singapore's uber-plush premium service. The partnership also enables JetSuite to offer "one-stop service to Moscow, Tokyo, Seoul and Hong Kong (and continuing service to Singapore) via Singapore Airlines from Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco" -- meaning Singapore passengers and JetSuite costumers can now connect between international flights to and from more than 500 JetSuite destinations in the United States.

http://www.thestreet.com