SEABROOK, N.H. —A New Hampshire businessman flies chart-topping rock bands, sport teams and business people around the world on his private jet service.
Greg Raiff dreamed up his business, Private Jet Services Group, about a decade ago, and it has taken off.
"I have the best job in the world, certainly the best job in the Seacoast of New Hampshire," Raiff said.
From his hub in the Granite State, Raiff arranges first-class air travel around the world for his clients, many of whom he can't reveal. But the Boston Bruins welcomed News 9 onboard its plane, a remodeled Boeing 767 that carried them through their Stanley Cup season.
"We like to kid on the big airplane that we have that everyone gets their own area code on board," Raiff said.
Private Jet Services customizes each plane, which can include onboard offices, beds and showers. Planes are available for rock bands on tour for a year or billionaires making business trips.
The company also flies six professional teams and more than a dozen NCAA teams. Because some passengers are long-legged athletes, seats are removed so they have room to stretch out
Raiff said his clients are financially savvy. They know it makes more sense to use one of his leased jets rather than owning their own planes.
"I go to a party and people say, 'Oh, you fly people around, and it's champagne in the sky all the time,'" Raiff said. "That's not always true. A lot of the customers are either corporations fulfilling a business or sports teams that are collegiate or professional that are commuting to work basically, and in all cases, the common denominator of our customers are people who understand that the cost of not getting there on time exceeds the cost of the transportation itself."
The cost is $5,000 to $25,000 per flight hour, depending on the type of aircraft, the destination and how many passengers are on board.
"The people that fly with us are people who value their time and value getting there on time far more than that price point," Raiff said.
The company caters to its clients' every need or whim.
"We had to send a helicopter to pick up a salad in Mexico City once for an artist," Raiff said.
Raiff started his company above his garage with a contract for one rock band. It was, however, a very big rock band.
"The first band I ever worked with: the Rolling Stones," he said.
Raiff keeps souvenir photos, memorabilia and thank-yous at his office in Seabrook. His keepsakes include items from bands such as Queen and Maroon 5 to a Boston Bruins Stanley Cup ring from the team's 2011 season.
"The team flew 65,000 miles that year," Raiff said.
He has kept the company small and personal, with just two dozen employees who he said are encouraged to use what he calls Seacoast values. He said a little New Hampshire keeps worldly clients coming back.
"This is the coolest job I could ever have," he said. "I get to live in the Seacoast of New Hampshire, raise my three little kids, and I'll be on the other end of the phone from the CEO of a Fortune 100 company or the world's biggest band and be organizing their flights and doing all this from New Hampshire."
Story and Video: http://www.wmur.com
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