December 19, 2024
Fractional share operator Flexjet is making several major moves with its Gulfstream G650 offering. It’s adding new markets for its existing World Access option. It’s also launching a new Unlimited Access option nationally. Added perks in both programs include complimentary carbon offsets and helicopter transfers in New York and London via sister OneSky Flight operator Halo.
World Access is Flexjet’s G650 day-based program, which was previously limited to customers in the New York and London markets. That’s now been expanded to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago and Palm Beach.
Completely new is a more traditional hours based approach. Starting at 100 hours, Unlimited Access is open to share and lease customers based anywhere in the U.S. Plans call for expanding to Europe “in the near future.”
Key features of Unlimited Access include “significant discounts” for qualifying roundtrip flights and the ability to downgrade to smaller jets at a favorable interchange rate.
Downgrade options include Flexjet’s Gulfstream G450, Challenger 350, Praetor 500 and Phenom 300.
“The Unlimited Access Program is the perfect mix of the industry’s most capable private jets and the G650, which enables travelers to circumnavigate the world with just a single stop,” said Flexjet Executive Vice President of Sales, D.J. Hanlon. “This is about as flexible as you can get, with owners buying access not just to the G650 but effectively to the entire Flexjet fleet.”
When you downgrade, you have the option of a traditional hours interchange, or having the actual hours deducted on a one-to-one basis and receiving a cash credit.
Hanlon says this feature is based on customer feedback. Share owners don’t necessarily need an ultra-long-range private jet when flying two or three people on a short domestic flight. However, the typical interchange structure means you get more hours into your account. It’s flight time you might not necessarily need or be able to use.
In terms of the roundtrip discounts, Hanlon declined to discuss specific amounts, but said they are based on averaging four billable flight hours per day for your trip. That means for a roundtrip to Australia, which might mean around 30 flight hours, you can stay a week and earn the savings.
Previously, Hanlon says, customers would sometimes opt to charter those type of trips instead of using standard fractional one-way pricing.
Adding the additional cities to World Access means more customers can now join the by-the-day program. A Private Jet Card Comparisons’ analysis shows World Access users can get 80% more flight hours out of the program.
For example, taking 25 three-day transatlantic roundtrips would use up your 75 days, but might include 15 hours of flying per trip. An example could include eastbound and westbound legs, plus a flight in Europe. In other words, in this scenario, you would get 375 hours per year for your quarter share instead of the normal 200 hours.
Flexjet’s G650 fleet recently added its sixth G650 and plans to add three more before the end of the year. It’s also a launch customer for the upcoming G700.
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