Jet Linx slashes jet card peak days, callouts

With demand easing, Jet Linx Aviation is cutting the peak days, callouts, and cancelation deadlines

Jet Linx Aviation is gearing up for normal, President & CEO Jamie Walker tells Private Jet Card Comparisons.

As demand surged, Jet Linx, like many jet card sellers, changed the terms of its programs, creating three tiers.

At the time, Walker said the moves were made so it could cope with the record demand and minimize disruptions to customers.

Jet Linx jet card changes

With demand sliding, Jet Linx is making several key changes that bring its terms back in line with pre-surge.

Tier I Customers ($250,000 annual deposit)

• Peak Days are dropping from 120 days to 62 days
• Peak Callout drops from 96 hours to 72 hours
• Peak Sliding Departures move from +/- 4 hours to +/- 2 hours

Tier II Customers ($150,000 annual deposit)

• Peak Days are dropping from 120 days to 62 days
• Peak Callout drops from 120 hours to 96 hours
• Peak Sliding Departures move from +/- 8 hours to +/- 4 hours

Tier III Customers (Pay-as-you-go)

• Peak Days are dropping from 120 days to 62 days
• Non-Peak Callout drops from 120 hours to 96 hours
• Peak Callout drops from 168 hours to 96 hours
• Peak Sliding Departures move from +/- 12 hours to +/- 6 hours, except four high-demand dates with a +/- 24 hours slide

Of the changes, Walker says the ability to limit peak day departure slides to +/- 2 hours, less than the standard +/- 3 hours, was based on actual performance.

Also being cut are surcharges to several Caribbean airports.

Not everything is going down. Joining fees have gone from $12,500 and $17,500 to a flat $25,000.

Renewals are $10,000 per year. However, Walker says that’s after nearly 10 years of no increases.

He also points to Jet Linx’s terminal network. Customers at its base locations get access to a private terminal only for jet card members and aircraft owners.

In January, Jet Linx said it is upgrading terminals in Dallas, Indianapolis, Omaha, and St. Louis after a Scottsdale revamp last year.

The private lounges stock libations for members and offer snacks and complimentary conference facilities, and WiFi. They also provide valet service, including detailing client autos.

Back to normal

“When we initially made the changes, it was designed to make sure we had a program where we could deliver what we promised. When we looked at how we have been operating, these changes reflect not a wish but what we can commit to,” Walker says.

However, he says the provider doesn’t want to be all things to all people.

It is keeping its 72-minute daily and segment minimums on light jets, which it increased several years ago from 60 minutes.

“There was a segment of people who were using jets for flights which are suited for turboprops. The difference between 60 and 72 minutes is small, but it is better for owners. It’s better for jet card members as the fleet isn’t tied up with a lot of short flights,” he says.

Walker adds the dip in demand is working in favor of Jet Linx on two fronts.

He says that providers with a large mix of owned to managed airplanes put as much flying on owned airplanes first.

That has led jet owners to seek management companies like Jet Linx, which are focused on management and have significant retail demand.

“We’ve won four (aircraft) management contracts in the past month,” he says.

He also expects M&A to heat up again.

After opening a Miami location, it has said it wants expansion on the West Coast.

“We have plenty of powder and are waiting for the right timing,” Walker says.