MAY 2008: BIZ LIFE; GOTTA HAVE IT
Leaving on a jet plane
So you’re on the brink of closing a lucrative deal,
but while standing in line at the airport the terminal intercom
announces that your flight has been delayed, again.
It’s reason enough to think about renting a private
plane. As instances of lengthy flight delays at commercial
airports hit new record highs, according to a recent Department
of Transportation report, what might have seemed like an
extravagance before might seem like a bottom-line business
necessity now.
The trials of commercial flying are a boon to private jet
charter companies as customers who seek not just luxury but
also reliability and punctuality abandon the airlines and hire
their own jet, says Flo Newton, president of Global Aviation, a
jet charter company based at Hillsboro-Portland International
Airport.
“They don’t want to be at the mercy of the
airlines,” says Newton.
Sure, the luxury doesn’t hurt, but it’s also about
the convenience of avoiding time-consuming security lines in a
post 9/11 world, says Mike Selby, director of flight operations
at Flightcraft, a Portland-based jet charter service.
“They drive their car right up to the plane,”
Selby says.
Overindulgent? Maybe. But at least it’s easier than
renting even the sexiest car. Most charter services will
provide a quote over the phone based on your needs, which can
depend on travel distance, speed and amenities, to what type of
jet satisfies your innermost flying ego.
For charter services the rates are hourly, ranging from $1,450
per hour for a turbo-prop jet at Flightcraft up to $8,000 per
hour for the posh Gulfstream at Global Aviation. But
don’t worry, you don’t have to fly the planes
yourself; both come with pilots.
The prices can seem justifiable, even comparable, when
factoring in the cost of hotel fees and lost time when flying
commercial, says Selby. After all, closing that big deal on
time might be worth millions.
Or if chartering a jet just isn’t enough of a rebellion
against the airlines, you might want to really splurge by
becoming a fractional owner of a plane through New York-based
Marquis Jet. Starting at $126,900 for a 25-hour Jet Card, you
get on-call access to the Berkshire Hathaway-owned NetJet
fleet. And you can say you did business with Warren
Buffet.
JASON
SHUFFLER
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