When is a ‘private jet’ really a private jet?
Two recent stories that caught our eye at PrivateFly are both about passengers who turned up for their airline flight, only to find themselves the only person on board.
Flying from Wuhan to Guangzhou on China Southern Airlines last week, one Chinese passenger called Zhang had the aircraft to herself, because the flight was so badly delayed due to snow, that she was the only passenger who did not give up waiting.
Another traveller, Alex Simon (who is a travel blogger) turned up for his recent flight from Manila in the Philippines, to the island of Boracay, only to discover he was the only passenger booked on the flight.
Both of these stories have gone viral on social media and seen widespread news coverage, as an example of people getting their dream ticket – to fly by ‘private jet’ at airline prices.
But does having an aircraft to yourself really represent the private jet experience?
1. PRIVACY
Having a private plane to yourself or with your chosen companions is all part of the private jet experience. Therefore being able to sleep, eat, do business or relax without the company of unknown others. This was partly the case here, as both travellers did enjoy the novelty of having the aircraft to themselves, but albeit totally unexpected.
2. FLEXIBILITY
When you fly by private jet, you set the schedule and can depart and arrive when it best suits you. In this case, the China Southern Airlines passenger had to ensure a 10 hour snow delay in order to enjoy her ‘private jet’ experience. Alex Simon also would have taken the same airline check in process regardless of how full (or not) his flight was, departing and arriving at the scheduled time.
3. TIME SAVING
Every private jet flight is bespoke, but nearly every passenger is choosing private jet travel to save time. Whether it’s packing in several business meetings in one day; making the most of a short weekend on the slopes; or flying to or from an emergency situation, PrivateFly’s customers save hours of time on the ground and in the air. These solo airline passengers had the aircraft to themselves, but that’s where the similarity ends on this point.
4. CABIN & CATERING
Luxury is a relative term, and we make it our business to craft every flight according to the customer’s preferences. In some cases that comes down to the cabin environment and catering, where the sky is the limit when it comes down to what you can eat and drink on a private jet . Meanwhile, Zhang on China Southern Airlines shared photos of herself sharing an orange with the crew, while Alex Simon looked to be enjoying a pot noodle on his flight from Manila.
It’s great to see passengers enjoying a solo airline flight, but ironically that’s also different to most of our flights at PrivateFly, where it would be unusual for us to fly just one passenger – most often it would be with business colleagues, friends or family (read more: Family flights by private jet). But what the appetite for both of these entertaining stories does show is that the concept of private jet travel is top of many people’s travel wishlists.
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