While the notion isn’t entirely uncommon, it at times still comes as a surprise when an aircraft manufacturer delves into the fractional ownership business. The concept itself can go both ways—on the one hand, as a manufacturer you’re always on the lookout for things that can help add to the convenience of both your passengers and crew, which already can provide you insights into what potential owners want. On the other hand, without the needed service-oriented acumen required in an ownership business, one’s foray into this field might come with disastrous results.
Fortunately, when it’s good, it’s good, and no company encapsulates that notion as much as Flexjet®. Starting out as a division under industry giant Bombardier, the company had a head start providing, managing, and maintaining fleets of aircraft made by Bombardier itself—a dream for anyone wishing to own their own private jet by the company. Eventually, however, Flexjet slowly moved away from a reputation dependent on the manufacturer and became a strong contender in the field in its own right.
All this said, we’ll be reviewing the company’s jet card services this time around, which were arguably set since its conception in 1995. As per usual, we’ll discuss them according to the following aspects:
- Type offered. Jet cards usually come in two kinds: aircraft-dependent and deposit-dependent. Some providers offer both. That said, this aspect is something you might want to look into if you’re more concerned about the aircraft you’ll be flying in or just the amount you’ll need to pay for a certain number of flight hours.
- Price inclusions. It’s hard to make comparisons without talking about how much membership costs. More than knowing the price, however, is what the price includes—whether it covers necessary expenses or if it contains any unneeded inclusions. This is especially crucial if you’re flying on a budget.
- Services included. Finally, when purchasing a jet card, you want to make sure you’re getting a bang for your buck, especially when it comes to the services and amenities. Here, we detail what each program includes so you can see if they’re up to par with your traveling style.
Type offered
Flexjet’s jet card program is an interesting one, to say the least. While it’s aircraft-dependent like other companies, unlike programs that provide an array of jet types, what is striking about the arrangement is that Flexjet only offers 2 aircraft in the fleet:
- The Phenom 300 for light jet flyers, and
- The Challenger 300 for those who need a super-midsize.
But this isn’t a choice made randomly. As it turns out, the reason behind this is that Flexjet’s jet card services are meant to be a supplement for the company’s fractional ownership customers. If, for instance, a client needs to fly out more people beyond the confines of their fractional agreement, they can provide them with a jet card instead of getting another lengthy fraction. And like most jet cards, Flexjet’s services also come in 25-hour increments, which is perfect for those infrequent flights.
Price inclusions
The price point for both jet card options falls in the middle, particularly in comparison to Solairus Aviation and competitor NetJets. While slightly pricier than other options, the cost is set to reflect the level of service the program provides, which aims to equal that of Flexjet’s fractional ownership. The pricing is as follows:
- Phenom 300: $162,000.00
- Challenger 300: $249,000.00
The quotations above also include FET, fortunately, but on the flip side, it does not include any discount rates often offered by other programs. Both programs also include $300 million worth of insurance for any unsightly happenings during your trip. Take note, however, that on peak and premium days you might also incur surcharges outside the standard payment, with 10% for the Phenom and 40% for the challenger.
Services included
Of course, when considering a jet card to purchase you want to know all the inclusions within the package, whether they’re serviceable or not—particularly for a program like Flexjet’s. If you’ve decided to apply for a Flexjet jet card membership, then, here are a few things you need to know that are included in the program:
- 10 peak days
- 30 premium days
- 24-hour reservation lead time for non-peak and premium days
- 48-hour reservation lead time for peak days
- 4-hour cancellation for both peak and non-peak days
Conclusion
At a glance, Flexjet’s jet card program might not be for everyone with its limitations in both fleet and premium days. But despite its shortcomings, it is a program that knows what it is and continues to pull through to service its target clientele. That said, if you’re thinking of purchasing a Flexjet jet card, it’s your best bet if you’re a fan of Flexjet’s services, an infrequent flyer who needs the flexibility, and don’t need to fly in large groups of people.
Learn more about jet card services with us
With more jet card programs on the rise, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to look at each option as they come. After all, we believe the best choices are the most well-informed ones. That said, head on to our website and sign up with us now for more information.
Disclaimer: Jettly is in no way affiliated with Flexjet. Flexjet is a registered trademark of FlexJet and Bombardier.