Remember airline travel back in the day? About 40 years ago, airlines invited you to “fly the friendly skies” and offered “something special in the air.”
Today? Crowded terminals, dicey connections, long check-ins — the list goes on.
While most of the flying public has no alternative to the airlines, some flyers do. During and after the Covid pandemic, a number of these people tried private charter flying for the first time. And many of them have remained private charter fliers.
When you charter, there is no check-in, no security line, no wait. You can walk into a small executive terminal, be greeted by a friendly customer-service representative and, often, walk right out the airside doors to a waiting jet. You can even drive your car to the jet.
There’s no such thing as a connecting flight in business aviation: Every flight is direct. At the destination, you’re often greeted by a town car plane-side and off you go to your ultimate destination. It’s easy to get spoiled.
SIZED FOR SERVICE
Premier Private Jets was created 12 years ago to deliver this experience. It’s not one of the biggest charter operators, which the company sees as an advantage. It gets to know its customers better and provides a more family-like service experience, treating customers like their own. Premier operates a fleet of 13 aircraft — Cessna Citation light jets and Hawker mid-size jets, both holding about six to eight passengers.
Premier operates from bases in Waterford at the Oakland County International Airport, as well as Dayton, Ohio, and Stuart, Fla., where it is headquartered. It flies customers anywhere east of the Mississippi at standard rate and can take passengers to points west, as well as internationally at a slightly higher fee structure.
While some of the largest, pricier providers advertise their ability to throw on-board parties for young children, Premier focuses on delivering reliable, hassle-free travel to its customers, figuring that this is what budget-conscious charterers, and especially mid-size businesses, want most.
PACKAGE DEALS
Premier Jets offers a couple of packages focused on economy, in line with the company’s motto: “business aviation within reach.” Premier makes the point that hourly flight rates can compare to airline fares when flying families or business teams.
Premier’s Jet Card program offers packages of 25 and 50 hours, with rates decreasing as customers place higher deposits to draw upon as flight hours are consumed.
The company’s unique Florida Express Jet Club offers special rates for a package of four, eight or 16 flights. The proviso is that they must begin or end in Florida. It’s a program specifically designed for snowbirds and second-home owners.
For those Florida-bound college-fans, passengers are greeted by one of Premier’s five airplanes painted in University of Florida orange and blue. For more, visit premierprivatejets.com.