Choosing the best private travel solution for your business can be time-consuming since there are a number of private jet companies. If you’re considering private travel for the first time, or changes in your mission have made it necessary to re-evaluate your travel portfolio, there are a few key points you should consider. After all, private jets and programs are as individual as the travelers that use them. We’ve identified 7 of the major factors you should consider in selecting a private jet provider.
Best Private Travel Solution: 7 Factors to Consider
Safety
Air travel is considered one of the safest forms of transit, and the numbers back it up. In private aviation, the safety of your trip can be greatly affected by the training and certifications of your operators and flight crew. When evaluating your options, look for a private jet operator that meets Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety standards, and ideally performs its own inspections and certification for operators.
Capacity
When it comes to private jets, bigger isn’t always better. Consider your overall travel needs when choosing an aircraft: How many hours a year are you flying? How many people will generally be aboard? With many aircraft and options available, it’s important that your chosen aircraft meets the majority of your needs for both headcount and luggage capacity. Also, if pets figure into your travel, be sure your four-legged guests are welcomed aboard.
Distance
Just as important as capacity, make sure your private jet of choice can “go the distance” for all your major routings. Selecting the appropriate weight class for your private jet ensures that your time and investment enjoy maximum efficiency by reducing or eliminating fuelstops during travel.
Amenities
With logistics decided, you should carefully consider the comfort factors of your choice. Be sure your operator can meet all your expectations in the air and on the ground; amenities such as catering, ground transportation, in-flight wifi, even the right reading materials can help you make the most of your flight hours. Also, be sure to evaluate the flight support services of your chosen provider. A solid Flight Support team is vital for the rare occasion when things don’t go according to plan.
Commitment
There are many different ways to fly private, and each presents different challenges and benefits. While fractional and whole jet ownership were once the de facto choices, depending on your business travel needs these options can become both costly and limiting. Carefully consider whether a long-term contract commitment involving a single aircraft is the best private travel solution for your business. You may find that a Membership Model offers better value and service.
Flexibility
Plans and missions change frequently. The aircraft or fractional share that works for your business today may become inadequate a year from now. That may force you to use supplemental lift of private jet charter services to meet your needs. While these are both useful options in certain circumstances, relying on them heavily may be a sign you require more flexible options for your changing business needs.
Investment
When all is settled, the value of your investment in private travel should be a priority. Private jet travel isn’t the place for bargain hunting. But, choosing a provider with the best options and flexibility means you’ll realize the best return on this important investment.
Your Research Partner
We understand there are many factors in selecting the best private jet options for your business. Making the right choice requires a fair amount of research and due diligence. However, with the best information and a thorough understanding of your options, you’ll reap the benefits. The best private travel solution offers unmatched convenience, comfort, and safety, while assuring the most value for your investment.
If you’d like to save time in understanding your private jet options, our Private Aviation Consultants are available to assist you. We’ve conducted the necessary research to help you understand private jet variables and come to the best decision for your business and lifestyle.
Private Jet Card Comparisons just did an interview with Magellan Jets’ very own President, Anthony Tivnan. The new piece focuses on how Magellan Jets has remade its jet card program, offering a new jet-specific membership option called Elevate. The Elevate program includes many useful benefits. First, members receive a 30-day trial period that doesn’t start until after your first flight. Also, the private aviation company has now eliminated all peak day surcharges as well as the ability to reduce the daily minimum to 60 minutes for up to one-third of flight hours on all light jet memberships.
Magellan Jets Gets Media Attention for No Peak Day Surcharges
In the article Private Jet Card Comparisons discusses:
-How and why Magellan Jets is relaunching the jet card. Also, what that means for individuals and businesses interested in private jet travel.
-The types of responses Magellan Jets is getting from clients about the launch of the Elevate private jet membership program.
-How jet-specific membership with Magellan Jets is gaining traction by attracting fractional owners who are interested in a more flexible private jet program.
-How Magellan Jets’ money back guarantee is receiving positive feedback from prospective members.
Flying private is an exclusive experience, but accessing remote destinations that you can only reach via private jet is another level of luxury. We’ve collected a list of some of the hardest locations to fly to, accessible only via private jet.
4 Remote Destinations Only Accessible by Private Jets
1. Necker Island, British Virgin Islands
A private island owned by Sir Richard Branson, Necker Islandis only accessible via helicopter. The island has a helipad for flights departing from Virgin Tortola, Virgin Gorda, and St. Thomas. Fixed-wing private aircraft can land at nearby Beef Island (EIS) and then transfer to the island via boat or helicopter. At just 74 acres, the small island is about as exclusive as it gets, and only accommodates up to 22 guests at a time. Various weeks are available to book each year, and included in the price is accommodation, all meals, drinks, transfers, water sports, and a dedicated staff!
Amangiri Resort is one of the most exclusive five-star properties in the world. Located in a remote spot in Canyon Point, Utah, it’s hard to reach: most fly into Reno or Vegas. However, tiny Page Municipal Airport (PGA) is much closer, and is only serviced by one small airline and a charter airline. The resort’s 600 acres in the desert are an ideal backdrop for a rejuvenating vacation complete with a floatation therapy pavilion, yoga, art gallery, plunge pool, wine cellar, and more.
3. St. Moritz, Switzerland
One of the most luxurious ski spots in the world, St. Moritz is a highly desirable location to visit, especially in the winter, when the slopes are picture-perfect. While most visitors fly into the nearest major airport, in big cities like Geneva and Milan, this requires a long drive to reach St. Moritz. But private travelers have a better way: St. Moritz has a regional airport of its own, Samedan Airport (SMV). However, there are no scheduled flights, and it is one of the most challenging airports for pilots to fly in and out of. Private aircrafts make up most of the airport’s traffic.
Lake Tahoe is one of the most picturesque spots in the U.S., located on the border of Nevada and California in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Today, only private travelers can fly into Lake Tahoe Airport (TVL), which did offer commercial airline service through the years but has not had scheduled passenger flights since 2000. Most visitors fly into nearby Reno-Tahoe International Airport or Sacramento International Airport.
Click below or call your Magellan Jets aviation consultant at 617-328-JETS and get an instant quote. Get ready for an unforgettable vacation!
There’s no one right way to fly private: travelers who prefer or require private aviation for their business or personal needs have a variety of options on deck. If you’re unsure of how to fly private in a way that meets your needs exactly, we can help.
The four most common ways to fly private include jet card memberships, fractional ownership, chartering, and outright ownership. In this article, we’ll take a look at the various ways to fly private so that you can make an informed decision about which option is best for you.
Fractional:
Fractional ownership, or partial ownership of a jet, gives you the ability to fly a certain number of hours per year. It’s a happy medium between ownership and memberships. Travelers who want to go this route typically plan to fly 50 or more hours per year, which makes purchasing equity in a jet a savvy idea. The number of hours you can fly each year depends on how large of a share you’ve purchased in the aircraft, such as one-sixteenth or one-fourth of the aircraft.
The benefit of fractional ownership is that frequent flyers receive the perks of jet ownership but are not solely responsible for the jet. Instead, all owners share the responsibilities of ownership with peers who have similar flight needs. While a guarantee to have access to an aircraft whenever one wants is there, some things to consider and evaluate:
– Peak travel seasons, holidays, and major events will limit how many hours a plane is available.
– If another part-owner of your share has already requested the jet, you might need to change your itinerary.
– Some programs reach out to charter providers in order to fulfill the request, some have the ability to change the departure time +/- 3 hours or so, and some only guarantee availability based on share size.
– You are signing a five-year term contract and could sometimes exit after 3 years and have your share repurchased or resold.
– You are allowed to use the number of hours allotted to you, and depending on share size, you may have the option to borrow against future annual allocations, typically 25% of your hours/days.
– The fleet availability could mean you will fly an older aircraft when your newer aircraft is unavailable, most often on peak travel dates. Some share owners might get an incentive of a free upgrade if only larger jets are available.
Jet Card Membership:
For travelers who fly 25 hours or more per year, jet card memberships might be the perfect solution. Through a jet membership, travelers can purchase flight time in hourly increments. The reason to the popularity of the membership model is clear, the focus being the TOTAL EXPERIENCE of the member: flexibility in the type of plane to match the specific profile of the trip, the cost of the flight, hand-picked crew, customized amenities on board, and more.
Membership perks and amenities can vary widely. Magellan Jets rebuilt their membership program to include even greater flexibility and member-focus in Elevate, the premier jet-specific membership.
Charter:
Chartering aircraft gives you the ability to pay as you go rather than purchase flight time up front. When you charter a flight, you choose the destination, departure time, and more. Chartering flights works well for the price-conscious, those who have one-off trips, or those who own their own aircraft but occasionally need to supplement their travel.
Charter often requires some flexibility on departure dates and times, as planes are only available if they are not already booked, and fleets may be limited. If chartering may be a good fit for you, we invite you to get a quote at Magellan Jetsand determine if we are the right company to meet your needs.
Ownership:
An outright ownership is another option when it comes to flying private.
If you’ve flown private for some time and discovered that ownership is the right route for you, we’re happy to assist in making your transition seamless. We can recommend companies that are able to advise whether buying is the right choice for you based on your individual situation. We are happy to lend you our private aviation expertise and assist along the way.
Magellan Jets is more than a private aviation company; it is an organization founded on both passion and experience. Joshua Hebert, founder and CEO, established Magellan Jets in 2008 from a strong background in marketing, sales, and finance. Hebert’s career began on Wall Street and eventually led him to the advertising and aviation industries. This is the Magellan Jets story.
The Magellan Jets Story
Soon after creating Magellan Jets, Hebert was joined by co-founders Anthony Tivnan, President, and Gregory Belezerian, Vice President, to push the company to new heights together.
“One of the things we did differently is that for the first year and a half, we didn’t take on any customers,” Hebert shares. “We built the foundation: we built out the marketing department, the accounting department, the flight support department, and then we built sales. During that time, we actually said no to quite a bit of business. After we built the foundation, we started to grow.”
Magellan Jets was named by Robert Friedman of I. Friedman & Son Jewelers, a personal friend of Hebert. “We wanted a name that had to do with navigating the world, because that’s what we do for our customers: help them reach new heights and uncharted territory in their careers and personal lives,” explains Hebert. “Naming the company after the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who completed the first circumnavigation of the Earth, just made sense.”
Magellan Jets has experienced rapid growth over the last 10 years. “We’ve probably grown about 30% per year,” shares Hebert. “In 2015, we had a 110% growth year. We said to ourselves, ‘How do we grow 110% again next year?’ But then we stopped to ask, ‘Do we actually want to grow 110% next year?'”
Instead, Hebert and his partners chose to turn their attention to the company’s member retention rate. “We don’t want to just bring in customers and have them go out the back door. We made a decision to really concentrate on retention rates and spend a lot of time to focus on retaining customers.”
After spending multiple years focused on member retention, the percentage of members sustaining their involvement with Magellan Jets year over year had increased from around 55% to a whopping 92%, and the company has turned again to focus on growth.
“We are currently at record numbers for this year, stronger than anything we’ve ever done over the ten prior years,” shares Hebert.
Today, Magellan Jets is a thriving company that prides itself not only on providing top-tier service to customers, but also serving as a great place to work for all employees, with effective communication strategies in place and a flourishing company culture.
“We have a beautiful office, a beautiful place for people to come when they’re not with their loved ones,” explains Hebert. “We consider everyone that works here part of our family.”
Magellan Jets is celebrating their 10 year anniversary in 2018 after a historic decade of success. Founded in July 2008 by longtime friends Joshua Hebert, Anthony Tivnan and Gregory Belezerian, the Massachussetts natives set out to change the private travel experience through a purely private, personalized customer approach and an unwavering commitment to safety. The goal these past 10 years and into the future is to always elevate expectations.
After a modest first year, the company’s method proved tried-and-true as they saw an explosive upward trend with an average of 36% growth each year over the last 10 years. Hebert explains “From day 1, our intention was never to sell something, but to help our customers find the best private travel solution, even if that meant pointing them in another direction. This helped us build and maintain trust over the years”.
Similarly, Tivnan, President and Co-Founder, has used his understanding of Magellan Jets’ diverse clientele to lead the sales team in creating tailored private travel solutions for all. Most recently under his leadership, Magellan Jets closed out 2017 with almost 200 new customers and an 85% member retention rate. “Magellan Jets takes pride in providing its customers solutions for life.? Whether for business, personal, college tours or IPO’s, the relationship and guidance we offer is intended to serve as a resource for all major events in a customers’ life.”
The decade of success has helped Magellan Jets attract top-level talent, adding John Amato and Todd Weeber to the executive team in recent years, with expectations only continuing to rise as they move through 2018.
John Amato is the Vice President of Magellan Jets’ Aviation Consulting Group. This team is responsible for developing tailored solutions for discerning travelers who might benefit from Magellan’s portfolio of premium, full-service private aviation solutions including jet card memberships for individuals and corporations, as well as on-demand charter services.
Todd Weeber, joins Magellan Jets as a new chapter in an Aviation career that first started in 1987. The focus of Mr. Weeber’s 30 years of aviation experience has been a relentless pursuit of process improvement, with the end goal of providing ideal experiences and optimal outcomes for their clients.
When asked about the 10 year Anniversary and the overall growth of Magellan both John and Todd had similar responses. They are proud to be part of it. “It’s been an exciting few years leading to our (Magellan Jets’) 10th anniversary. In addition to the tremendous growth achieved by the organization, it’s gratifying to be recognized by clients and throughout our industry as a purely private, comprehensive, and customizable aviation solution. I am looking forward, I’m confident we will continue to evolve our portfolio with bespoke services designed to address our clients’ life long needs.” Says John.
“We use our deep bench of experience and expertise to work as a team to deliver exactly what our members and clients want. Magellan Jets is not for everyone. We find that people that are attracted to Magellan Jets are very successful individuals that have experts on their team in every field. They have a financial expert, a legal expert, a public relations expert, etc. We are their private transportation experts. And they love it because we place their interests above our own and often provide solutions that others just can’t – or won’t. We are not the least expensive option but we always provide the best option.” Says Todd.
Magellan is only improving after these 10 years, they continue to find the best solutions for travelers and members and will always elevate their clients expectations. Watch out for what will be happening in just another short 10 years, because it will definitely be something great.
Happy 10 Year Anniversary Magellan! If you are interested in learning more about chartering or becoming a member of this team, contact Magellan Jets or get a quote below.
The ultra-large Embraer Lineage 1000E features a five zone cabin meant for business, relaxation, and privacy. Available in variously themed designs, the Lineage 1000E can be configured in a multitude of ways based on your personal preference and style.
When passengers step into the Lineage 1000E, they will find first class designs and amenities throughout. The luxurious standard cabin configuration in the 1000E seats 13 to 19 passengers and includes a crew rest area, two single-club seat sections, four-place conference seating, divan with credenza, and a master suite with walk-in shower. The cabin features electric doors and tables, premium leather seats, high speed data connections, and wireless iPad controls. In the two sided galley, there are options for an espresso machine, wine cooler, microwave, and more.
What makes the Lineage 1000E unique are the five innovative design concepts developed exclusively for this jet. Themes ranging from super yachts to old Hollywood glamour are showcased in this ultra-large aircraft.
The Skyacht One concept was created with luxurious super yachts in mind. A nautical theme runs throughout the entire cabin and perfectly combines the elegance of a yacht with the features of a private jet.
Kyoto Airship
The Kyoto Airship showcases expansive glass windows that fill the cabin with natural light and offer spectacular views from every seat. This design was meant to bring the beauty of nature into the aircraft to create a harmonious and peaceful atmosphere for travelers.
Skyranch One
The Skyranch One design combines the refinement and relaxation of the West. A bison horn beer tap, bleached wood, and saddle inspired leather seats bring out the best of the West in this concept.
Bringing classic and iconic New York style onboard, the 1930’s inspired Manhattan cabin features gold trim details, dark wood flooring, and elegant artwork to make travelers feel like they are in a high-end club in Manhattan.
Hollywood
The Hollywood theme showcases the glamorous lifestyle of old Hollywood. Art deco combined with neoclassic artwork set the tone for this sleek concept.
Lineage 1000E Specifications
Range – 4,600 nm
Operating Speed – 0.82 Mach
Maximum Altitude – 41,000 ft
Engine Thrust – 18,500 lb
Total Baggage Capacity – 443 cu ft
Avionics Suite
The Honeywell Primus Epic avionics suite features steep approach capability, windshear detection and guidance system, Embraer Enhanced Visual System, and more. Autothrottle, a weather radar with turbulence detection, and fly-by-wire help to reduce pilot workload and increase safety. Pilots will find one of the roomiest cockpits in the industry when flying the Lineage 1000E.
With five design concepts to choose from and endless interior configurations, passengers aboard the Embraer Lineage 1000E will feel they stepped into another world. The Lineage 1000E starts at $53 million and increases based on chosen design concept.
Designed around business, Bombardier’s Global 5000 boasts all the necessary amenities to continue business productivity in flight. With fast internet connectivity, a dedicated media bay with accessible ports, and enough room for your team, the Global 5000 makes it possible to stay connected as if you never left the office.
The Global 5000’s three zone cabin seats 13 passengers comfortably but has enough room for 16 passengers. With over 40 feet in length and almost 8 feet in width, there is plenty of room on board for mobility. Conference grouping, club seats, and a divan are all standard and make business productivity easy.
Bombardier offers the fastest in-flight internet connectivity worldwide that helps keep you and your colleagues up to date at all times. Additionally, a media credenza is centralized in the cabin and offers both USB and HDMI ports that allow connection to any portable device.
100% fresh air is constantly filtered throughout the cabin and air temperature can easily be adjusted at any time. The in-flight luggage compartment makes it easy to access personal belongings during the flight.
Powerful Performance
Two Rolls-Royce turbofan engines power the Global 5000 and produce 14,750 pounds of thrust each. At this force, the aircraft can reach a top speed of Mach 0.89 and travel 5,200 nautical miles.
Intuitive Flight Deck
Within the cockpit, Bombardier’s Vision flight deck features four large LCD screens for easy organization and viewing. The system features graphical flight planning as well as a weather radar. The cockpit is also equipped with a Head-Up Display System, Enhanced Vision System, and Synthetic Vision System.
Providing an environment where business can continue despite travel, The Bombardier Global 5000 features all the amenities for comfort and productivity. It is priced at about $50 million.
Dassault’s Falcon 20-5 comes after two Falcon 20 upgrades which included new engines and improved performance. This midsize jet has been perfected over the years to continue delivering seamless travel experiences.
Falcon 20-5: Everything You Need to Know
Falcon 20-5 Interior
At 700 cubic feet, the midsize cabin is host to two living areas and can accommodate eight to ten passengers. The two zones can be configured in a double-club arrangement or a club and divan combination. At 24 feet long, the cabin has a forward galley equipped with all the necessities and the aft lavatory has full-width for more comfort.
Improved Performance
After the Falcon 20 was introduced to the market, it received two engine upgrades to improve speed and power. The second upgrade gave the aircraft two Allied Signal engines, each producing 4,750 pounds of thrust. With an additional 250 pounds of thrust compared to the previous engines, the aircraft became the Falcon 20-5.
The new engines not only improve aircraft power, but improve other areas as well. The Falcon 20-5 can climb to an altitude of 39,000 feet in just 27 minutes, which is seven minutes less than with the previous engines. The aircraft can carry an additional 850 pounds, increasing the maximum take-off weight to 30,325 pounds. Additionally, the engines help to increase the range to 2,258 nautical miles.
Avionics
In the cockpit, pilots will find the Collins Pro Line 4 system with APS 30 autopilot. The cockpit also features various other systems including Sperry Primus 400 color weather radar that decreases workload and increases awareness.
Fitted with better and more powerful engines, the Falcon 20-5 has evolved within the midsize jet category. With greater speed, range, and climb performance, the Falcon 20-5 provides seamless travel on every flight.
As a staple aircraft in the Gulfstream family, the G400 is a heavy jet providing constant reliability and unbeatable performance. First delivered in 1987, the Gulfstream G400 has been a favorite among the aviation community ever since.
Gulfstream G400: Everything You Need To Know
Gulfstream G400 Interior
Seating 10 to 12 passengers, the G400’s stand-up cabin is both spacious and comfortable. With over six feet in height, over seven feet in width, and over 40 feet in length, there is an abundance of room on board the G400 which is perfect for working or relaxing. Natural light flows through out the three zone cabin due to the 12 Gulfstream panoramic windows. Additionally, the internal baggage volume of the G400 is 169 cubic feet, offering more than enough space for passenger luggage.
Performance
The Gulfstream G400 is immediately recognizable by its low swept wing with winglets, its swept T-tail with horizontal stabilizer, and its two powerful rear fuselage mounted engines. The technical advancements are due largely in part to the two Rolls-Royce MK 611-8 engines that power this jet above and beyond the previous fuel consumption rates, by a 15% improvement margin. With these engines, the Gulfstream G400 will fly at speeds up to 505 knots and has a range of 4,220 nautical miles.
Flight Deck
The G400 has employed several systems that improve pilot maneuverability and ease of flight. The Collins radios, FMS, and dual Honeywell laser inertial reference systems are the most notable. This jet also includes Goodyear Aerospace’s brake-by-wire system and a Dowty fail-passive steer-by-wire system, and is the first of the Gulfstream family to put this system to use.
Without fail, the Gulfstream G400 continues to deliver seamless flights since its introduction to the aviation community.
