JetSuiteX will use 30-seat Embraer 135s. (Image: JetSuite)
JetSuite, a leading private jet operator, this month will kick off a new flight service between San Francisco’s East Bay Area and Los Angeles designed to skim off business class traffic, offering small jets with upscale interiors and the added benefit of uncrowded private jet terminals. And decent fares to boot.
The new operation is called JetSuiteX (why do these companies always try to sound like Uber?) It will initially connect Bob Hope Airport in Burbank with Buchanan Field in Concord, California – an airport in Contra Costa County that hasn’t had any commercial flights since PSA flew away more than 20 years ago. Google Maps shows Concord as about 32 miles east of downtown San Francisco, with a drive time of 53 minutes (depending on traffic). But it’s much closer to tony East Bay suburbs like Walnut Creek, Alamo and Danville as well as Wine Country.
Concord is about 32 miles from San Francisco. (Image: Google Maps)
JetSuiteX promises “a private jet-style experience for the price of an airline seat.” It is offering introductory fares on its first route as low as $109 one-way (note: the lowest fares require a two-week advance purchase; standard fares run $295 each way) on flights that are technically operated as public charters, with an initial schedule of one or two flights a day on weekdays. There are no subscription fees (a la SurfAir).
As for the private jet-style experience, JetSuiteX will operate Embraer E135s configured with 30 seats; they’ll provide a minimum of 36 inches of pitch, 1×2 seating, free Gogo Wi-Fi and streaming entertainment.
Related: It’s getting easier to fly private
Interiors on JetSuite’s Embraer 135 aircraft (Photo: JetSuite)
As an added bonus, passengers will be able to earn points in JetBlue’s True Blue loyalty program. (That’s because the firm is now own partially owned by JetBlue founder David Neeleman.)
JetSuite said it will eventually build up to a fleet of 10 E135s by next year. The Concord-Burbank service starts April 19, and JetSuiteX will operate weekend service from Concord to Las Vegas (Friday night eastbound, Sunday afternoon westbound) beginning April 22.
Schedule provided by JetSuite
On June 30, it plans to add a limited schedule between San Jose Mineta Airport and Bozeman, Montana. Future plans include expansion to additional markets like San Diego, Santa Barbara and Phoenix.
So whaddya think? Would you fly JetSuite from San Francisco’s East Bay to Burbank or Las Vegas? Or would you stick with the majors, or more established players like SurfAir? Leave your comments below.
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If it was an E195 I’m all in brother.
As someone who has flown SurfAir a number of times, I can say that there is plenty of convenience in the notion of arriving 10 minutes before your flight. Also the ability to change flights is very nice. This service appears to be a hybrid of commercial and subscription service. So you pay for flight changes and CCR airport is quite a ways away from the city of San Francisco. Also for flights that arrive into BUR on the private side of the airport, renting a car can be a bit of a challenge (or pricey). Surf Air also services OAK and SQL which are closer to San Francisco, albeit with 8-seater prop planes which fly slower. Interesting option if you’re in East Bay or Napa and need to get to the Valley/North LA.
Next time I’m headed to LA, I’ll have to try this. Avoid the hoi polloi in the main terminal.
I’m glad the free market is starting to try new things like this. I’ve long felt that regular economy seating in airplanes is like something from Dante’s Inferno, but business seats or first class are too expensive to justify the cost. If JetSuiteX can hit a “suite” spot with East Bay business travelers, than that’s great. I’ve stopped taking Muni and BART to SFO because I’m so terrified that a delay or outage will make me miss my flight. If I lived in Walnut Creek I’d absolutely consider flying out of Concord, especially if parking is cheap and abundant.