Business class overseas only. I can make it anywhere in coach class and private jets are what seperates the rich from the mega rich. $8k to fly from Little Rock to Chicago for a concert and back. Just too much. Nice, but too much.

I have been in PJ's a few times for biz and a few for pleasure but always on someone elses dime. I could never see justifying that money unless my time became ALOT more valuable. I can see for CEO's who have packed schedules and for mega ballers who just dont give a shit. On my personal dime I go coach and get the upgrade thru exec plat status. First class isnt what it used to be unless you are on some of the posh airlines with new planes. Just an opportunity to have a little more room and get drunk for free.

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"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

-- Winston Churchill

I'd say the best thing about going on the Private Jet has got to be the ability to drive onto the runway. Imagine being 17, driving ur boss's lambo vt on a friggin runway. My old boss f'd me for life. Now I travel on Virgin America.

you do charity work - i save people

- chuck

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01 996tt - GT700
forged pistons, forged rods, clubsport intercoolers, upgraded fuel system, gen 1 fabspeed loud exhaust, sachs stg 3 clutch, 964 light-weight flywheel, b&m short shifter, motons, oz superleggera III wheels, strosek rear spoiler, lots of carbon fiber inside, custom lamborghini titanium metallic paint

US AIr Chairman = first class upgrade for me and guest of choice each flight.

I hate coach, at 6'2", I just can't sit there without my knees getting bruised. Agree on the food in FC, not what it used to be...I remember when they used to make you a hotfudge sundae after a steak dinner and had real silverwear.

For PJ, I've only used small and medium size jets, never anything bigger than a 14 seat plane. The convenience is nice, can't beat just showing up and boarding. Comfort wise, I don't like the small jets for anything over 2 hours...it's just too cramped. Flight to SLC from Philly became uncomfortable.

With PJ, you're usually flying with a friend or two, or business associate and sometimes it's nice to have a little more space on a commercial flight than crammed together so close for 5+hours...don't even want to mention how unpleasant the whole trip becomes when someone had mexican for lunch and uses the head!

As far as cost, I've worked with Marquis Jets, PrivatAir, Alerion and Segrave on new customer acquisition programs through motorsports sponsorships. The basic #'s are in business travel, PJ is cheaper overall. Assuming:
-you would be traveling during nomral business hours where you'd normally be working
-you would have 2 hours travel/security time at each end of the flight from office and appointment
-there is a FBO within 20 minutes of your office/appointment
-each seat on the plane would be filled with a person who needs to go to the appointment
-each employee makes $60,000/year.

This means if two sales guys were going to travel to give a demonstration, it would usually require a 1/2 day of travel there, back and then the time for the presentation. Add costs for hotel rooms, food, and out of office time. Instead, those two sales guys can take 2 engineers with them to help with demonstration and 1 executive to lend support, check email at the office, drive to FBO and be in the air instantly and return as soon as the meeting is done, making it back to the office same day. Overall cost to the company is cheaper with charter flights than commercial route.

Doesn't forget to factor in time away from families and the toll it takes on employees work performance, risks of cancelled or oversold flights, lost baggage and all the other unpleasantries of commercial travel.

Really, the best way to travel is to not. If you're important enough, people will come to you

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-Ron