On cloud nine to Dubai
This is the "Rolls Royce" of private jets!
Whether for an efficient business meeting in the air or simply to jet off to Dubai for shopping and fine dining without wasting time: Business and leisure dreams come true faster in a private jet. CC editor-in-chief Simone Dressler was convinced of the advantages of the part-ownership program offered by private jet provider Flexjet on board a Gulfstream.
Our small group of journalists spends just ten minutes at the Private Aviation Terminal in Vienna Schwechat before we can take our seats in the belly of the Gulfstream G650. This aircraft is not only regarded as the "Rolls Royce" among private jets, but also has two engines from engine specialist Rolls-Royce Holdings plc. Incidentally, this high-performance long-haul luxury jet is offered exclusively by Flexjet in the part-ownership program in Europe. The interior of the private aircraft is elegant, with 16 oval XXL windows typical of Gulfstream, hand-stitched leather-covered walls and seats as well as doors and tables with exotic wood veneers.
The look is reminiscent of the interior of an intimate luxury yacht or the interior of a noble road cruiser if it had a 2.5 m wide and 15 m long interior. One thing is certain: Flexjet, the flying part ownership provider with global headquarters in Ohio and London, wants to be everything but "ordinary". The LXi Cabin "Capri", in which we took a seat, is proof of this. It is part of the Flexjet Collection of the most luxurious aircraft interiors, each of which has been tailor-made. A distinguishing feature that sets Flexjet apart from other private jet providers.
We are welcomed by two flight attendants with mulled wine and stollen as a nod to the seasonal customs of the country of departure. It's actually a nice idea, but on a warm late-November morning it doesn't seem to be the ideal starting package for some private jet novices. What comes next, however, is all the more impressive: the jet races silently over the runway and presses us comfortably into the backrests of the perfectly shaped leather seats. After just a few minutes, the cruising altitude of almost 14,000 m is reached. The flight time to Dubai is indicated on the flight monitors as just over five hours, which is around half an hour less than commercial aircraft flying at an altitude of 9,000 to 12,000 meters.
Higher up, the air is not only thinner but also extremely calm, not the slightest turbulence can be felt. In the meantime, a champagne cooler and plates of canapés have taken their place on the chic sideboard. Flight attendant Sara pours generously from a bottle of Ruinart Blanc de Blancs and places the champagne glasses on the narrow bar table between the seats opposite each other. Flexjet regularly works with the Ruinart brand, so if we would prefer a different champagne, we should just say so . There is no objection, no way. As part owners of Flexjet, passengers can of course choose what they want to eat on board before the flight. It depends on the time of day or the reason for the flight, says Sara. She has already experienced the flight being handled as a pure business meeting and passengers having almost nothing at all apart from a few non-alcoholic drinks. In general, the owners use the flights for both business and pleasure.
Interested frequent flyers can become part owners of a private jet from a requirement of 50 flight hours per year. However, the acquisition costs vary depending on the aircraft type, with the Gulfstream G650 offering space for up to 12 passengers at the top level. 50 flight hours correspond to exactly 1/16 of a jet whose performance is calculated at 800 flight hours per year. Ownership shares of up to 400 flight hours are possible, i.e. half the capacity of a jet per year. In addition to the acquisition fees, however, monthly costs, pilot provision, insurance, hangar and administration as well as a flight hour fee, which covers the direct costs for maintenance, engine reserves, pilot fees and catering, are also due. Is it worth it? "It's definitely worth it for anyone who can manage with a package of a maximum of 400 flying hours," promises Marketing Director Tom Ville. You should consider the costs and effort involved in owning your own jet, in terms of maintenance and personnel alone.
In the meantime, Sara has transformed our bar table into a large dining table, decorated with a white tablecloth, china and flowers, and the sideboard on which the Ruinart was just standing has been transformed into new seating at the touch of a button . Lorenzo Vivoli, Communications Director of the world-famous Antinori wine dynasty, now sits on them. Lorenzo himself has selected the wines that will accompany us for lunch today. "Wines develop a different taste at high altitudes and with different air pressure and should not be so heavy". For the first course, he recommends a Cervaro from the Umbrian winery Castello della Sala. A good choice, which also goes perfectly with the hand-cut beef tartare . The Antinori Group is one of many highly decorated partners with whom Flexjet regularly cooperates. After all, the owners are offered much more beyond the cabin than just a quota of flying hours, perfect travel arrangements and the guaranteed availability of their private jet. Regular VIP access to major annual events such as the Royal Ascot Horse Racing Week or the Snow Polo in St. Moritz, guided tours of wineries or curated trips to selected hotel partners are also included.
That little bit extra
The few hours here literally fly by, not least because of the charming care and conversation with the flight attendants Sara and Megan from Hamburg and London, who, thanks to their excellent training, can turn small talk into an exciting conversation if they sense that the passenger is interested. We are briefly interrupted when a sleepy journalist colleague looks for a place to sleep. This is conjured up by Sara and Megan in a flash: in an extra room at the back of the jet, an ottoman is converted into a double bed and equipped with the appropriate sleeping utensils. There is even a bathroom and a lockable door to the main cabin.
Part ownership of the G620 always includes the "Red Label® by Flexjet" program, in which cabin crew are trained in the company's own Red Label Academy and are trained as the dedicated crew of a specific jet for the owner's particular preferences. In addition, the crew undergo regular service training at the partner hotel group Dorchester Collection. This is a good thing for us, as we are on our way to the latest jewel in this extraordinary hotel collection: the spectacular The Lana, Dubai. READ MORE HERE
Advantages of private jet fractional ownership with Flexjet
■ Most modern fleet in Europe: Preator 600, Gulfstream G650, Sikorsky S-76 helicopter
■ Advantages of full ownership of a private jet without the associated maintenance
maintenance, servicing or crew obligations
■ Guaranteed availability
■ Short deployment times
■ LXi cabin equipment and Red Level®
■ Ability to switch between different aircraft types
■ Maximum discretion regarding the identity of the owners
www.flexjet.com
