While many private jet companies eschew the image of over-the-top luxury and flair, preferring to focus on productivity, utility, and now with COVID-19, virus avoidance, the low-key route has never been the flight plan at VistaJet.
Standing out has always been its DNA. In a sea of vanilla jets, the global charter operator’s fleet of shiny silver Bombardier aircraft with the distinctive red stripes have a unique tarmac appeal.
For an industry often targeted as wasteful and where being a bit boring is the norm, the VistaJet recipe accentuates the luxury aspects of flying private, exponentially.
Global private jet charter operator VistaJet has unveiled its first-ever dedicated campaign to … [+]
Sure, other jet companies offer quality catering. Its Chairman’s Menu entails flying a private chef ahead of your flight to personally source local ingredients and develop custom recipes based on your preferences. Yes, you read that correctly.
That’s not an isolated example. Private aviation companies happily stock video games and books for your kids. VistaJet brings in-character actors aboard to entertain them for Alice in Wonderland-style tea parties or Hollywood make your own movie productions as you and your scions jet to the slopes in Gstaad or your yacht in Bodrum.
And sure, private jets love pets. But what other operators offer fear of flying courses for your best furry friend?
The same holds when it comes to luxury travel. Many private jet companies have partnerships with hotels, resorts, and clubs. You get a nice brochure and a phone number, in many cases, some terrific deals.
VistaJet gives you access to its Private Office, complete with the same staff who have founder’s Thomas Flohr’s black book contacts. Instead of partnering with one or two travel advisors, the company recruited over 50 top travel designers to map out fantasy trips for clients.
Needless to say, VistaJet doesn’t mess around with a bunch of puddle jumping light jets and turboprops. Its entry-level aircraft is a Challenger 350, a super-midsize private jet that sells for over $25 million and can fly coast-to-coast. Much of the fleet is made of ultra-long-haul aircraft, including the new Global 7500, which retails for around $75 million and can fly from Hong Kong to Los Angeles nonstop.
VistaJet’s fleet of silver and red-stripe private jets stand out in the sea of vanilla business … [+]
With the largest worldwide footprint of any fixed-rate membership program, VistaJet has always been well-positioned to handle corporate travel, and its clientele is peppered with chairmen and billionaires.
However, with COVID-19 making more companies focus on private travel as a “duty of care” alternative to using the airlines, VistaJet is making its first-ever targeted push to woe CFOs and the entire C-Suite instead of just the boss.
Matteo Atti, the executive vice president in charge of marketing and innovation, says for all of the perks, VistaJet isn’t more expensive.
Those Mad Hatter flights are paid extra by customers who want them. And, it’s that same ability to customize programs that makes VistaJet believe its non-ownership approach will be immensely popular with your bean counters.
Its launch last month of a first-ever program specifically targeting corporate accounts was in development even before a 49% increase jump in interest from companies during the COVID-19 pandemic, says Atti.
It follows the debut of VistaJet Dynamic Lease at the outset of the pandemic. In that case, customers who want a dedicated private jet can lease aircraft with dedicated crew on a month-to-month basis. The airplane is based at an airport most convenient to you, literally on call day or night.
As VistaJet makes its first dedicated approach to the corporate travel market, it says by the … [+]
Dynamic Corporate Membership requires a commitment of at least 50 flight hours over 12 months. Lead time for reserving your aircraft is 24 hours for domestic flights and 48 hours for most international destinations. Atti admits there is a lot more work to arrange necessary permits due to pandemic related restrictions, however, he says it’s all in a days’ work. “It’s something we are good at.”
Your CFO will appreciate there’s an option to pay after you fly, and that by booking in advance – typically seven days before your flight – and some flexibility – you can save up to 30% over typical rates. VistaJet doesn’t publish a price list, but one-way hourly rates that include any ferry flight expenses are thought to range between $12,000 and $20,000.
Not having to worry about repositioning charges is a significant benefit of VistaJet’s corporate offering, particularly if you fly to far flung parts of the world. Its fixed-rate service area covers 90% of the globe.
There’s also dual aircraft usage. Atti says with more executives working from home, it often means two executives coming to important meetings from different places.
And for those of you whose companies are operating from the office, VistaJet will implant a travel coordinator at your headquarters to plan company flight needs with your staff in real-time.
For time critical meetings, there’s a “hot standby” option. That means if the aircraft you reserved is unavailable for any reason, for example, a last-minute mechanical, there is another jet there and ready to go so you aren’t delayed.
Your company also earns credits if executives sign-up with the company for personal use.
Most of all, in these ever-changing times, you get similar benefits to fractional ownership and long-term leases without the typical commitment of three to five years. At the same time, fixed-rates enable you to budget more closely than on-demand charter.
While VistaJet may have some work to do in terms of showing finance directors that a company that unabashedly showcases the UHNW lifestyle can be a cost-effective business travel provider as well, Atti says, “Our innovative programs aim to redefine every aspect of excellence in private aviation. We are here to design the future of aviation.”
If you are worried the move to attract more of the mundane business travel market will make it dull down its over-the-top approach to luxury, never fear. Just a week ago it rolled out VistaJet Private World. The evolutionary offering goes beyond suites and ski slopes, officially adding private islands and superyachts.