I recently introduced my wife and daughter to the private jet experience for the first time with a brief family trip to the Bay Area.
A Weekend Family Private Jet Trip
Last summer, my first trip in the air after many months at home was onboard a Citation X from Los Angeles to Scottsdale, Arizona. It was my son Augustine’s first time flying a private jet and we had a great time flying into Arizona then flying back that evening on Southwest Airlines to Los Angeles.
This time, my wife agreed to join us so all four of us flew from Van Nuys to Oakland, again on a Citation X. It was a beautiful 50-minutes in the air and my difficult-to-impress wife was totally impressed by the ease of driving up to the terminal, walking in, having a cup of coffee, then boarding a jet with no security checks.
I warned her not to get used to it!
Since the summer trip, Augustine has turned four years old and was more excited than all of us combined to fly on a “jet airplane” again (he knows how to distinguish most larger aircraft type now, but calls all private jets “jet airplanes”).
It’s not like I decided to splurge for a nice weekend…the flight was free thanks to my friend Nancy, who has access to empty-leg flights when these jets are being repositioned. I am most thankful for her kindness over the years and for allowing my entire family to experience a private jet.
Upon landing in Oakland, we had a rental car waiting for us at Signature FBO from National and decided to drive to Monterey for the night.
Normally, we like spending a weekend in Carmel this time of year, but our beloved Highlands Inn is still offering zero food service. No thanks…at those prices we will wait. Instead, we stayed at the Hyatt Regency in Monterey.
By necessity, empty leg jets arise suddenly. We had little notice about the trip and did not even have time for lunch prior to the flight. When we arrived in Oakland, we were quite hungry.
On the way down to Monterey, we stopped at Texas Road House in Union City. We wanted something quick and substantial this proved to be the perfect stop (it was my first time eating at this restaurant chain…not bad at all for steak assembly line).
It was a fun weekend.
CONCLUSION
We had other commitments we had to return to, so after a lovely day and night in Monterey, we just drove home. It would have been nice to spend the entire weekend there, but our two-day trip turned out to be a well-needed break from the very busy season my family is currently in.
I’ll share more details about the flight in a separate report.
I wish I had friends like Nancy.
So happy for you and your beautiful family.
Great way to spend time with the loved ones.
A flight log, either paper or Google docs or Excel or something should be made for Augustine. My parents did not, leaving me to speculate on the approximate month of travel, airline and aircraft of some early flights.
His sister should have a similar log to treat the two kids equally.
This is lovely – really happy you got to do this together : ) It has been a rough few years for everyone.
I’ve always been very happy with meals at Texas Roadhouse locations. All of the food is made from scratch, which is far from true for most of the chains in that category.
Super random that you ate at Texas Roadhouse, but this is a very sad story: https://people.com/health/texas-roadhouse-kent-taylor-severe-tinnitus-after-covid-illness/.
Texas Roadhouse often has MileagePlusX offers for United cards. I see 17 miles per dollar on my account.
Thank you for this report I want to purchase a jet soon.
Oh, my word: how the ‘other half’ lives! In my reduced circumstances, I’d be scrabbling in my coin purse to reach the bus fare. But envy isn’t healthy…
What fun! I have flown private (props not jets) many times and it is a game changer.
, so easy and stress free.
For the Scottsdale flight did you land at the private Scottsdale airport? During major events that airport gets quite crowded with athletes and celebrities.
On a sadder note the guy who started that restaurant chain just committed suicide. He was suffering from side affects that he got after having covid.
@ I Love Cali…just read that in the news and wow, that is so awful. Showing us just how serious this virus is in the long term for many.
I and my three sons (11, 13 and 15) have been privileged to fly on private jets (Gulfstream 650) for several years now. A very, very good friend owns 26 Gulfstreams and operates a jet charter business, based in the UK. WE have made countless round trips to European destinations. The Gulfstream 650 is the Rolls Royse of business jets. My friend has six orders in for the upcoming Gulfstream 700. Can’t wait to fly on that one.
WE havn’t flown commercial for at least ten years. Flying on private jets is addictive! Just can’t imagine flying.commercial any more!
Great story and I am pleased you were able to have the chance at private jet flying awesome fun trip!
Nice to have Nancy as a friend!!! Texas roadhouse is a great place to eat…
@Stuart
And yet you and Matthew continue to travel during this pandemic. Literal murderers!