JSX promises a semi-private flying experience at commercial prices, and I put it to the test on a quick hop from Las Vegas to Burbank.
JSX E145 Review (LAS-BUR)
I already offered my first impressions of this flight but will offer more details in this full review.
> Read More: Flying JSX For The First Time Was A Mixed Bag Of Luxury And Letdown
JSX offers a semi-private service using a fleet of ERJ-135/145 jets with 30 seats onboard, offering scheduled “charter” service between several cities (yes, I note the oxymoron).
While most US carriers operate under 14 CFR Part 121 (a classification for regularly-scheduled air carriers), JSX operates under 14 CFR Part 135 (a classification primarily for commuter and on-demand operations).
This is what allows JSX to offer a quasi-private jet experience and use pilots older than 65 (who still must pass the same rigorous health requirements as their younger counterparts) or have flown less than 1,500 hours.
I’ve written in detail about this issue here.
Booking a week before travel, the price of JSX was not all that different than Southwest Airlines, which also offers nonstop service between Las Vegas and Burbank (Spirit Airlines was significantly cheaper, but the timings did not work). Initially, I booked directly with JSX. But shortly after booking, I noticed United Airlines was selling the same flight for the same price, so I cancelled the JSX booking and booked with United, in hopes of the miles for my flight crediting more easily (and by my calculation, quite a few more miles than by booking with JSX).
Ultimately, I only received 112 miles (I still have to follow up with United…):
I could have paid extra for a seat assignment, but saw no need to do so…I don’t think there’s a bad seat onboard.
The JSX Terminal in Las Vegas is super convenient…just across the street from the Mandalay Bay (5616-A Haven Street).
Inside, there’s a lounge/waiting area divided into several rooms and a flight check-in counter. You need only check in 20 minutes before your flight. Boarding passes are printed on thermal paper, like receipts (versus electronic boarding passes). The terminal was nice enough…it reminded me of a typical FBO terminal you might encounter when flying private. There was a coffee machine, packaged snacks, and drinks.
Restrooms were clean (no showers):
About 30 minutes prior to my 4:00 pm scheduled departure, JSX announced my flight was delayed….by 15 minutes. The 3:45 pm flight to Burbank was still showing on-time, but that turned out to be delayed too almost as long as my flight.
Boarding was called at 4:00 pm. The gate agent announced the flight was ready for boarding, everyone lined up, then everyone went through a modified security check. Carry-on bags were x-rayed, but you walk through what appears like those metal detectors in hospitals or museums, not the standard airport metal detectors.
From there, you enter a holding pen… after everyone is screened, the gate is opened and passengers are escorted to the aircraft.
JSX (XE) 121
Las Vegas (LAS) – Burbank (BUR)
Monday, July 28
Depart: 4:00 PM
Arrive: 5:10 PM
Duration: 1hr, 10min
Distance: 223 miles
Aircraft: Embraer 145
Seat: 12A (single-cabin)
Whitely, the flight attendant onboard, warmly greeted me as I boarded and I surveyed the 1-1 seating configuration onboard. JSX removed the second seat in the standard E135/145 1-2 configuration and made it a side table.
The cabin has no overhead bins to give it a more spacious feel, but seats have been spaced out such that there is more room for carry-on bags underneath seats.
Unfortunately, my window was very scratched.
We took off and were soon in the air. After a very bumpy ascent, we hit smooth air and Whitley sprang into service, offering everyone a beverage and snack.
I double-dipped with both a Spritz Del Conte (an Italian aperitif-style spritz cocktail…i.e. a knock-off Aperol Spritz) and a Dripdash Kyoto-style iced coffee. Whitely also encouraged me to try all the snacks…almonds, potato chips, olives, and cookies.
I liked the snack and drink selection onboard and appreciated the warm and gracious service. Furthermore, the Starlink internet worked like a charm…I loved how easy it was to connect and how the service functioned seamlessly gate-to-gate.
There’s one lavatory in the rear of the aricraft and it retrofitted…a much nicer countertop than the E145 lavatories you see onboard an American Eagle or United Express flight.
We landed in Burbank just a few minutes after the 3:45 pm departure arrived, meaning we had to sit for 10 minutes waiting for that flight to unload before we could.
On the way out, Whitley offered everyone a mint.
The Burbank Terminal operation is similar…I like how passengers were invited to stay and in the lounge while waiting for their ride.
I had parked my car on Empire Avenue and just had a short walk to my car (valet service is also offered at $50/day).
CONCLUSION
I thought JSX was a great experience on the air. I did enjoy it and would try it again, especially at the price point. However, I have to admit that I really missed visiting the Capital One Lounge in LAS before my flight, and if I was hungry, I just might fly Southwest over JSX just to spend 90 minutes in that lounge.
I’ve got to figure out now why I was only awarded a fraction of the United miles I was promised for my flight…
JSX seems like a fine concept, but I don’t understand the “semi-private” moniker. It’s a scheduled flight with 30 people. There are plenty of aircraft in commercial service that are smaller and fly to equally quiet and simple terminals that don’t purport to be private.
The photo of California off the wing shows that California is a vast wasteland .
Nice review, any information on their loyalty club as pictured in the lobby? I assume they have no partners.
Also why do airlines deal with these small snack companies that are trying to be fancy? I mean the only way I can think of to screw up Potato Chips is to add avocado oil to them. Who does that?
The JSX loyalty program is essentially a 5% rebate on your fare that can be used for future travel.
If the avocado oil was used instead of other oils (not in addition) then the potato chip would actually be much better than if made using soybean or canola. Avocado oil has no flavor, like soybean and canola, but is nutritionally far far far better.
They fly your pet dog. Carrier $100, or larger dogs can purchase a seat it seems. For some this would be less stressful than the pretend service animal going through a large terminal.
If the seating is 1-1, why does the seatmap show a 1-2 seating layout? Does it automatically select the C seat for you if you choose a B seat (and vice versa)?
That seat map was for the E-135 aircraft instead of the E-145 he rode on. The E-135 is smaller and has ten rows of three seats. The E-145 is larger, and has a longer cabin with fifteen rows of two seats each. You can see that in the pictures provided. The middle seat was converted to a flat area with drink holders.
That’s odd because that seat map was for my flight…maybe an equipment change?
If you choose the B seat , you will be choosing the table .
Dude, you’re so handsome it’s unfair!
He’s also a hunk to boot.
Right? Of all those pics, two are my favorite!
When you reconcile your Mileage Plus accrual be sure and let us know what PQP & PQF you end up with.
As a 1K assume you’re expecting the United.com indicated 2,662 RDMs plus 242 PQP + 1 PQF rather than the 112 RDMs plus 0 PQP + 0 PQF it looks like you actually received.
Also what’s your opinion on the dripdash Kyoto iced coffee (noting it’s 150 mg caffeine vs 190 in the canned illy cold brew that United offers).
It’s delicious – I love it more than the illy on United (which I also like).
Matthew’s mastered the fine art of blue steel selfies.
Click bait… and I click every time! (Sometimes multiple clicks…).
That’s the nicer JSX plane than the one I flew on with the family LAX – LAS. We had the ghetto 1-2 configuration economy seats. Was not impressed with the product. The terminal is like a run down office building. It was an interesting experience but don’t know if I would do it again. Wife preferred the lounges of the LAX terminals .
Thanks for the review Matthew. Very useful considering the JSX flight credit on all the United Chase cards that I need to figure out if I want to use.
Interesting review, thanks.
I tried them in the spring just to satisfy my curiosity; LAS-OAK. I thought the ‘private terminal’ at LAS was awful – it was like a school canteen. Dirty bathrooms, overcrowded, and lots of problems at check-in because almost everyone had to pay for excess baggage. I thought it was a cheap, subpar facility – only soft drinks. Even the most basic business lounge has booze. I know they’re not billing it as a business lounge, but I’d thought their claims of the private experience might extend to a G&T or snifter of pinot.
The cabin crew was really friendly, and I liked the inflight service from that perspective, but I was surprised at plastic cups.
Fun experience to tick it off my list but I wouldn’t go out of my way for them again. The crew were strict with cabin safety for takeoff and landing, which I appreciated (as an ex-FA).
The most exciting part was taxiing past some Janet 737s at LAS! So cool to see them up close.
A wonderful flight experience between two wonderful cities.