After three months on the ground, it was lovely to the return to the air. What made it even better? Introducing my son to a private jet experience at LAX.
My friend Nancy is incredibly resourceful and generous. She has memberships with Delta Private Jets (Wheels Up) and XOJET (formerly JetSmarter) that allow her to fly on empty leg repositioning flights when a private jet needs to go from one location to another to facilitate a charter flight. Depending on the type of membership, she can opt for a specific number of seats or the whole jet, and often offers extra seats to friends and family.
Nancy texted me to let me know that Delta was running an empty leg from Los Angeles to Scottsdale, Arizona utilizing a Citation X. She asked if I wanted to take Augustine along on a little ride. A free ride on a private jet at LAX? It took me only a few seconds to say yes.
Since our new baby drinks only breast milk right now, I’m of limited use in caring for her (beyond changing diapers) and my wife was happy to have the afternoon off from her two boys. So we confirmed the Citation X. To get home, I thought about a road trip adventure with little Augustine, but with most businesses still closed at the time, we ended up booking $69 fares on Southwest from Phoenix to Los Angeles. We’d be on the ground less than two hours in Arizona…
The whole private jet portion of the experience was business-as-usual. You drive up to the private jet terminal, you walk right in, your captain greets you and escorts you the plane, and you leave. Maybe it’s a few minutes earlier than scheduled, maybe a few minutes later…doesn’t matter. It’s just you and it’s a pleasure not to have to deal with security checkpoints or crowds.
After landing in Scottsdale, we drove to Phoenix Sky Harbor International for the Southwest Airlines flight back. PHX was a ghost town, with most concessions closed and very few people in sight. I noted that few chose to wear masks while walking through the terminal, but every single passenger wore masks on the Southwest flight (“full” with every aisle and window seat taken).
CONCLUSION
The trip took place a couple weeks ago. We quarantined after and I had a COVID-19 test. It was negative and we are feeling great.
Tomorrow I’ll review the private jet flight and then next week the Southwest Airlines flight, which was actually quite surprising (in a positive way).
Stay tuned! It was so fun to get back in the air, but introducing Augustine to the private jet experience was truly something special.
Nice father and son time, and Nancy is very generous indeed. I’m finding Southwest is really ramping up on the west coast, and has the flight when you need it.
I wish I had Augustine’s head of hair!
So do I!
That is an awesome treat. I am sure that both of you enjoyed the ride.
We certainly did!
I know I’ve mentioned this in the comments before, but it is absurd how similar our sons look. Every time you post a picture of Augustine I think you’ve kidnapped my 4-year-old! 🙂
We both have cute kids! 🙂
Did you see my response to your comment in the Mount Athos post?
We do both have cute kids!
Also, I had forgotten to check back on the Mt Athos one. Thanks for reminding me. I left another comment there.
Can load up on private flights membership cards without the Federal Exercise Tax per CARES Act at the moment. 7.5% discounts.
Very cool. It will be really great for Augustine to see what a rock star he was when little. That Citation X is one of the fastest jets in the sky, I believe it will cruise at Mach 0.90 +.
Nice leather bag you have too.
Looking forward to the reviews.
“We quarantined after and I had a COVID-19 test.”
^what a great virtue signal
Not at all, that’s just him being responsible. You calling him out for that is you douchebag signaling, that is, you are signaling that you are a giant douchebag.
I met Matthew for the first time on this flight and it was a treat.
Oh the picture with the safety card! Our son was obsessed with those and as he got older, he would remark aloud about all possible scenarios, which caused me a great deal of anxiety. I resorted to boarding ahead of my husband and son to remove his card. The little guy immediately told the FA he needed a card!
When I read this comment, I began to wonder if airlines need single use safety cards just like restaurants have moved to single use menus. Not sure the answer. I guess if planes are really being deep cleaned between flights, this shouldn’t be too much work.
Nice. Private jets: the lifestyle I deserve but can’t afford.
So, sorta unpopular opinion, but I kinda hate PJs. I’ve been on them multiple times with work and a handful of times outside of work and I think they’re boring. Aside from the tranquility and ease of boarding you get at the “private” terminal, the inflight experience is “meh”. The drink selections on mainline carrier flights are usually much better, though the specific alcohols are maybe less top shelf. But I’m no connoisseur so I’m fine with a Jack and Coke and don’t need JW Blue or Red Label. The PJs I’ve been on didn’t have entertainment aside from a DVD player, so there wasn’t anything akin to what you’d find on a flight with the US3. Of course, my flights were all under 5 hours, but honestly, the coolest thing was the flight crew confirming with me ahead of time my fave alcohol, soft drink, and snack food ahead of time so they could make sure they had Reese’s Pieces on board. Bottom line at back: unless you *own* the PJ, they’re fairly overrated.
AR – agree – value is really about privacy for families / businesses and convenience esp for those who don’t live in large markets with lots of flights