Disclaimer
This is NOT a sponsored trip. I am just documenting my flight utilizing my JetSmarter membership.
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Earlier this year, I spent my best $5000 on a private jet membership called JetSmarter! The idea is so brilliant and revolutionary that I created over a $50,000 value for the $5,000 I paid in just 2 months!
The "JetDeal" or "Social" tier membership I paid for allows me to catch any "Empty-Leg" business jet, the availability of which is sent to JetSmarter members on their App every day. On a typical day, there are 20-30 empty leg flights across the Globe mainly in North America and Europe.
The JetSmarter App is one of the many ingenious features that help members to capitalize on their membership investment with JetSmarter. The App will send notification when there is an empty leg business jet available to your choice of destination.
On one particular Friday in October, whilst stuck in a mind numbing office meeting in the afternoon, the App sent me notification about a 2015 made Legacy 650 jet that will be departing empty from Dubai to Cyprus that evening!
I can hardly concentrate anymore in my meeting. My happy trigger finger presses "Go" on the App and within 10 minutes, my flight is confirmed. I am all set to fly in a 15 seater Legacy 650 private jet, exclusively for me and free of charge courtesy of my JetSmarter membership.
I called my wife Vicki, asked her to pack a light suitcase and to come with me for a surprise trip.
We drove to DC Aviation (Jet Aviation) FBO facility in Dubai Al Maktoum Airport (DWC) and arrived 15 minutes before our departure time of 7pm.
DC Aviation has an awesome lounge, probably the best I have ever experienced. I have covered this awesome FBO in my past JetSmarter flight to Kuwait.
The crew is already awaiting us at the door when we arrive. This is a huge advantage and feature of flying exclusive on a private jet; you arrive and fly at your chosen schedule time. No time is lost waiting for the flight, the flight waits for you.
This particular Legacy 650 is operated by a German operator, Air Hamburg Private Jet. It is just 1 year old.
It has just flown in from Moscow, dropped off 10 Russian businessmen and now it is ready to take us to Cyprus.
Welcome onboard our private jet!
There are 3 sections on this rather long Embraer.
The front section has 4 seats face to face on each side.
The middle section has the dining table with 4 seats facing each other.
The rear section has 2 solo seats and a 3 seat sofa which can convert into a bed.
We settled in well. The plane had that “brand new plane” smell everywhere!
The German flight attendant took plenty of pictures for us.
During departure, I introduced myself as an Avgeek to the captain.
He was really kind and allowed me to sit on the jump seat to watch the taxi and take-off from Dubai DWC.
We departed from Runway 30 with a flight time of 4 hours 18 minutes to Larnaca, Cyprus.
You can see the take-off footage from the cockpit in the video.
After a nice climb to our initial cruise altitude of 39,000 feet, I returned to the cabin to find some good snacks already served!
The flight attendant told us there would be no catering for the flight, apart from the snacks, because of the last minute nature. Dubai usually requires at least 12 hours’ notice to prepare the catering.
But at least there were plenty of beverages including wine and Moët & Chandon champagne.
We moved to the dining section where we were encouraged to feel at home.
The atmosphere was very relaxing and most of all private. It is not every day you get to fly in the sky without other passengers around you!
Vicki relaxing and reading a fashion magazine.
All of the seats can recline into a full flat position. The leg rest can come up (Except the middle seats here)
The private bathroom at the rear of the aircraft.
The rear section is the most private and intimate one.
After snacks and lounging around, we retire to the "bedroom" to enjoy some private time.
The flight attendant was busy taking more pictures of us.
She told us to feel at home and wanted to get our best (and natural) side!
The cabin can be controlled by each individual console including temperature and lighting (which usually you cannot do on a commercial jet)
I am not sure what the "Water" button does....
Our routing was across the Persian Gulf, overfly Bahrain, then enter Saudi Arabia (2 hours overfly) cross the red sea directly over Cairo and then turn North heading for Cyprus.
All because we have to avoid Syria and Iraq, this added about, at least, 30 minutes onto the flight plan.
I watched a lightning show in the sky, with massive energy being released near Egypt at 40,000 feet.
After Cairo, we headed North for the Mediterranean Island of Cyprus. First we flew past Paphos during our descent.
After a pretty long, 4 hours 20 minutes, flight we finally arrive in Larnaca around 11:30pm local time.
I was fortunate enough to observe the landing from the jump seat once again!
You can see the landing footage from the cockpit in the video.
A final picture together with the lovely flight crew.
Cockpit of The Legacy 650 jet.
We were picked up by a VIP van which took us directly to the Executive Terminal for the arrival formalities.
The massive Executive Terminal Lounge at Larnaca.
Conclusion
Out of the thousands of flights I have taken; this is easily the most private flight I have ever flown.
In many ways it is a very different experience to commercial flying. You arrive at the airport at your own pace, even just a few minutes before the departure of your flight, you do not have to share with others, you feel completely relaxed and like you are at home and you receive the utmost care and attention during the flight. I would say that the best features of private jet flying is the privacy, the convenience and of course the service!
While most of us dream of the supreme comfort and convenience of flying on a private jet; we assume that this privilege is reserved only for the rich and famous (my flight has a value of $40,000 if you charter it outright!) However this is not necessarily the case, as it turns out, flying private may actually be within the reach of many regular folks, all thanks to JetSmarter.
I am delighted by the existence of JetSmarter, they have fulfilled many a person's dream to fly on a Private Jet and in an affordable way. It really is revolutionizing private aviation and is making private jet aviation a reality for the masses.
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