I flew on Blade's $2,750-per-seat jet from New York to Miami to see how the other half escape the winter blues — here's what it was like
I flew from New York to Miami on Blade's semi-private jet service, called BLADEone.
Tickets range between $1,675 to $3,450 a seat, plus $595 for a helicopter transfer to the airport.
From caviar to cashmere blankets, I got a taste of how the wealthy travel.
My morning started at the private Blade Lounge by the Westchester County Airport. Passengers were advised to arrive 30 minutes before take-off.
For an extra $595, passengers could take a 15-minute helicopter transfer from Manhattan to the lounge. I opted for the train.
With no security lines or baggage checks, I had time to enjoy a complimentary coffee and relax at the bar — a far cry from the anxiety-inducing hustle of a regular airport.
One passenger told me she has terrible travel anxiety, making the pre-flight convenience the main reason she prefers by-the-seat jet charters over commercial airlines.
Soon, I boarded the plane — a Bombardier Challenger 850 — along with 11 other passengers and 3 flight attendants.
BLADEone offers flights to Miami and Palm Beach between November and April. One frequent flyer from Manhattan said she uses Blade frequently to travel to and from her winter rental home.
The commercial-sized jet typically fits 50 seats, but the BLADEone was renovated for only 16 passengers.
Blade's flight attendants, or "SKYfx cabin attendants," sat on a couch to my right during takeoff and landing. For the rest of the flight, it was open for passengers to socialize.
A couple and a family with two young children sat in the slightly less expensive "Club Seats," which start at $1,675 per person.
10 additional seats were spaciously laid out in the front-half of the plane.
Two passengers brought their dogs onboard. When one relieved himself in the lounge, a staff member even cleaned it up (despite the owner's polite protest).
My assigned seat was the "Captain's Chair" toward the rear of the plane, the more expensive of the two classes.
The plush leather seat could recline and swivel. As someone who is constantly cold on flights, the cashmere blanket had to be one of my favorite perks.
There was more legroom than I could've possibly needed.
Tulips, a goodie bag with toiletries, and a breakfast menu of fresh juices and pastries were placed next to every seat. I ordered a yummy "wellness" drink with ginger, lemon, and cayenne pepper.
A flight attendant then folded out a table from the side of the aircraft and gave me an iPad, Bluetooth headphones, and a portable charger.
The iPad had 12 movies pre-downloaded, as well as a few apps for major newspapers.
The highlight of the flight was definitely the food. We started off strong with my first-ever caviar.
Next up was chia pudding with fresh fruit, which was delicious.
For the main course, we were given the choice of a bagel or croissant with cream cheese and lox. Everything was chilled and tasted super fresh.
The flight was free of any turbulence — I almost forgot I was on a plane at all. The WiFi kicked in at around the one-hour mark, so I was able to answer a few texts and emails.
2.5 hours and a nap later, we landed at Opa Locka Executive Airport in Miami, a little over a 30-minute drive from South Beach.
Blade's Miami lounge was even nicer — and more spacious — than the Westchester location.
Staff quickly brought passengers their luggage, who were out the door within 15 minutes of landing.
I had the lounge to myself as I drank another coffee and waited for my Uber.
Beyond the amenities, what really made the flight a luxurious experience was the level of attention from Blade employees — from the flight attendants and pilots to the lounge bartenders.
The stress-free experience was incomparable to commercial flying, even in first-class. It was clear why wealthy travelers have been more willing to splurge on private aviation services — especially following this year's airline chaos.
Source: Insider
Insider paid a media rate of $250 for this flight. The full ticket price was $2,750.
Read the original article on Business Insider
