Summary Vaunt offers one-way private jet flights in the US, with costs offset by empty-leg flights for flexibility. The app's membership works using waitlists for flights, which are effectively free after the membership fee of $995$ is paid. A Priority Upgrade, i.
e., a higher place on the waitlist, can be obtained once a year for a fee of $995. Flying in private jets is usually perceived as one of the most expensive ways to get around - and it can be, with flights between Paris and London selling for around €5,500 ($6,000) with a local charter operator.
However, these jets then need to go to other destinations as ferry flights - those are called empty legs, and certain operators sell them for a fraction of the price. Let's find out how it works and what options you may have should you want to try it out yourself. Who is Vaunt? As per Vaunt's official website , its membership provides access to waitlists for one-way private jet flights nationwide in the United States.
The application introduces new flights daily. Typically, flights become available for booking 3–5 days before the scheduled departure. While some Vaunt routes have a higher frequency, these flights are not predetermined.
Currently, all flights are limited to the continental United States. How does the Vaunt membership work? Vaunt's website notes that members can join multiple waitlists, and there needs to be a cap on how many flights they can take. Membership allows individuals to check the status and see its position on any waitlist they've joined; they get updates if there are any changes to the flight schedule.
Each waitlist is finalized 24 hours before the flight is due to depart. Vaunt primarily uses the Hondajet on its flights. The most unusual feature of the HondaJet is its engine placement.
How much is the membership An annual fee of $995 allows someone to cover all their flight expenses for a year. This fee provides access to any available flights and waitlists. With this membership, there's no limit to how many flights one can take, offering the freedom to travel as much as desired throughout the year.
The rationale for offering flights solely in one direction at a low-cost lies in using the empty-leg flight concept. Further elaboration on this subject will be provided in subsequent sections of the article. Making the travel experience more comfortable What are the pros and cons of such memberships? Members also have the option to upgrade their aircraft selection with a "Priority Upgrade," which allows them to advance to the top of the waiting list and secure the first position, guaranteeing their seat on the flight.
This annual Priority Upgrade is available once per year for a fee of $995. If two members intend to use their Priority Upgrade for the same flight, priority will be given to the member who purchases and utilizes the upgrade first. Who is Vaunt's main competitor? In the private aviation industry, numerous operators offer opportunities to book flights on their empty legs, placing them in competition with Vaunt.
From my perspective, however, only one operator, XO Jet, a subsidiary of the Vista group, employs a comparable strategy. While XO Jet's services extend beyond solely operating empty legs, a significant portion of its website is dedicated to this offering. Effectively, it specialize in providing customers with an experience akin to Vistajet but at a significantly reduced cost.
It even goes further than Vaunt by offering a private jet experience that is bookable by seat. The two brands make up synergistic arms of Vista's operation worldwide and offer passengers a variety of choices. What are empty legs, and why is it cheap? Simple Flying evaluated an empty-leg flight aboard a Phenom 300E earlier this year.
Upon thorough pre-flight research, we ascertained that a substantial percentage of private jets operate empty legs between 30% and 50%, which signifies their repositioning between two chartered legs. Since operators must cover the expenses associated with jet operation, such as jet fuel and pilot salaries, these flights often result in a net financial loss. In most cases, charter prices cover these costs, which explains why long flights across continents can be costly (for example, a quote from Paris to Doha by Qatar Executive often exceeds $100,000).
One alternative approach to offsetting these expenses is to monetize the vacant segments of the travel. These segments can be acquired at significantly reduced rates, provided one is open to unconventional departure times and demonstrates flexibility in scheduling. An illustration of the cost of an empty-leg flight To gain insight into the cost efficiency of traveling on an empty leg, let's examine Mirai, a service similar to Vaunt operating in Europe.
As displayed on its platform, a flight from Tallinn to Riga is advertised at €1,877 . When converted, this amount equates to approximately $2,050. The aircraft is a Learjet 60, designed to accommodate up to 7 passengers.
While the cost may initially appear high, it is akin to renting a car. When divided among seven occupants, the per-person cost decreases to $285. One of the tires burst during takeoff, forcing the pilots to abort.
Is flying on an empty leg worth it? Flying empty legs can be a cost-effective way to experience private aviation, leveraging flights that need to be repositioned between charter services. With 30% to 50% of private jets operating as empty legs to cover chartered flight transitions, these segments represent an opportunity for significant savings compared to traditional charter costs. For instance, a journey that might otherwise cost over $100,000 can be substituted with an empty-leg flight at a fraction of that price, provided passengers are flexible with their travel plans.
Vaunt capitalizes on its offerings by providing access to a wide range of one-way, private jet flights across the continental US. Despite an annual fee of $995, the savings surpass those of chartered flights, yet it remains more expensive than commercial air travel. So it's up to the individual consumer to choose the most value for their money.
For people in Europe, a flight using Mirai from Tallinn to Riga, shared among seven passengers, costs just $285 each—a stark contrast to conventional private jet charter costs. This approach not only makes private flying more accessible but also offers an unparalleled travel experience devoid of typical commercial flight hassles..
