Private jet airline offers 'mystery' European flights for £420pp
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A private jet company is selling luxury flights from just £420pp - with just one small catch.
Global aircraft charter specialists Chapman Freeman is offering mere mortals the chance to globetrot like an A-lister, as long as they don't mind not knowing where they're heading.
The company's just-launched 'blind booking' service promises a luxury flight to and from a European destination for between four and six passengers on one of the airline's swanky fleet.
Passengers pay from 3,000 euros, around £2,500, for a one-way journey on the plane, which works out at around £840 per person for a return journey, based on the full capacity of six people flying.
While you can't dictate where your pilot flies you to, there are options to influence the trip, with passengers able to pick from themes including 'romance', 'outdoor action', 'city break', 'Germany exclusive' and 'sun and beach'.
After filling out an online form, the company says its flight broker team will then check in with travellers on the same day with details of where's available for the bougie mile-high adventure.
And there's a get-out clause too should you not fancy the destination you're jetting into - you can simply turn down the flight when offered.
How will you fly? Planes in the company's fleet include the sleek Dassault Falcon 7X, the kind of jet you might spy on a Premier League footballer's Instagram account, which boasts a spacious interior, with white leather seats and picture windows.
Private jet brand Chapman Freeman says the flights, which visit European destinations, are 'ideal for adventurers who want to let go and be surprised, but still expect luxury at every step'
Passengers can recline on board the company's luxury fleet, which includes the Dassault Falcon 7X, during the flight to their destination, which they'll find out on booking
Launching the service last month, the airline said: 'For blind booking customers, the appeal lies in the spontaneity and exclusivity.
'Chapman Freeborn offers an elevated travel experience without the complicated logistical overplanning, ideal for adventurers who want to let go and be surprised, but still expect luxury at every step.'
The brand says it thinks the idea will entice travellers from the US to explore more of Europe, in style.
The company said it hopes the concept appeals to those looking for something different.
A spokesperson said: 'Inspired by the same wanderlust-driven mindset fueling the popularity of exploring and immersing in new cultures and destinations, Blind Booking gives travelers the chance to fly by private jet to a holiday retreat they won’t learn about until right before takeoff.'
It's not the first time an airline has offered passengers the chance to have the excitement of the unknown on a trip.
Last year, Scandinavian Airlines launched a 'Destination Unknown' flight for members of its frequent flyer loyalty program.
While there are no similar future trips in the pipeline for the Scandi airline, those interested can sign up for alert when the company reveals its next mystery trip.
Former stockbroker Ricky Sitomer (pictured) has been providing private jet services since 2001 and says people in parts of the US are now using them 'like taxis'
Sitomer said popular trips include 'helicopters and C-liners to the Hamptons, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and Toronto'
Private jet usage has soared in recent years, particularly in the US.
Last month, founder of Star Jets International, Ricky Sitomer, told DailyMail.com he has seen an increase in demand for journeys less than 300 miles rise by around 35 percent over the past three years.
The airline owner said New York's super-rich are using private jets like taxis, with trips from Manhattan to relatively close vacation islands like Nantucket soaring.
Sitomer's frequent short-haul flyers are 'celebrities, athletes, real estate people, and C-level executives', including hedge fund managers and crypto heavyweights.
He said popular trips include 'helicopters and C-liners to the Hamptons, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and Toronto' and estimates that these kinds of trips have rocketed in demand by 35 percent over the past three years.
Customers pay thousands of pounds per journey, with a jet for eight people from New York to Nantucket costing around $5,000 (£4,207) each way.
Daily Mail
