Here’s why it’s time to buy a private jet

Getting your own private jet has never been easier. If you’ve had sticker shock in the past, it’s time to start shopping again. Prices have dropped severely, which means you now have a chance to travel without the rabble.

The latest from FT.com is that “[p]rices of some of the world’s best known business jets have plunged to remarkable lows as the stumbling global economic recovery puts a brake on spending by even the wealthy.” The implication, of course, is that you can make someone else’s loss your gain.

So, what do you want? A Learjet? You can score one that’s a year old for a mere $8 million – as opposed to the $13 million price tag hanging on a new one. How about a Cessna Citation XLS? You’re looking at a cost savings of around $4 million.

If you were on the fence about shelling out for a private jet, it’s pretty clear that the market is sending you a message right now.

Flexjet members get extra bump on Korean Air

This is a first: a fractional jet provider and an international airline are partnering up. Flexjet’s fractional owners can now access premium services when they fly overseas on Korean Air. Under this new arrangement, the Flexjet Connect program, members will receive incentives to buy first class tickets on , not to mention elite status for a full year, dedicated check-in and luxury concierge services in select airports. And, Korean Air passengers can reach more than 5,000 U.S. airports with as little as 24 hours’ notice on high-performance Bombardier business jets.

According to Fed Reid, President of Flexjet, “This first-of-its-kind collaboration with Korean Air adds value to our program offerings, while further expanding our global reach.” He adds, “For our discerning fractional customers, this strategic partnership between two industry leaders obsessed with excellence ensures they will experience the same level of comfort and high-quality travel they have come to expect from Flexjet.”

Walter Cho, Senior Vice President, Passenger Business Division, Korean Air, says, “Now our customers can fly privately from a local airport to catch their Korean Air flight, or get closer to their meetings by flying to regional airports, knowing that our partners at Flexjet and Jet Solutions will provide a seamless and convenient travel experience with impeccable service.”

Daily Pampering: All your private aviation needs in one place

The fragmented private jet market is coming together, making it much easier for you to satisfy your needs in this space. For travelers who use a variety of different private options, it’s no longer necessary to establish relationships with a number of companies. Now, you can just work with Flexjet. With Skyjet fully integrated into Flexjet, you can now get everything a full spectrum of travel options in one place – including charter brokerage services (Skyjet), aircraft maintenance, jet cards and fractional ownership.

“Flexibility isn’t just in our name, it’s in our DNA.” said Fred Reid, President, Flexjet. “With these recent enhancements to our business model, Flexjet has firmly established itself as the only business aviation company ready to meet travelers’ challenges with a truly complete set of customizable options.”

Want to see what’s available? Head over to Flexjet’s newly redesigned website an check out photo galleries of the fleet, which includes the Learjet 40 XR, Learjet 45 XR, Learjet 60 XR, Challenger 300 and Challenger 605 business jets. I hope you like ’em yong – the average age of these planes is only around three years.

Want more? Get your dose of Daily Pampering right here.

Daily Pampering: The Only Way to Fly to the Masters Golf Tournament

Have you ever flown into Augusta, Georgia? It’s a tiny airport, and you’re not going to get amazing flights. It just doesn’t work that way. This poses a problem for those planning to go to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, the most prestigious event the game has to offer. So, instead of dealing with the misery of airline travel – does it get worse than flying with the great unwashed? – fly down in style. Don’t let a cramped sweaty flight taint the experience of watching the coveted green jacket on the person who can only be described as golf‘s master.

Linear Air is ready to make your experience perfect. Book your trip by the end of March, and you’ll pick up a 10 percent discount … but that’s not the point of flying this way. Go the exclusive route, and you’ll have an incredible experience from start to finish, rather than merely from arrival to departure. The tournament may run from April 8 – 11, 2009, but your experience begins with wheels up – not tee off.

Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right here.

Daily Pampering: Dash off to the Bahamas in style

Travel would be great if it weren’t for airports, right? Even if you fly first class, there are still plenty of ways for the experience to go sour — from the morons in line at front of you at the security checkpoint to the long wait for your bags at the carousel. And on the plane, you have to cope with flight attendants and first class seating that falls short of the luxury you’ll experience at your destination. The solution, of course, is exclusive jet travel, and Linear Air has just what you need.

This upscale service takes the headache out of travel, making your experience top-shelf from start to finish — not just from arrival to departure. If you’re in New York or Boston and want to escape the cold for a while, take advantage of a special that Linear Air is running, with one-way fares dipping below $9,900 to the Bahamas. Once you set foot on one of the company’s Eclipse 500 jets, you’ll wonder why you ever bothered to fly with the
prolies.

Get your daily dose of pampering right here.

[Photo courtesy of Linear Air]