More than two decades ago, Tom Smith began conceptualizing how to make luxury private jet travel more accessible and affordable. Then about 10 years ago, he worked with the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Transportation on a business model, and Set Jet was born.
A membership base started in 2014, and the very first flight launched in December 2019. In less than three years, Set Jet has executed over 6,300 flights, with more than 33,000 passengers, and has grown to over 4,000 members in 10 destinations across the Southwest – including Aspen, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orange County, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Scottsdale, and now, Cabo San Lucas.
Let’s get to know more about the CEO, Tom Smith, and his company:
Did you always love to fly yourself?
I got my pilot’s license back in 1985. I’ve always had a passion for aviation, and throughout my career, I’ve run a number of different companies where I have been lucky enough to have flown private jets. I’ve been fortunate enough to know the time-saving benefits, the ease of private terminals, and the relaxed and enjoyable onboard environment, and thought about how inaccessible private travel can be. Without millions to buy a jet, or tens of thousands to charter, most people never get that unparalleled experience.
Which features of Set Jet seem to be the most popular among your clients?
Set Jet is the only private air travel company that provides its members with a true, luxurious private jet experience on a large cabin aircraft for a cost more comparable to a first-class commercial ticket. Set Jet members enjoy the safety, privacy, security, convenience, and luxury of flying private at a price point unmatched in the industry.
At Set Jet, we don’t publish a schedule. Our in-house software is scalable, and flight details are determined by our members. They tell us where, and when, they’d like to fly between the cities that we operate. Their parameters are, of course, our aircraft and crew availability and what other members have booked.
Members also enjoy what we call “a community in the sky” – a network of affluent business owners, CEOs, entrepreneurs, jet setters, and celebrities – where they build lasting relationships. We certainly underestimated the value of networking in this space when we started Set Jet, and our members truly enjoy traveling with like-minded individuals where there’s a story in every seat.
Why did you decide on Los Cabos as one of Set Jet’s destinations?
Very early on, our members requested flights to Los Cabos from both our Scottsdale and Southern California locations. Los Cabos is a very convenient, popular, and relaxing destination, and our members love the easy access to the downtown airport, rather than the main commercial airport about an hour away. Not to mention the fact that they can clear customs quickly and with ease, both in Los Cabos and on their return.
Los Cabos is so popular amongst our members that we recently added nonstop service from Las Vegas, as well.
What do you predict about the growth of Set Jet in the years to come and the demand for private jets?
Millennials and Gen Z have greatly shifted the perspective on leisure travel. They truly live up to the adage, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.” We’re seeing an uptick in the value of luxurious travel experiences and the desire travelers have to start their vacation clocks as soon as they begin their travel.
We are also seeing an increase in private jet demand, because today’s travelers are looking for alternatives to the chaos happening in commercial aviation. It’s a combination of price, convenience, and reliability that draws consumers into the space. For a cost more comparable to a first-class commercial ticket, Set Jet members truly enjoy the luxury of flying private at a price point unmatched in the industry.
Do you have any plans for the future for Set Jet?
Our membership base is growing daily, and we have plans to expand, not only domestically, but also internationally in the next three to five years. We’re transforming the aviation travel industry much like Uber did for taxis and Airbnb for home rentals.
We’re expecting to launch additional service routes on the East Coast between the Miami area and New York City, as well as in the Texas market in 2024. Beyond that, we’re looking at the next several years of expansion into transcontinental service from Los Angeles to New York City and growing into Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
This article was created in partnership with FIPROTUR Los Cabos under the private trust. See the website disclaimer here. For more information, visit https://fiproturloscabos.com.
