Michael Verdon

New programs in the form of jet card memberships have become the hot new trend in private aviation, and every month another company seems to be launching a membership program. Not only have these programs helped lift the industry out of the downtime it experienced after the collapse of the stock market, but they have attracted a new type of flyer who once considered it too expensive to get into private jets.   While the Marquis Jet Card Program, Sentient Private Jet Membership, Titanium Luxury Club Program and back-end details vary by program, the goal is the same: attract new customers by driving down the expensive barriers to entry, while making flying safer and more flexible. "We saw there was a real void between charter and fractional," says Bill Allard, CEO of Marquis Jet, headquartered in New York. "On one hand, we found that a lot of charter brokers don't re... (more)

By Air & Sea

There was a time when airplane and yacht companies had about as much in common as oil and water. But these days, the two industries have been combining forces to provide enhanced services and mutually beneficial experiences to clients. Now, you can get a discount on a yacht charter if you're a Sentient club member or free Marquis plane hours with the purchase of a new boat.    "Our thinking is that people who like to fly planes also charter yachts," says Jamie Edmiston, president of Edmiston Yacht charters in Los Angeles, California. "We felt that having a marketing partner in ... (more)