New Web site merges aviation worlds

For most people, private and commercial aviation are separate experiences and are seldom combined within the same itinerary. Newly launched Jetcombo.com wants to change that. The Web site–the brainchild of online travel industry veterans George Khairallah and Michael Thomas–aims to offer the best features of both industries. “We are the only Web site that can combine airline and charter in a single itinerary,” claims Khairallah. For long-distance flights into or out of smaller airports, the system seeks to marry commercial flights for the longer legs with more direct private flights. Visitors to the site can choose from more than 5,000 airports worldwide as their starting point or destination–nearly 10 times more than most other travel sites, claims Jetcombo. 

“If you take the example of London to Bozeman, Mont., that’s a $150,000 trip [by private jet],” he said. “If you take first class to Minneapolis and continue on a private jet, that’s a $25,000 trip.”

For its charter providers, Jetcombo relies on previous relations with operators and also uses existing Web sites such as charterx.com to update its database.

The Web site offers three levels of use. At its most basic anyone can book a commercial or private flight without becoming a member. The next level offers discounts on commercial flights and enrollment into a reward program for $50 a year. For $2,500 annually, the charter membership allows customers to use the site as their personal flight department. Jetcombo obtains quotes and schedules, checks safety ratings and researches the pilots and passes the information along to the client. It also provides free emergency medical evacuation from anywhere in the world through a subscription to third-party provider Medjets Assist.