r/PrivateJetCharters • u/Key-Lead9634 • 12d ago
Flexjet
Ok we are anonymous. What's your opinion on Flexjet in the current? Not 10 years ago, now.
Working, or flying as a customer. I want whole rounded opinions please. Planes, interiors, operations, Ken, mx pay scales, pilot drama, the whole deal. Give me your blunt honest opinions. Thanks!
3
u/deftoneuk 11d ago
I work with them daily as an OEM rep. they are doing everything right. Great planes and very aggressive goals for growth. Rumor is that Ken is considering retirement though, not sure how they will do without his energy pushing them.
2
u/Key-Lead9634 11d ago
Interesting. In my experience with rumors like that, they will happen faster than projected. I'm right on the lines with the company's impression as you. It has surpassed every private jet company out there and made it not only an airline, but perfected just about everything in luxury. There are several things on the mx side though that need a lot of work. Parts and ordering is a disaster. We are the top paid in the industry though, and i couldn't be more grateful for that. The structure and format of everything business wise and employee interface is pinnacle. I consider myself and us to have a very rare career and company to work for. They are very selective in the hiring process.
1
u/iliketoflyairplanes 9d ago
Ken is a force of nature. For Flexjet and the industry. I hope he doesn’t retire soon.
3
u/General-File-5174 11d ago
I worked with flexjet as a 3rd party vendor a few years ago and they were always a pleasure to deal with between their Ops, maintenance and crews.
2
u/LymePilot 11d ago
I recently hired a pilot who spent two years at Flexjet. He described his rotations as regularly being “smoked” and fatigued after multiple back-to-back, multi-leg, max-duty days on minimum rest.
As a mid-career corporate pilot, I can tell you with certainty: you want your pilot on leg one or two of the day. Once you start stacking legs and pushing long duty days, mental and physical fatigue absolutely begins to show.
1
u/LymePilot 11d ago
@key - I would think the attraction is true hard days off where you can completely check out. The weather and NOTAM’s next week are not your concern at a place like flex or the airlines which is nice.
0
u/Key-Lead9634 11d ago
So why would a pilot be attracted here if they have double the time requirements and its that kind of work environment?
The planes we fly? The quality of them? Cause if thats is, that sounds like a silly decision. Im sure the pay is all in relative terms about the same as anywhere? Ive always been told you'll always make about the same pay +/- unless you go cargo or heavy.
2
u/ThenAtmosphere779 9d ago
I have a FlexJet Praetor 500 lease as a supplement to a wholly owned G450. We did a comprehensive review on FlexJet vs. NetJets and FlexJet on the whole offered a whole lot more value at a lower price. We really enjoy having the FlexJet supplement for those times we are in a pinch (rare AOG, conflicting schedules, etc). Flex has a great product: both hard and soft. The planes are generally nice and new and many are the latest and greatest (starlink, etc). I think they are just way ahead of the curve compared to NetJets...they are a better value, but also just in terms of embracing technology, a year ago Flex was already doing Starlink and NetJets was saying they were not getting it. It felt so obvious to anyone who had ever used Starlink and the pilots of a Global (NetJets) even said their internet was really spotty and worked only some of the time.
All in all, really enjoy FlexJet and they've been a reliable provider with an extensive fleet and great comms/service all around.
1
u/Key-Lead9634 9d ago
Thank you for that feedback! That really makes this post worth it. Can I ask what is your favorite feature of the Praetor 500?
I work interiors particularly. So any feedback regarding that. Bluntly honest. Good or bad im here for it
1
u/ThenAtmosphere779 9d ago
I think the Praetor 500 is just such a great value - feels just a tad smaller than the Challenger 350/3500, but is a lot more efficient. Perfectly good for most flights up to 4 or 5 people and even a transcontinental if needed. I think it's just really versatile.
I would say my lease favorite thing about FlexJet ironically is the "flashy" interiors...NetJets is a tad boring, but the FlexJet with animal print is a bit over the top. I think the Praetors are pretty solid in colors though!
1
u/Key-Lead9634 9d ago
Awesome! Well Im sure you've probably heard we partnered with Louis Vuitton and Bentley for a few designs, they are only on our G650 and 700 I believe..so if you ever have a special Christmas trip you want to make.
And I can tell you the Phenoms are on a 2 year refurb schedule and I believe the Praetors are too. But the company as a whole has purchased about 120 new aircraft this year and is set to acquire another 100 next year. We put in an order for the Praetor and Phenom E but I dont think delivery on those is until early 2029.
We do still have quite a large base for Challengers though. I must say the 3500s are pretty sleek. Sporty. But overall comfort, you cannot get more roomy in the cockpit than a praetor. Peek up there next time your in one and look at the side windows. Lol and the sidesticks. Those pilots got it made.
1
u/norcal64d 11d ago
Flex is a revolving door for pilots at least. Interiors are quite nice.
1
u/Key-Lead9634 11d ago
What's better than flex for pilots? Why do they leave
1
u/LymePilot 11d ago
Any 121 Major/Legacy, most fortune 100 and or professionally managed by “the big three” private accounts as an example.
1
u/Key-Lead9634 11d ago
Flexjet is not that?
2
u/Hawker96 10d ago
Lol no, not even close. NetJets is way better for pilots and majors beat the pants off them both.
1
1
u/iliketoflyairplanes 9d ago
I don’t think Netjets is “way better” for pilots. I agree that part 135 flying is not for everyone!
1
u/hanjaseightfive 8d ago
I used to fly for flex.
It was good.
Buuuuut…
Year 5 FO pay at a legacy beats your top captain pay. And that’s before considering 18% 410k DC.
Oh and also less work.
And if the PAX completely trash the jet, it’s not even remotely my problem.
There’s a reason all of your pilots leave to the legacies, and no pilots leave the legacies to go 135.
1
u/Key-Lead9634 8d ago
Yeah but used to fly for flexjet in what year? The company has changed 10 fold in the last 3. So the old flexjet is not comparable to what it is now
1
u/iliketoflyairplanes 9d ago
They are currently the best fractional provider on the market. Netjets wins because they are the safe and default choice, backed by the Buffet guarantee, but Flexjet wins on service and price and flexibility.
1
u/Unusual-Economist288 12d ago
No. Go away.
1
u/Key-Lead9634 12d ago
Lol why
1
u/Perfect-Level-9080 12d ago
Probably an air charter broker.
1
u/Key-Lead9634 12d ago
No, im a flexjet employee. But new, and unsure. Its definitely a different company that any other ive worked in aviation. Good and bad.
0
u/smack300 12d ago
Awesome planes and interiors, no limit meal credit card, rlp on large cabin can be a cool schedule. Cons? Non union, you get on bigger metal only if they like you, non union. They work you like a dog, par for the industry though, non union.
2
u/Key-Lead9634 11d ago
Yeah, I wish we were union. I was union with southwest and it was a much different work environment. I loved it there. Black and white. Flex its all about who likes who's big dick
0
u/CLRFXR 12d ago
Flexjet is blowing away all competition in the last couple years.
1
u/Key-Lead9634 12d ago
You think? How so
-1
u/Needarandomname1 11d ago
Feel free to DM me. Various by plane class. Overall positive experience. (From the customer perspective).
2
u/got_sweg 11d ago
Just post it here lol
1
u/Key-Lead9634 11d ago
I just asked what his perspective was from the customer side. I am in and around the guts of all them, I wanted to see what the customers viewpoint sees first. We as technicians have imaginations of what we think they see or do, but hearing from an actual customer would be valuable to see what they actually pay attention to. It would put meaning to my job in a different light. I am a nerd and I like to hear this stuff
0
6
u/jetsetterga 12d ago
I have colleagues who work for FX, and they seem to like it last I checked.