Jet Smarter App: Interview with Sergey Petrossov
You must now be familiar with the "Uber" application, allowing you to order any car at any place and at any time from your smartphone. Now it's time to discover Jet Smarter, "The Uber for private jets". Created by Sergey Petrossov, a 25 years-old entrepreneur, this app, full of surprises, will immediately help you booking your own private jet charter. A small revolution illustrated by our interview with Sergey to read below. Get on board!
Discovering your app for the first time, we might think it is only for really rich customers. Who is the true target and is it going to evolve?
"If you check the empty leg section then you will see empty legs for under $1,000 for the whole jet. That opens up the market to hundreds of millions of people. The core service however targets individuals with at least $2 Million of liquid assets, but in time we want it to be just as accessible as commercial airfares. Opening it up to billions of people."
What are the differences and advantages of your app compared to a classic private jet rental or a first class trip on a classic airline company?
"The booking process is what needs to be compared. We allow you to book a jet within a minute over an app, and a classic approach takes hours, many phone calls, and physical paperwork. Also there is no comparison to flying private and commercial travel, because of the drastic difference in the airport experience."
What are the conditions to become member of this service?
"Our membership program is similar to an airline’s loyalty program, where users do not need to be a member in order to use JetSmarter’s services, but they receive specific perks if they are. Members get many benefits such as discounted prices, free promotional flights and redeemable loyalty points for each dollar they spend."
How many jet models are available on your app? Is the client really able to choose the one he prefers?
"3,000 aircrafts are advertised in our app, all of which have different amenities. When searching, users can view images of the planes, safety and insurance information as well as other specific amenities."
Do you think that on the long-term, all plane trips will be inspired by your model? (The end of empty legs flights, end of paperwork and time lost at the airport)
"Of course, the whole world is moving to digital."
Do you think of becoming as famous and democratized as Uber cars one day?
"Definitely and within the next 3 years."
How?
"We will be available to the masses through effective seat sharing models making prices for private jets comparable to that of commercial air travel."
Can you give us an example of how simply it has become to book a flight from Paris to New-York thanks to your app and what will be the cost?
"Just go into the charter search feature of the app, plug in Paris to NY, choose your departure date and time, pick if you want to go one-way or round-trip, and then press search. You will see many specific options of jets ranging drastically in price, which depends on the specific option you choose. The price of Gulfstream GIV is extremely different from a Gulfstream G650 and even more different from a VIP configured Airbus A320 Corporate Jet. Price depends also on availability at the given time of search."
Do you think your service could become a real and common alternative solution for flying during keys periods as Christmas holidays (where classic flights are usually quickly full)?
"It already is a common alternative for many people. We will just make it available to much more people."
Novembre 2014
