Atlanta, Georgia-headquartered HondaJet operator Volato has launched a Stretch Jet Card that it claims is the first and only jet card that rewards itinerary flexibility when booking a flight on a private jet. The in-fleet Stretch Jet Card rewards flexibility by stretching flight hours with Stretch Credits, which accrue for flight time on the Volato fleet. 

When a Stretch Jet Card holder requests their booking, they provide their ideal departure/arrival airports, departure time and a range in which they can be flexible from a quarter day to a full day. When the flight is confirmed, should their departure time or airport vary from their request, they are rewarded with Stretch Credits: fractions of hours deposited into their Stretch Jet Card wallet, thus stretching their balance of hours.  

“The industry has received an influx of leisure travellers who now represent the majority of private jet card aviation usage,” says co-founder and ceo Matt Liotta. “The Stretch Jet Card was designed for this growing segment of people who enjoy flexibility in their lives and rewards them for it. We anticipate strong interest from those in existing fixed schedule programmes, who can secure a Stretch Jet Card for supplemental lift and potentially reduce their cost of flying by being rewarded when they or their loved ones can be flexible.” 

The Stretch Jet Card programme solves a business problem within the private aviation industry by maximising the use of assets without providing operational stress. Volato’s HondaJets are ideal for missions with up to four passengers across three hours. 

“The Stretch Jet Card not only rewards those that enjoy a flexible itinerary, but it also increases operational efficiency and revenue as we can allocate flights when our fractional fleet owners are not flying themselves,” says sales manager LouAnn Gray. “As our HondaJet fractional owners receive a revenue share of every live mission, they are happy to see increased aircraft utilisation without impacting their own travel schedules. It’s a win-win.” 

To take advantage of the Stretch Jet Card programme, customers request a flight with Volato’s concierge team sharing their preferred departure date, time and airport, arrival airport, as well as itinerary flexibility from a quarter day to a full day. Volato will work to accommodate the exact request, and will confirm the itinerary 12 hours prior to departure. If Volato requests a schedule change and the customer agrees, Stretch Credits will be rewarded based on the difference between the requested and scheduled departure times, and if the customer departs from or arrives at an executive airport other than, but close to, the requested airport, they are rewarded for their flexibility with Stretch Credits.

For example, a quarter day Stretch gives 6 minutes of Stretch Credit, while a full day Stretch gives 24 minutes of Stretch Credits, an airport Stretch gives half an hour of Stretch Credits and every hour of repositioning gives another half an hour. Stretch Jet Card rates are $5,500 per hour.