Let's set the story: Summer 2021. I was 15 years old and bored out of my mind. As an AvGeek, pretty much nothing excited me more than the idea of flying on a private jet. I had scoured the internet and read up on every possible avenue of getting on one (including Ben's private jet experience) without paying the tens of thousands required to charter one. Then came my hero: XO, the app succeeding JetSmarter (an all-you-can-fly private jet model which, unsurprisingly, went out of business). While there was no longer an all-you-can-fly subscription or any "free" flights, there were select…
Epic! To pull this off at just 15-years-old (and, in summer of 2021, which was still the pandemic recovery era), is wild. ('No alcohol' ...bah!) Well, at least now (in 2026) you should be 'of-age' and can fly 'unaccompanied.' Personally, hadn't even heard of OX, so you were really on-top of this. Well done!
This is such a great story... thanks for sharing! Reminds me of my shenanigans when I was younger, hah.
Thank you for sharing. When I was 15 back in the 70's, I was happy just to visit the airport, go up to the open air deck, and wave goodbye to whoever was traveling. I was 5 when I first flew - in economy, of course - but I remember the excitement and the trays with all the little plates. Did not get a taste of the transatlantic business class on LH in the early 70's. But flying private jet, with nobody else, at 15, is a sweet story to share as you get older.
I love this! 🙂
It’s hard to believe that you were 15 years old just five years ago in 2021. But anyway this is a really great story.
FYI this is not Lucky. It is a guest post by travelingposer. I was so confused!!!!
Love it!!! One of my "Bucket List" items was always a flight on a private jet, no matter the destination, timing, etc. At some point I realized without really rich friends or a lottery win, that wasn't going to happen. The "empty leg" brokers hog the landscape, have no aircraft, and just relay phone calls for a brokerage fee. Everyone has to make a living.
Then one day a friend told me of his friend flying cross-country in a Citation V+ who would be stopping in Falcon Field (KFFZ, Mesa AZ) about two hours from my home. He put us together and all I had to do was show up. I don't remember how I got there because I don't remember driving another two hours to get my car... but I went and we flew and hearing you describe your experience at 15... I was double that but felt 15! No GA no FA no TSA, no logoed snacks BUT THE FLIGHT was awesome!
A few years later I was consulting to an auction house in Scottsdale AZ and the CEO wanted me there IN PERSON. I demured. Then they said he'd send his private jet. I think it's a phenom and now I'm kicking myself for no records, no outside pics, no tail number. The flight was 15min up 15min down, and again no FA no GA no TSA. AWESOME MEMORY. (Yes, I solved their tech problems where their entire tent pavilion phone system went down and callers couldn't participate in an auction.) The CEO wanted me to stick around for a day -- offered hotel+toiletries++ but I hadn't planned on it.
The pilots were on the ground preflight complete and we flew back home. WHAT AN AWesOME memory.
Then the last time the original guy said he needed a helicopter pilot to pilot his helicopter to the Cessna maintenance facility to "pick up the jet." I flew into town, then flew he and his wife to "pick up the jet." The wife took the helicopter back. We flew in the jet and he let me fly 0.1hrs (long enough to put in my permanent flight logbook). WHAT AN AWESOME day. Then I flew commercial home, just as I'd come.
It's never too late to try to live your dream. Sometimes any success is better than none. Good on you for trying at 15!!
Ehud Gavron
FAA Certificated commercial helicopter pilot
Tucson, Arizona
One of my bucket list was to ride backseat out of an aircraft carrier. Landing on it is another one.
Probably never going to happen.
Unlikely I will become President or Tom Cruise or Elon/Zuck/Jeff who could buy a carrier.
"a bathroom scale, among just about any other thing you could possibly need."
If you're superficial enough to fly private, you're superficial enough to need a scale.
"once I had a taste of the high life, I was desperate to fly private again."
For a 15 year old doing this, you're already living the high life. Others would work the whole summer and still not make enough money for your trip.
That being said, enjoy your privilege. I'm sure you'll get to fly these again in the future. (Sorry, I'm being the bad adult that lies to you that you can grow up to be anyone, do anything, and accomplish everything as long as you work hard)
But you already have a head start (not a lie)
What an incredibly cool story. Thanks for sharing.
Awesome story @travelingposer! When I was that age (back in the day), even if it was possible, I wouldn't have had the persistence you showed. Good on ya!
Would have tried these shenanigans at your age if we had empty leg apps back in the day. This is dope
What a fun story! Hope you make your way back onto a private jet sometime soon!