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While Four Seasons is primarily known for its luxury hotels, the brand also has a “private jet” that operates some pretty amazing journeys. I recently had the chance to check out the plane that operates these flights during some downtime at Paine Field (just outside of Seattle), and wanted to share some impressions about what I learned.
I knew going in how nice the plane would be (based on the pictures), but what really impressed me was the soft product, from the staffing levels and customization, to the free flowing Dom Perignon…
In this post:
The basics of Four Seasons Private Jet journeys
With Four Seasons Private Jet, the luxury hotel brand has essentially created a luxury “air cruise” concept, whereby a few dozen people can travel around the world on a semi-private jet, experiencing all kinds of amazing destinations and hotels, without the hassle usually associated with air travel.
These journeys typically last two to four weeks, and visit all kinds of interesting destinations. For example, it’s not often you can visit Kyoto, Bali, Rwanda, the Seychelles, and the Galapagos Islands, all on one trip, but that’s exactly one of the journeys that’s offered.
As you’d expect, this comes at a hefty price tag — in some cases over $200K per person — though Four Seasons also spares no expense with what it offers guests. I think the main draw of this concept is how seamless it is — you just show up, and all the other details are handled for you.
Anyway, for the purposes of this post, I wanted to look specifically at what you can expect onboard the jet, which is what I got to see firsthand. If you want more details on the concept, check out my guide to the Four Seasons Private Jet.
The Four Seasons Private Jet is an Airbus A321LR
For some background, the plane used for Four Seasons Private Jet journeys is an Airbus A321LR, which is the largest and longest range version of the Airbus A320 family of aircraft. The plane has the registration code G-XATW, and the plane was delivered in late 2020. If you’re curious, you can track the plane’s location here, and see all the fun places it flies.
For those curious about the arrangement, Four Seasons doesn’t actually own this jet. Instead, the plane is owned and operated by Titan Airways, which is a UK-based charter operator that has a reputation for being reliable (the company even does UK government charters). Then the journeys are managed in partnership with TCS World Travel, which is a company that specializes in private jet expeditions.
I’ve gotta say, the Four Seasons A321LR has to be one of the sleekest planes in the sky. How sexy is this livery? If you look at the plane from some angles, it looks black…
…but in reality, the plane is actually purple (or aubergine, as it was described to me).
The Four Seasons Private Jet has 48 business class seats
The Four Seasons Private Jet has the capacity for 48 passengers. The cabin is in a 2-2 configuration, with seats that transform into fully flat beds.
It’s awesome just how spacious these seats are. There’s no small footwell you have to squeeze your feet into (unlike in some other modern business class seats), but rather you have a huge ottoman, so that you can really stretch out.
These seats are comfortable for lounging, and then when you’re ready to sleep, the seat can be transformed into a fully flat bed.
As far as technology goes, the Four Seasons Private Jet offers unlimited free Wi-Fi, and passengers also have tablets for entertainment. Those tablets don’t just have movies and TV shows, but also have the activities for the next destination, and all kinds of other information about the journey. Each seat also has an AC and USB-A outlet, so that you can keep your electronics charged.
In addition to guests, Four Seasons Private Jet has quite the entourage on these journeys, so in the back of the cabin there are 12 pretty typical economy seats, intended for the crew.
Just for context, the typical A321 is configured to carry 200+ passengers, so this is on a totally different level. For that matter, La Compagnie operates the same type of plane in an all business class configuration, and the airline has 76 seats. So the amount of personal space here is beyond impressive.
It’s also worth mentioning that while there are more cutting edge business class seats out there nowadays, the design with open pairs of seats is deliberate. Most people traveling on these itineraries are couples, and want to enjoy the journey together. Furthermore, a vast majority of flights are daytime flights that aren’t long haul flights, so most guests don’t want to sleep during the flights.
The Four Seasons Private Jet has a lounge & spacious bathrooms
In the back of the aircraft, the Four Seasons Private Jet has an onboard lounge, where passengers can socialize or stretch their legs.
This is also where you’ll find the Dom Perignon display, as Dom Perignon is the official champagne of Four Seasons Private Jet, and it’s free flowing throughout the journey.
As far as bathrooms go, the Four Seasons Private Jet has two lavatories for guests, which are considerably more spacious and luxurious than your typical narrow body aircraft lavatory.
The Four Seasons Private Jet crew & service details
I was impressed by just how well staffed the Four Seasons Private Jet is. For one, you have three pilots and six flight attendants from Titan Airways, and the flight attendants receive training from Four Seasons.
But that’s not the extent of the crew. The Four Seasons Private Jet also has two chefs, a concierge, a trip coordinator, and even a physician. That means you can actually plan what you’re going to do at your next stop while you’re onboard.
I was able to ask the executive chef some questions, as I was curious about her background and the logistics of food preparation. Her background was that she was a chef at many Four Seasons properties for years, prior to working on Four Seasons Private Jet.
As far the actual cooking and preparation of food goes, of course there’s not a “real” kitchen onboard the plane, since you can’t have open flames. However, she explained that she personally cooks all the food during the trip, in each case working in an airport catering facility with ingredients specifically for Four Seasons Private Jet guests.
So the food is truly all prepared by her and her assistant. It’s not often you can give feedback to the person who personally cooked your meal when flying…
The Four Seasons Private Jet has endless food, drinks, & amenities
Just about everything with the Four Seasons Private Jet experience is customized, and that includes with food and drinks. Not only can dietary restrictions be accommodated, but preferences can be as well. If you have anything in particular you want — whether it’s a specific type of food or a certain bottle of wine — the staff will do everything in their power to make that happen.
As a standard, all segments over three hours offer a full three course meal service, and you’ll find everything from caviar to Dom Perignon on the menu (of course!).
While you can of course eat whenever you want, it was explained that they generally serve meals at certain times based on how passengers are feeling, so that everything can be displayed on beautiful carts, rolled down the aisle, etc.
Beyond the main meal services, the crew can prepare just about anything else for you, and there are drinks and snacks in the onboard lounge as well. One thing is for sure — no one will get off the Four Seasons Private Jet hungry.
Another thing that pleasantly surprised me was the amenities offered to guests. Of course there’s a Four Seasons pillow and blanket, and you’re even given one of the blankets to take home with out at the end of the journey.
You’re also given some awesome weekender bags and amenity kits stocked with all kinds of goodies, which you’re also free to take with you (and they’ll be refilled throughout the journey).
Heck, the Bose headphones at each seat can even be taken home at the end of your trip.
Bottom line
While taking a Four Seasons Private Jet journey won’t be within my budget anytime soon (or ever!), being able to tour the plane on the ground was the next best thing. As someone who loves airplanes and luxury hotels, the Four Seasons Private Jet is a pretty special product.
It goes without saying that this makes for a very comfortable home when traveling between all kinds of exotic destinations. While the interior is exactly what I expected (since I had seen pictures), the impression I got of the soft product exceeded my expectations, as this experience really is luxurious and customized on a level you won’t often find in aviation.
What do you make of the Four Seasons Private Jet Airbus A321LR?
Seems similar to the cruise concept. Branded but not run by the brand and has a limited relationship. A method of revenue for selling the use of the brand.
Two rest rooms for 48 people?
Terrible ratio. I would have expected at least 4. Esp when each couple is doling out $400,000!
Only two bathrooms for 48 people?
The carbon footprint on private jet group travel is insanely bad. But if one has a bucket of $$$, and one doesn’t give a crap about the environment other than one’s luxury travel enjoyment, then this is an amazing way to travel!
For the readers of this blog part of the fun is making their own travel arrangements. Particularly at $200k I can’t imagine any of their trips to be worth it; you could probably get a similar experience planned by yourself for $20k, particularly if you use mileage for some of the tickets.
The market seems to be super rich people who don’t want to make any of the arrangements themselves.
Can someone please get a ticket on this FourSeasons Jet for the author of the "8 bottles of Dom from LAX-BKK on SQ in F" tripreport on FlyerTalk? I'd feel like it eould be the epic follow up episode.
in Bali, a travel blogger posted his trip from the airport to the FS resort and it was escorted by police, which I find quite odd and honestly also wrong, as it is not legal for police to perform such duties for private members of the public visiting.
You'll find that police escorts can be had quite cheaply in Indonesia.
https://jakartavip.com/services/police-escorted-driving-service/
It's a bit mind-boggling to think about dropping 400k on a vacation for two people, altho good for the travel advisors, I can only imagine their commission.
It's a bit mind-boggling to think about dropping 400k on a vacation for two people, altho good for the travel advisors, I can only imagine their commission.
Can't imagine anything worse than visiting Kyoto, Seychelles and Galapagos islands on 1 trip!
I saw this jet on Easter Island - it arrived after us and left before us. Doubt anyone on board saw anything of the Island but I suppose they can say they've been...
Jet does look fantastic however.
This should be the next White Lotus season
Surely, you can't be serious ...
"blankets to take home with out..."
(I think "out" s/b "you")
This is what business class used to be like before it became all about direct aisle access and doors. There’s a real downside to this obsession with ‘privacy’.
This is what FIRST CLASS used to be like as well (Looking at LH, AF, TG, etc.) on many carriers.
I don't recall a lot of business class products that were fully flat with no footwells (though EK and ET and a few others do come to mind with their 777 2-3-2 layouts).
Obviously Ben's favorite, the old BA Club World Yin-Yang seats, have no footwells. lol
My attorney wife and I will look into this. $200k is trifling to us as we are both equity partners who make 8 figures a year at our respective firms. We will also enjoy the opportunity to meet other travelers of high socioeconomic status, which cannot be assured when flying first or business class on traditional airlines.
You sound like an absolute delight to sit besides on a 2 or 4 week itinerary.
Pretty sure he was being sarcastic John.
"You sound like an absolute delight to sit besides on a 2 or 4 week itinerary."
Many say he sounds full of BS, right down to his nom de OMAAT. Not me, I'd never say that, but many do.
Well, good luck!
Then i'm sure you know these links well yourself? ;-)
IF NOT . . . you should consider finding a better travel advisor!
https://www.exclusive-cruising.com/en/air-cruises/
https://www.instagram.com/privatjet.reisen/
I don’t know why anyone would want to do either Four Seasons or Aman “private jets” since neither are actually private. I much rather fly JAL F, Singapore F, Air France F, Emirates F than these pretend “private jets”. And to be stuck with same couples for two weeks or more? No thanks. Plus constant change from time zone to time zone. I mean how can one’s body be able to adjust to changing time zone every three days?
It is much more calm to board a 40-passenger Four Seasons jet than a 300-passenger airliner. Even with priority boarding, you are still making your way through a gate area of hundreds of people.
it's COMPLETELY different!
"Private" Jets like Four Seasons, Hapag Lloyd and others offer, are indeed private!
It's a small group of people who can afford to do such trips without the trouble of needing to do anything, except show up.
It has it's price and is a group of people who enjoy such a compact, PRIVATE group to travel and explore places together!
You'll be surprised, such trips sell out FAR...
it's COMPLETELY different!
"Private" Jets like Four Seasons, Hapag Lloyd and others offer, are indeed private!
It's a small group of people who can afford to do such trips without the trouble of needing to do anything, except show up.
It has it's price and is a group of people who enjoy such a compact, PRIVATE group to travel and explore places together!
You'll be surprised, such trips sell out FAR in advance! ;-)
So there IS a lot of people who enjoy travelling in a different league as "regular" First Class Scheduled flight passengers, who are NOT so special if you look at the entire package.
These flights ARE indeed something special.
So it is a PRIVATE flight!
.... which i assume, you might never get to enjoy, if you personally prefer First Class next to some scheduled passengers on scheduled flights.
Changes happening to such flight itineraries are all within the same group of people, so NO downgrades or disappointments or schedule changes.
So easy, it's a Group Tour in a special league of people!
With very special guests and the focus is NOT only on the flight, but the convenience of the routings of such flights. NO Emirates or Air France, Lufthansa or Swiss is flying to with First Class.
See the difference? ;-)
Traveling via FBOs rather than public air terminals is in and of itself a significant perq.
If one is an extrovert and would enjoy meeting and spending time with a group of similarly well-heeled and possibly like-minded people, this is a vastly superior experience to the finest public F experiences.
Nope.
If I ever take a private jet, it better be private. My partner/family members/signifcant other de-jour are obviosuly welcome. But to be on it with 47 obnoxiously rich people, mostly posting their pics to isntagram, sounds pretty meh.
I agree - the seats do look great, but they go against your usual preference to direct aisle access.
These are not dissimilar to business class seats two generations ago (like the Qantas...
Nope.
If I ever take a private jet, it better be private. My partner/family members/signifcant other de-jour are obviosuly welcome. But to be on it with 47 obnoxiously rich people, mostly posting their pics to isntagram, sounds pretty meh.
I agree - the seats do look great, but they go against your usual preference to direct aisle access.
These are not dissimilar to business class seats two generations ago (like the Qantas SkyBed) and were indeed a lot more spacious then modern ones.
Yep well said. These seats are very comfortable and probably the best to sleep in but if you hopped on a Swiss or American flight and saw these in long haul you’d be giving them 1/5 stars.
Please. Rich people aren't obnoxious. That's cope from poor people.
The thought of being on a plane to these destinations with 20 other couples for 2-4 weeks who would actually be so silly as to pay upwards of $200K for this absurdity is about the worst nightmare trip I could ever conceive. I can't wait for the first report of fights breaking out on the plane a'la Spirit alrlines where the entitled class begin to grumble and rumble.
Nice blanket though to take home, lol.
Could the chef cook using an induction stove or are those prohibited on airplanes as well?
ANY open flame, bigger then a hand.
That's why matches back in the days, when smoking was still allowed were the biggest scare!
Some just broke while the flame or a spark flew off when striking the match.
No candles!
Simply . . . open fire is a total NO GO these days while in the air, due to fumes all over the aircraft, especially close to the floors.
Induction...
ANY open flame, bigger then a hand.
That's why matches back in the days, when smoking was still allowed were the biggest scare!
Some just broke while the flame or a spark flew off when striking the match.
No candles!
Simply . . . open fire is a total NO GO these days while in the air, due to fumes all over the aircraft, especially close to the floors.
Induction would eat up a lot of power, that's why airlines have heating ovens with air rotation, VERY few only have Espresso machines, . . . drawing too much power.
Induction for 40+ people . . . i guess there is no such pot and compact induction stove!
The state of the art cooking method on plane is likely steam oven, which is actually very capable.
Ben - maybe you and Winston could try out the new Bark Air? ;) or at least get a laugh out of their promotional videos...
@ pwirth158 — Hah, let me talk to Winston about it…
:-)
How did you get to tour? Review trip with Ford and Miles coming anytime soon? :)
@ Anthony -- Sorry, I should have explained that. :-) Four Seasons invited select travel advisors to check out the jet while it was on the ground, and they kindly let me tag along, given my love of airplanes. Yes, there are a couple of Seattle hotel reviews coming up.
Group charter, not private.
@ Sel, D. -- I capitalize it for a reason, because Four Seasons Private Jet is the name of the product, rather than a description of what it is. Yes, you're of course correct that it's a group charter.