-PrivateFly.com announced as the private jet booking provider for the online travel & leisure retailer-
Online travel and lifestyle retailer lastminute.com is now selling private jet charter online for the first time, through a new partnership with PrivateFly.com. The new service forms part of the lastminute.com flights product and adds to its premium cabin offering which already includes business and first class fares.
PrivateFly is the only online private jet booking platform in Europe, and brings together an unrivalled network of 2700 accredited operators in a competitive marketplace. It is a new model for the private jet industry, which makes private jet travel more accessible and easier to arrange - for travel trade partners and customers.
Latest trend data from PrivateFly's cost calculator indicates that the hottest private jet destinations for summer 2010 are the stunning simplicity of Olbia for Sardinia's Costa Smeralda (from £16,500 return/ £2,750 per person), the hedonistic delights of Mykonos (from £23,500 return/ £3,917 per person) or a VIP staycation to Cornwall (from £2480 return/ £310 per person). All prices are based from London*.
lastminute.com customers can now compare and book private jet travel, by accessing PrivateFly's network of approved operators, through a white label version of the PrivateFly.com website. Consumers can use the cost calculator for instant price estimates before submitting their flight request to relevant aircraft operators - who quickly return competitive quotes. The customer can compare available options and choose the most cost-effective solution for their trip - which can be arranged within hours. PrivateFly's expert team are also available 24/7 to provide full offline support and to ensure consistent, VIP service levels.
Mark Bower of lastminute.com commented: "It may surprise some that lastminute.com is offering private jet travel, but an increasing number of our customers are looking for luxury travel experiences. Private jet charter can be more cost-effective than many people think, especially for group travel or special occasions."
"Until now, the online functionality that we look for from partners wasn't available for private jet charter, but PrivateFly.com has brought private jets online, allowing our customers to quickly compare options and to get highly competitive rates - without losing the essential VIP customer service element."
Adam Twidell, founder and CEO of PrivateFly, added: "This is an exciting development in our partner distribution strategy. Through lastminute.com, we are making private jet booking more accessible and available to a wider consumer travel audience."
Notes to editors:
* PrivateFly.com gives immediate cost estimates for any global private jet itinerary. All prices are PrivateFly.com price estimates, based from London on capacity seating of suitable aircraft types. Prices are subject to availability at time of booking.
About PrivateFly:
PrivateFly is an online booking network that makes it quicker, easier and more cost effective to arrange private jet charter. With over 7000 aircraft registered worldwide, PrivateFly is the only online aggregator for private jet charter in Europe.
PrivateFly combines online efficiency and transparency with offline expertise to offer a full-service VIP charter service to direct customers and partners. The bespoke software has been created in-house specifically to meet the needs of charter customers and operators. In 2010 PrivateFly launched the world's first iPhone application to provide instant private jet pricing on a mobile phone and now offers the equivalent application for the Android platform.
PrivateFly.com was awarded Website of The Year in Flight International's 2011 'Webbies' awards, which recognise online excellence across the whole of the aviation industry - the judges describing it as "the iTunes" of aviation. It was also announced as one of the Smarta 100 companies in 2010, by a judging panel including Dragon’s Den’s Deborah Meaden and other leading entrepreneurs, such as Bebo founder Michael Birch.
Founded in 2008, PrivateFly is based in St Albans, Hertfordshire. In September 2011 it announced successful investment fundraising of £2 million, enabling international expansion plans and further enhancements to its technology platform.
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