Executive Flying by Stephen Smirthwaite

Stephen Smirthwaite has recently retired from being a Captain for British Airways and combines his two passions for aircraft and golf within this article.



Imagine driving up to a security barrier at an airport, the guard checks his list and with a cheery smile raises the barrier and waves you through. You park your car, walk the 20 yards to the Terminal building and are met in the Reception area by friendly and courteous staff. They politely enquire which flight you are for and check your ticket and travel documents.

You are then escorted to a comfortable lounge complete with its own refreshment bar, television, quiet area and fully equipped Business Centre.

A short time later, as you are enjoying a fresh cappuccino, your Captain comes in and introduces himself to all the passengers. You watch as he strolls out to the aircraft parked just a scant 30 yard walk from the Terminal Building. You are invited through to the departure gate and then escorted to the aircraft where you are quickly seated in preparation for your flight to …..

From arriving at the security barrier to taxiing out has taken 30 minutes.

Your flight departs when you are ready and in the time it takes just to check in at the major airports you are well on your way to your meeting/holiday/golf weekend.

This is not a pipe dream, I did it last week between Birmingham and Oxford Airports with a new Executive Jet outfit called Flairjet.

I had gone along to find out more about private air travel and what I found was the ease and comfort which can be brought back into aviation. For anyone who is fed up with all the hassle, at the major airports; long queues, poor customer service and jumped up job-worth types raising blood pressure everywhere, this has to be worth its weight in gold.


You may think this would be an expensive way of flying? If you are looking to go away for a long weekend, on your own, or with just your partner, it might well be a luxury that not everyone could justify on a regular basis. But, if you and a group of golfing buddies get together then the cost per person can be as little as the standard fare on any of the major carriers in Europe. What’s so great is you can all be dropped off away from the hustle and bustle of the large airfields.

For example, I go to Dublin each year with 5 friends for a week’s golf. We tend to fly with one of the low-cost airlines from one of the major airports and when the price of flights, golf clubs and bags is taken into account it can easily end up costing £200-£300 each, plus parking for 2 cars.

Added to this is the time taken getting to the airport, (the closest is a forty-five minute drive), check in at least 2 hours before the flight, and then waiting at destination for the bags to come through, (last time we came back from Dublin the golf clubs took over an hour to get to the baggage belt). Thus, from home to exiting the terminal at destination (allowing for a one hour flight) is usually a minimum of 5-6 hours.

Oxford airport is a 25 minutes drive for us all. Car parking is either free (short stay) or nominal (longer trips). The flight leaves as soon as our bags are loaded and we are seated. On arrival we are unloaded and on our way in 15 minutes. Thus, from home to exiting the terminal (for the same one hour flight) can be as little as 2 & 1/2 hours.

The cost? At £500 - £1500 per hour for the aircraft, depending on type, it can be as little as £350 each for a 6 seater (based on the aircraft flying empty on the return sectors). The cost can be negotiated and is dependant on how the operating company are able to utilise the aircraft when it has dropped you off. So unless you manage to book 9 months in advance and get one of the few £1 -£5 tickets on offer for the day you hope to fly, it could be a worthwhile alternative to consider.

What better way to go for a weekend of golf than in your own private jet! On kudos alone it is definitely worthwhile, but for sheer comfort and convenience it has to be worth further investigation.

To find out more go to: http://www.flair-jet.com