Height of Luxury

At Sentient Flight Group, a recent merger of industry powerhouses JetDirect and Sentient, demand for "expense-model" flight is soaring, with its customer base tripling in the last three years. Customers put funds on deposit in increments of $100,000, and the company guarantees availability of its fleet of 130 well-appointed aircraft, including the Falcon 50. Heavy jets, which seat up to 12, are equipped with phone and in-flight entertainment, and some have Internet access.

The expense model, the company says, is cheaper than outright ownership while proving more flexible, convenient and reliable than fractional ownership. One-way prices start at $3,750 per hour for light jets (seven seats), $4,950 for medium (eight seats) and up to $7,850 per hour for heavy jets. Coast-to-coast nonstop runs about $45,000 each way. www.jetdirect.net, (866) JET-DIRECT; www.sentient.com, (800) 760-4908.