New airline service between Oakland and Los Angeles promises faster travel

A JetSuite jet sits at Buchanan Field Airport in Concord, Calif., on Wednesday, March 29, 2017. The airline will soon launch a direct flight from Oakland International Airport to Hollywood Burbank Airport.
(Dan Honda/Bay Area News Group)

A growing airline that promises a way for passengers to ditch long security lines and crowds at baggage claim is offering a new flight between Oakland International Airport and the Hollywood Burbank Airport.

JetSuiteX — a division of private jet operator JetSuite — is launching its “private for public” service in mid-November at the airports. Travelers will be able to access the flights at private terminals in each airport, allowing them to skip the normal security lines and instead arrive at the airport about 20 minutes before departure.

“JetSuiteX was created to be the ultimate travel hack for time-starved travelers, especially those going between LA and the San Francisco areas, who are tired of waiting in line after line, just to wait some more,” said Alex Wilcox, founder and CEO of JetSuiteX, in a news release. “Our customers get to arrive refreshed when they skip things like spending more time in an airport than in air, getting herded through lines or feeling the discomfort of boarding a plane with 100 other people.”

The flights will depart three times a day on every day except for Saturday. For prices that start at $129 each way, travelers can bring up to two pieces of luggage totaling 50 pounds, have “business class-style leg room,” and free cocktails and snacks, according to JetSuiteX.

The service will also add to the Oakland airport’s growing list of nonstop destinations.

“(The airport) is in the midst of an extended period of passenger traffic growth, made possible in large part by a significant increase in nonstop destinations served,” said airport director Bryant Francis in a statement. “Introducing new charter-style flight options at Oakland dovetails with our goal of offering more choices to the growing Bay Area customer base, many of whom live closest to (the airport). We hope JetSuiteX’s new local service proves to be both popular and successful.”

JetSuiteX drew attention last year when it debuted the first commercial travel service — to Burbank and Las Vegas — that Concord’s Buchanan Field Airport had seen in decades. For travelers near the airport who aren’t squeamish about flying on a smaller, 30-seat jet, the service could deliver passengers to Los Angeles or Las Vegas quicker by allowing them through a shorter security process at private terminals instead of the typical TSA lines.

JetSuite also launched a non-stop flight between San Jose and Burbank earlier this year, jetting between private terminals at Mineta San Jose International Airport and the Hollywood Burbank Airport twice a day except for Saturdays.

Up-to-date schedules can be found at JetSuiteX.com.

(Annie Sciacca - San Jose Mercury News)