For several years, you’ve been able to book charter flights on the Internet and now, as we’ve reported in Business Jet Traveler, there’s a retail store in London–The Jet Business–where you can actually walk in off the street and buy an airplane.
I think I can see where this trend is headed.
The year is 2050. Joe Jetbuyer calls his local Jet Depot. That’s the 4,257-location chain that Home Depot launched after the number of Silicon Valley and hedge-fund zillionaires mushroomed out of control.
“Please listen carefully, as our options have recently changed,” says a recorded voice. “Press 1 for a Jet Depot store near you. Press 2 to order VVLJs. Press 3 to order supersonic jets. Press 4 for Virgin Galactic spaceships. Press 0 to speak to a ‘live’ robot.”
Joe presses 1, deciding he’s not about to purchase a $250 million airplane (did I mention the inflation spike of 2023?) sight unseen. Then his Google-controlled car drives him to Jet Depot.
“Can I help you?” says the salesman. “We have some great models on special this week.”
“I was looking for that new one from Hawker-Dassault-Bombardier-Embraer-Gulfstream,” says Joe. “The merged company really has built some good stuff.”
“Yes,” the salesman agrees. “But ever since Beijing Industries bought it, we’ve been getting a lot of returns. Still, the price is right: I can let you have that little beauty over there for $289,999,999.99.”
“That’s a bit more than I wanted to spend,” says Joe, “but I have a coupon for $20 million off.” He hands it to the salesman.
“I’m afraid you can’t use that,” says the salesman. “The $20 million discount applies only when you buy three or more. But I’ll tell you what. I’ll let you have it for $5 million off and no money down. No interest either, if you pay in full within six months. Would you like an extended-protection plan? Repairs can be expensive so I’d definitely advise it.”
“That all sounds pretty good,” says Joe, “but hold on a minute while I check something.” He pulls out his iPhone 43, scans a product barcode on the side of the jet he’s been examining, studies some information on the phone and then looks up at the salesman.
“Sorry,” Joe says. “It’s cheaper on Amazon.”
Jeff Burger joined Business Jet Traveler in March 2004, a few months after the publication’s launch. Besides editing the magazine, he has written many articles for it and conducted its interviews with such luminaries as Sir Richard Branson, James Carville, Suze Orman, Donald Trump, F. Lee Bailey, and Steve Van Zandt. Burger helped to oversee the introduction of BJT’s annual Readers' Choice surveys and Buyers’ Guide.
During his years with the magazine, it has won well over a hundred editorial awards. In 2011, Burger received the Gold Wing Award for Reporting Excellence from the National Business Aviation Association and the Aviation Journalism Award from the National Air Transportation Association. He has also won writing and editing awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors. BJT, meanwhile, was named Best International Publication in 2017 in the Aerospace Media Awards. It was also a Magazine of the Year finalist in 2011, 2013, and 2016 and an Overall Excellence winner in 2018 in competitions sponsored by the American Society of Business Publication Editors.
Before coming to BJT, Burger spent 14 years at Medical Economics, the nation’s leading business magazine for doctors, where he served on the editorial board; directed staff recruiting; oversaw a $2 million annual budget; and was financial editor, news editor, and director of special projects. He has been editor of several publications, including Phoenix Magazine in Arizona, and has been a consulting editor at Time Inc. His articles have appeared in more than 75 magazines and newspapers, among them The Los Angeles Times, Barron’s, Reader’s Digest, Gentlemen’s Quarterly , and Family Circle. Chicago Review Press published his books, Springsteen on Springsteen: Interviews, Speeches, and Encounters, Leonard Cohen on Leonard Cohen: Interviews and Encounter, Lennon on Lennon: Conversations with John Lennon, and Dylan on Dylan: Interviews and Encounters. His music writing appears on multiple websites, including his own byjeffburger.com.
Burger, a summa cum laude graduate of the State University of New York at Albany, lives in Ridgewood, N.J. He and his wife, Madeleine, have two grown children. His off-hours passions include cooking, travel, technology, movies, and music.
