Culture

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Holiday travel starts soon, and it’s expected to be a busier travel season than in previous years. According to a Marketwatch survey, more than 52% of adults plan to fly over the holidays, but skyrocketing ticket prices, the potential of massive flight cancellations (who can forget about last year’s travel nightmare?) and unreasonably long lines at the airport, traveling by plane can be especially stressful during the holidays. Thankfully, there’s another travel option that lets enjoy the luxuries of a private jet at a fraction of the cost.

Meet Aero, a semi-private plane with style. The brainchild of Uber co-founder Garrett Camp, Aero was originally founded as a software platform for booking jets but transitioned into the “Uber of private jets,” according to the company website.  

Based in Los Angeles, Aero is run by a “seasoned team” of experts in aviation, hospitality and luxury marketing. Areo jets seat up to 16 passengers and pets are welcome aboard.

“Aero offers a level of service and discretion that is unique in the semi-private space,” Aero CEO Ben Klein tells Billboard. “From our private terminal at Van Nuys Airport, which is separate from the main FBOs on the field and only open to Aero guests, to our jets, which are configured with 16, first-class forward-facing seats, we are able to provide a level of privacy that is on par with chartering your jet.  Our jets have become particularly popular with music tours charters because of the ability for 16 people to have their own forward-facing seat (as opposed to being stuck on a sofa), our high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi, and the largest luggage hold in the private jet space, which allows for a lot of bags and equipment.”

According to Klein, musicians and other celebrities “love flying Aero because of our level of service and discretion” in comparison to air travel options. “In addition to our scheduled flights to Cabo, Aspen, Sun Valley, and now Napa, our charter business is also very popular – especially for music tours.”

Aero prioritizes guests’ privacy, so while the company couldn’t divulge the recording stars that have chartered flights, Busta Rhymes and Tommy Lee are a couple of artists who have posted about Aero on social media.

Over the summer, Aero invited me and other reporters on a flight experience from Los Angeles to Napa to preview the company’s new flight route, and partnership with Stanly Ranch and Solage of Auberge Resorts Collection. The day trip included in-flight wine tasting and snacks from Erewhon (an L.A. market that went viral for its Hailey Bieber smoothie).

From Sept. 20 until November, Aero will offer flights between L.A. and Napa. Tickets start at $725 one way. Aero has partnered with Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection and Stanly Ranch, to offer travelers a quick flight to the wine country.

“Our community has expressed interest in visiting Napa, and we’ve worked hard to make their dream a reality, just in time for the harvest season,” Klein said in a news release announcing the new flights in August. “Landing next to downtown Napa just over an hour after departing Los Angeles on a scheduled flight is extremely rare. Typically, this is only possible by flying private. Aero’s new service to wine country is just one example of our strategic approach to growth in 2024: we’re listening to feedback from the market and responding with innovative solutions. Guests can now fly to difficult-to-reach premier leisure destinations during peak seasonal time frames.”