Sponsor Note: Fly with the Second-Hardest Working Man on the Planet
Just to avoid the argument, let’s say Jim Harbaugh is the hardest working man on the planet. Shortly into Harbaugh’s Michigan career we identified a challenger: Zach Eisendrath, whose job it would be to wrangle said Harbaugh into properly performing all of the perfunctory, non-football jobs required of him. On his first day of work Zach got Harbaugh vs. Cowherd—no free rides, sonny!
Today, Zach is working on the comparatively simple task of building a private jet empire. His new company Big Game Air puts together flight charters to get fans to the game and back in luxury. Big Game Air is a first-of-its-kind provider of luxury game day travel experiences for the ultimate sports fan, providing same-day round-trip travel accommodations on private jets. Zach on the first trip this weekend:
Great first trip – Jehu Chesson joined us fresh of the Chiefs win over the Patriots. Had a group of season ticket holders on our flight, including former player Paul Manning.
We also traveled to Columbus last week for their game vs. Oklahoma. But for Michigan – we have four remaining trips scheduled – Michigan State and Ohio State at home and Penn State and Wisconsin on the road. Marlin Jackson is joining us for the Michigan State game.
Our schedule per seat is out of Chicago right now, but if anyone is interested out of Ann Arbor/Detroit for road games or New York, we will also do planes from there as well. There is a wait list function they can sign up for those games from.
We co-brand the Valiant tailgate with John Wangler, so all of our clients get to go to that tailgate with all of the former players and the likes of Brandstatter, Jansen and Dierdorf.
Everybody got round-trip travel via private jet, complimentary in-flight drinks and snacks (including alcoholic beverages for adults over the age of 21) and ground transportation to and from the stadium. The trip also included a special pregame VIP Tailgate in the Champions East Lot just steps away from the tunnel at Michigan Stadium.
Big Game Air also provides FULL PRIVATE CHARTERS to Michigan football games for Michigan fans across the country. For more information or a full quote visit BigGameAir.com.
September 12th, 2017 at 12:43 PM ^
Fancy
September 13th, 2017 at 4:26 PM ^
$1,300 for a trip is nothing for me, but those Big Game Air planes look pretty janky even for that paltry amount. I'm a member of a pretty exclusive private service that I'll share with all of you...although from the comments below, I doubt many of you can manage:
https://www.spirit.com/Default.aspx
If you like luxury, and can swing the steep memebership fee, nothing is better.
September 12th, 2017 at 12:45 PM ^
September 12th, 2017 at 12:49 PM ^
Prices aren't terrible tbh.
$1300 for a same day round trip ticket from Chicago to Penn State, transportation from airport to game included.
Similar pricing as some of the shuttle seats that Jetsmarter, etc. have
September 12th, 2017 at 12:56 PM ^
$1,300 for the entire plane might work.
September 12th, 2017 at 1:22 PM ^
Then you're SOL.
For a midsize jet, you are looking at $2-3K per flight hour. About two hours of flight time to/from ORD to SCE, or 4 hours total. Add fuel, taxes, catering.
Would guess $14K for an entire jet?
September 12th, 2017 at 1:46 PM ^
September 12th, 2017 at 2:19 PM ^
Is a Mile High Club membership included?
September 13th, 2017 at 2:04 AM ^
Yeah, but probably not from the gender you are expecting, NTTAWWT.
September 12th, 2017 at 12:58 PM ^
I'd like a same-day round trip from Frankfurt option. Let me know when available, engineers.
September 12th, 2017 at 1:00 PM ^
but I took Marketing and I understand that's the message they would like to convey to their market.
September 12th, 2017 at 2:28 PM ^
September 12th, 2017 at 2:48 PM ^
It would be pretty lonely at the game if you were the ultimate sports fan. They probably wouldn't be able to have a game, either, because presumably players of a sport are also fans.
September 13th, 2017 at 11:12 AM ^
"look honey they scored a down touch! Pass me a wine cooler!"
September 12th, 2017 at 1:02 PM ^
However, my monocle has been sent for cleaning, and I'm knee deep in repairs to my properties at Atlantic Avenue, Boardwalk and Short Line. I'll have to get back with you.
September 12th, 2017 at 1:03 PM ^
September 12th, 2017 at 1:37 PM ^
Advertising private jet service on a sports blog. The Michigan difference.
September 12th, 2017 at 1:37 PM ^
This is cool and glad they are supporting the blog called MGO.
September 12th, 2017 at 1:51 PM ^
that I'd like to do at least once in my life. I've been trying to angle a trip on my company's private jet for years. Still way too far down on the totem pole.
September 12th, 2017 at 2:04 PM ^
September 12th, 2017 at 2:22 PM ^
This falls in the category of humblebrag but the only real difference in private jet vs domestic first class is that you don't have to deal with any of the lines, security, waits etc. it's cool to say you've been on one.
Taking a private jet internationally is significantly less comfortable than a US or Asian carrier's business class. You save some time with customs/security but that's about the only advantage. The lavatory is much nicer but uh, let's just say you should take advantage of ground facilities when you're travelling with your CEO.
September 12th, 2017 at 2:48 PM ^
One of the larger Gulfstreams (or comparable sized competitor) is pretty damned luxurious and comfortable, even for a long-haul. An older aircraft like a Lear 36? Oft-nicknamed "Executive Mail Tubes" for a reason.
Fantastic advice about the lav, though. Taking that massive dump at the ground facility rather than aboard the aircraft is a great career move.
September 12th, 2017 at 6:58 PM ^
I was on a Global Express which is about the same size as a G550 or a CRJ. It seats 16-18 comfortably for a transcontinental flight but you can really only fit 9-10 comfortably for a US-Europe or longer flight. The seats are like early 2000s level of airline reclining armchairs.
For flying around the continental US/Europe it can't be beat. Anything longer and I think most people would prefer business class.
September 12th, 2017 at 9:06 PM ^
And you can configure them anyway you like. Even the lowly Citation I can be outfitted for absolute comfort. But then the utility of said aircraft is diminished... I guess the point would be that while many of us have been privileged to fly on one, none of us have been on all. Not all modes of private transportation are created equal.
September 12th, 2017 at 1:58 PM ^
there better be some in flight entertainment
September 12th, 2017 at 2:47 PM ^
That is amazing.... I would have loved to be on that flight.
Yea, this is for the ultimate fan with serious CASH!!!!!!!! 1400 a seat! Would be a sweet birthday/christmas present for me. Someone tell my wife.
September 13th, 2017 at 11:14 AM ^
Either she's great at her job, or she doesn't want it any more.
I can't figure out which.
September 12th, 2017 at 2:21 PM ^
This is pretty sweet. Few more years of paying off my student loans and I'll get back to you.
September 12th, 2017 at 2:33 PM ^
Took a second to firm-up that this is a Part 380 Indirect Carrier. So think of it as a high-end travel agent / charter broker. Not that there's anything wrong with it (it's a well-regulated industry and you'll fly on certified Part 135 or, if the group's big enough, Part 121 aircraft run by qualified airlines), but these folks are not flying aircraft even though they're named "Big Game Air".
September 12th, 2017 at 3:18 PM ^
DId 2 charters out of WIllow Run. Tate era games at Iowa and WIsconsin. I think it was "only" $600 including a ticket, flight, drinks, bus ride to and from the stadium and snacks on the bus. I left home at 6 AM and was back home at 6 PM for a noon game of course. It was fantastic! It was not on a small jet but the plane might have held 80-100. It was not anywhere close to full. I think they lost money on the trip is why they have not done it again. $1300 is a little steep.
September 12th, 2017 at 4:05 PM ^
Do I have to wear my Big Baller Brand shoes in-flight?
September 12th, 2017 at 5:18 PM ^
Do you take kidneys as payment?
September 12th, 2017 at 11:01 PM ^
uncontrollable giggles at this hour and I was really just trying to wind down.
September 12th, 2017 at 5:32 PM ^
got to fly on one to a game before (long story how that happened). short story version: it makes you actually enjoy air travel, which in and of itself is amazing. it also makes you wish you were filthy rich.
September 12th, 2017 at 5:36 PM ^
September 12th, 2017 at 5:45 PM ^
But I actually enjoy the road trip part about road games. I like the drive and conversation to and from (especially after a victory). Additional bonus is running into other college FB fans on the road. I've been on the Ohio Turnpike early Saturday morning, and run into fans of lots of different schools. Everybody is happy and want to talk football.
This thread is probably way outside my league since I road a bus with the Evans Scholars out to the 1998 Rose Bowl.
September 13th, 2017 at 12:41 PM ^
The road trip can be a big part of the fun, as can be just hanging around the tailgate and checking out the other city/school. The fly-in/fly-out quickie sounds good if you're short on time for some reason and just want to be at the game, but in some ways it sounds like a 4 hour fly-in/fly-out business meeting, plus beer.
September 12th, 2017 at 5:57 PM ^
My first reaction, was something like "c'mon, man". But really, those prices aren't turrible, especially considering it keeps you away from the pleb's. I'm not a people person when traveling, my patience gets real short, and security lines are the worst thing ever.
September 13th, 2017 at 10:30 AM ^
sometimes you're not a 'people person' when you're blogging.
(couldn't resist)
September 13th, 2017 at 2:31 PM ^
Oh, you're definitely not wrong there. I'm not a people person a lot of the time, if I'm being honest. I have very low tolerance for stupidity, and humans... well, we're not that smart as a whole (myself included).
September 12th, 2017 at 7:34 PM ^
September 12th, 2017 at 10:22 PM ^
No rude parents giving me the stink eye for brushing their kid off my head? No fellow pax striking me in the noggin with their luggage because I always take an aisle seat?
Ferk, I pledge my left kidney, the right one is so-so from my binge drinking days in A^2. I'm willing to pay up.
September 13th, 2017 at 11:14 AM ^
It would be a lot cheaper.
September 13th, 2017 at 2:35 PM ^
I'm 1k on UAL. First Class ain't what it used to be, particularly on domestic flights. All the issues I cited are routinely experienced while flying First. I neglected to mention the now ubiquitous service animals in the First Class cabin. I go to use the toilet and some wolf-like dog just dares me to step over it. It can be a bloody flying Noah's Ark up there at times.
September 12th, 2017 at 11:18 PM ^
September 13th, 2017 at 8:29 AM ^
someone creating the future?
September 12th, 2017 at 11:38 PM ^
September 12th, 2017 at 11:54 PM ^
Some of these are intriguing, especially to places like Penn State that are not near any major airports, far from big cities and have terrible traffic going in and out.
However, some of these options are down right stupid. Why on earth would anyone ever pay for a service like this to fly from Chicago to South Bend or Chicago to Madison, 2 hour drives???? Just get a party bus.