FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Learn more about the Merlin1 difference and see how we fly above the rest
HOW IT WORKS
Transparent pricing & exceptional service
01
25+ Hours
Book 25 hours or more at a bulk rate. Apply hours to domestic and international trips, charged wheels up to wheels down. 1:1 pricing for trips up to 4 days.
02
Insurance
Don't get stranded with a refund. We'll get you where you're going with guaranteed plane replacement
03
Catered to you
Catering is included for all JetCard flyers at no extra charge.
04
Guaranteed Easy
Guaranteed bookings up to 48 hours in advance. Work directly with the same on-call scheduler from the first point of contact to wheels down at your destination.
At Merlin1, unlike with most jet card programs, there are no initiation/membership fees, blackout dates, peak period fees or fuel surcharges. At Merlin1, you also get a lower price per flight hour, 99% dispatch reliability and no burdensome owner approval of shared ownership jets. WIFI and catering are also complimentary.
If a flight is interrupted Merlin 1 Jet Card holders are guaranteed a substitute charter and we'll complete the trip at no incremental cost.
Our fleet has a range of 2000 nautical miles. From our hubs in Austin, TX, and San Antonio, TX, we can fly non-stop to both coasts, as well as southern Canada, Central America, and the Caribbean. For our customers, that translates into less time traveling.
Yes, we offer empty leg booking to clients. You can browse an up-to-date list of empty leg flights here.
The Misconception of Aircraft Age Aircraft like the Citation 650 that Merlin1 flies (more commonly referred to as corporate aircraft), are built to the same exacting (FAR Part 25) standards and structural integrity of commercial jet airliners. In other words, the useful life expectancy of a corporate jet, like a commercial airliner, is roughly 60,000 flight hours. Airliners regularly meet this threshold, as annual utilization is up to 4,500 hours, sometimes more. Most corporate jets operate 200-400 hours per year and never come remotely close to useful life expectancy. Anyone that flies on scheduled airlines regularly has flown on aircraft with 40,000-plus total hours. Total aircraft time is a far more accurate barometer of aircraft age than is the date of manufacture.
Merlin1 acquires aircraft with approximately 4,000-8,000 hours total time, a fraction (less than 15%) of useful aircraft life. We then perform a heavy check, refurbish the interior, upgrade the avionics if needed, install Wi-Fi and, if necessary, strip and paint the aircraft. Extensive aircraft specific documents and records are then submitted to the FAA for review. Upon completion of the review, two FAA inspectors with differing specializations then visit our facility and perform a “conformity inspection” which can last multiple days. This includes a review of the aircraft status, a check of the records, a maintenance audit and occasionally, a flight test. Upon successful completion of the conformity inspection the FAA grants an operating permit. This process takes three to six months at a cost of up to $1 million. The misconception that older aircraft are less safe or reliable is simply false.
By operating a fleet of pre-owned aircraft of a single type, Merlin1 has achieved significant cost savings and streamlined scheduling, maintenance, and pilot training processes
Merlin1 sets itself apart in the private aviation industry through its strategic focus on operational efficiency and personalized customer service. By operating a fleet of pre-owned aircraft of a single type, Merlin1 has achieved significant cost savings and streamlined scheduling, maintenance, and pilot training and redundancy.
Maintenance Efficiency: A uniform fleet simplifies maintenance procedures, reducing the need for specialized tools and training. Merlin1's in-house maintenance capabilities further enhance efficiency, allowing for quicker turnaround times and minimizing disruptions to flight schedules.
Pilot Training and Redundancy: The company's standardized fleet facilitates efficient pilot training, as pilots only need to familiarize themselves with one aircraft type. This also ensures greater redundancy within the pilot pool, as any pilot can step in to fly any aircraft in the fleet, minimizing cancellations due to lack of crew availability.
Merlin1 Jet Card members are guaranteed aircraft availability in 24 hours, and are automatically covered with trip interruption insurance. In the rare occurrence when a mechanical delay interrupts a Jet card client trip, most charter companies reimburse the cost of the incomplete legs and wish the client the best. At MERLIN1, we will dispatch the nearest plane to the client’s location and complete the trip at no incremental cost. Merlin1 Jet card clients also receive complimentary WIFI and catering.
Our Operation
7 Jets
Modified Citation 650 Jets
2000 Miles
Service range
9 Techs
9 Full-time mechanics