Flying private from Palm Beach has always been available to those of certain means—I get to watch Air Force One and Elon Musk’s jet fly over my head on a weekly basis—but now, thanks to a new partnership between XO and West Palm Beach–based Slate Aviation, it’s becoming more accessible to the other 99.9 percent.
From April 26 through Sept. 30, Slate Aviation will run shared private shuttle service to Nantucket (ACK) from Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) and Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL).
The new Nantucket service builds upon existing shuttle operations between South Florida and New York, including Westchester County Airport and other member-only terminals.
The best part? You can book these luxurious semi-private flights by the seat rather than chartering a full aircraft. So instead of a price in the mid five-figures, you can hop aboard for fares starting at $695 per seat—and you can book it all from an easy-to-use app.
I was so stoked on the prospect that I grabbed a seat on a snazzy Bombardier CRJ-200 during the inaugural weekend of flights between South Florida and Nantucket. And after experiencing travel the Slate way, I can confirm the term “shuttle” doesn’t quite do justice to this service.
The flights are the epitome of luxury, with just 18 oversized seats (all business class); free Wi-Fi; catering by my favorite local five-star restaurant, Buccan; and a basket of snacks that puts all commercial airlines’ offerings to shame.
There’s no TSA lines or boarding aggravation. There’s just a brief walk from the lounge of a private terminal onto the plane, a safety briefing by your captain, drink orders taken by two smiling flight attendants, and then you’re airborne.
Maybe even ahead of schedule: an unexpected perk of flying semi-private is that your flight can depart early if all the passengers are present, giving you more time to soak up a Nantucket afternoon—even if that afternoon is a dreary introduction to the island’s nickname, The Gray Lady. (Luckily, my flight coincided with the island’s annual Daffodil Festival, so the sea of locals in cheery hues, “Happy Daffy!” greetings, and millions of yellow daffodils in full bloom brightened our days despite the cold, wet spring weather.)
I brought a girlfriend along and only had 24 hours to explore on this first-time visit to Nantucket, but since the island is only seven by 14 miles, that’s enough time to hit the highlights. We stayed at The Brant, popped in to see the iconic 26-foot-tall Brant Point Lighthouse, grabbed ice cream scoops from The Juice Bar, and a bite from Straight Wharf Fish.
Now, with only three (pampered) hours separating tropical Palm Beach from the Northeastern flower-filled daydream that is Nantucket, I have a feeling the two islands will be seeing a lot more of each other this summer.
Slate Aviation flights between South Florida and Nantucket will take place two days per week through May 31, then five days per week June 1 through Sept. 30. To book, download the app, or to learn more, visit flyslate.com.
