The Escape is priced from $6,300 per two guests, inclusive of taxes and gratuities; and reservations are non-refundable.To reserve the “NYC + The Hamptons: City to Beach Escape” please contact 212.790.8829 or email patricehcarter@baccarathotels.com.

With more than 25 years of aviation experience, Eli Flint leads the Flexjet helicopter division which offers leases, helicopter cards and convenient interchange access for its aircraft Owners. KDHamptons chats with Eli about his plans to elevate luxury travel to new heights, below.

KDHamptons: What inspired you to start (or lead) a luxury helicopter charter service specifically in the Hamptons?

Eli Flint: We are the only private jet travel provider that, as part of an extensive global fleet, offers wholly owned and operated helicopters. We were inspired by the understanding that it is often the first and last miles of a journey that can be the most arduous, or those of a regional nature that are prone to on-the-ground obstacles. Case in point is the Hamptons, a short distance from the city but a long journey because of traffic. With a Flexjet helicopter, it is 35-45 minutes away from New York City

KDHamptons: What sets your helicopter experience apart from others – is it the service, the aircraft, the exclusivity?

Eli Flint: We mark our 30^th anniversary this year as one of the world’s largest providers of private jet and helicopter travel.  We own, maintain and operate our aircraft to our standards, which are the highest in the industry; to my knowledge, no other private helicopter operator has achieved ARGUS Platinum, Wyvern Wingman, FAA Diamond, ACSF and other credentials. Plus, other entities are posing as operators, but they are merely brokering other people’s helicopters.  With that comes a lot of inconsistency in service delivery, safety and standards. The Sikorsky S-76 private helicopters we fly feature dual-redundancy safety   elements as well as two certified pilots who average 26 years of experience. It is our approach to safety, service, comfort and the refinement of our offering that truly sets us apart. 

KDHamptons: How do your services fit into the lifestyle and expectations of Hamptons clientele?

Eli Flint: In an area where the season is 8-10 weeks, the expectation is to maximize one’s time there. With a Flexjet helicopter, you have a tool at your disposal to do precisely that; amplified by the ability to bring friends and family together from across the region.

KDHamptons: Have you noticed any trends in how people are using private helicopter travel — for commuting, weekend escapes, or events?

Eli Flint: Over the last two years, we have seen a significant rise in what I like to call “day maximizers.” We will commonly fly someone from near their office in the city, out to their child’s school up in the Hudson Valley or Connecticut to attend an extracurricular event in the late afternoon and then  to a country home or back to town for a business dinner. Our team has also been busy establishing tailored landing zones as people are increasingly desiring access to a Flexjet helicopter to and from their own property. 

KDHamptons: Can you describe a typical high-season weekend for your company during the summer in the Hamptons?

Eli Flint: The ability to work remotely has spread out the flow a bit, but summer Thursdays through Monday mornings from points throughout the northeast to The Hamptons are our busiest days of the whole year – and that includes all of our helicopter service areas, which are New York/The Northeastern U.S., Florida/The Bahamas, London/The U.K. and Northern Italy/The Riviera.  

KDHamptons: How do you incorporate elements of luxury and personalization into each flight?

Eli Flint: Our artisan helicopter interiors are the most refined and comfortable in helicopter travel and mirror the standards of Flexjet’s renowned Red Label jet offering. There is truly nothing like them in the helicopter space, as some are even inspired by collaborations with like-minded brands such as Bentley Motors and Ferretti Group’s Riva Yachts. 

Holistically speaking, your trip is handled by an integrated Owner Services and Operations team that works in harmony to ensure  the details of your trip and that it is executed precisely to your expectations. That seamless offering results in  peace of mind and removal of variables, which is the true luxury of our offering. 

KDHamptons: What kind of clients do you typically serve? Are they mostly business professionals, celebrities, creatives, or a mix?

Eli Flint: All of the above, but most of the time, our clientele are individuals with the ability to quietly utilize our offering to make the most of their  lifestyle. 

KDHamptons: How do you address sustainability or noise concerns in an area known for its natural beauty and tranquility?

Eli Flint: Friendly flying is our method used to minimize noise and other disturbances to communities near or along helicopter flight routes. Flexjet is proud to be one of the few providers that practices friendly flying – including intentionally taking routes specially designed to fly over less populated areas and maintaining a flying altitude high enough to reduce noise pollution for neighborhoods located below. Our helicopters themselves also offer a smaller noise footprint than comparable models and follow a voluntary curfew, reducing additional strain on the areas where we operate  

Along with friendly flying, Flexjet helicopters are proud to utilize environmentally conscious practices as part of our standard operations. This involves not allowing our helicopters to run for extended periods of time on the ground, offsetting the carbon emissions of every flight at no expense to our customers and even electing to use SAF (sustainable aviation fuel). We do our part to ensure we are employing sustainability measures to a higher degree than anyone else in the industry. And of course, eVTOL is on the horizon and we will be an industry leader.

KDHamptons: What is your favorite thing about summer in the Hamptons, and do you ever get to enjoy it like your clients do? 

Eli Flint: Personally, my favorite thing about summer in the Hamptons is its unique aesthetic and the energy of an iconic American summer enjoyed by all ages. It is such a special place for so many people and their families, and it is a privilege to be able to maximize their time here. 

* Flexjet is a member of the Directional Aviation family of companies. For more details on innovative programs and flexible offerings, visit www.flexjet.com

– by Brady Hopkins