NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — If you've flown lately, you know it can be stressful. Travelers may deal with long lines, flight delays, bad behavior from other travelers, increasingly smaller seats and an extra charge for what seems like just about everything.
But a new air carrier in Nashville says it's changing the game. For the cost of a business-class ticket, you can hop-on a jet service that's recently expanded to BNA. It's called JSX, and company VP of Corporate Soul Kevin Horan says the point is to give people a new way to travel.
"Now when you get ready to take that vacation or business trip you dread getting there," Horan said. "We want you to enjoy getting there as much as being there."
The Dallas-based company's 30-seat jets take off from a small, private hangar nestled under the BNA control tower.
From the outside they may look like any other plane taxiing on the runway. But it's what's on the inside that makes JSX unique.
"One of the first things you’ll notice is there are no overhead bins. And that makes the airplane feel so much more spacious," Horan said while giving NewsChannel 5 an exclusive tour. He showed off the all-leather seats, LED lighting and plush carpet. The company converted 50-seat planes to seat just 30 passengers.
"We're creating that private-esque feel, that first class or business class feel, but at an affordable entry point," he said.
Passengers get to skip the TSA lines and traffic leading to the main terminal, and Horan estimates the air carrier saves travelers two hours of travel time or more per flight.
"For anyone who needs to get from point A to point B who values their time, that’s a great savings," he said.
Flight attendants say they often see business travelers head out in the morning and return in the afternoon, because the travel experience is so fast.
In fact, the air carrier asks travelers to arrive just 20 minutes before the flight in order to check in with the desk and then go through security, which allows plenty of time to board the plane.
But the price point may be steep for anyone pinching pennies. It's about double what you'd pay to fly commercial economy.
"Our starting ticket price here in the Nashville area is 300 dollars each way," Horan said.
A regular ticket includes free bags, snacks, alcohol and Starlink wifi on board.
From Nashville, the carrier flies to Dallas and New York. And it offers a summer flight to Destin, FL. But there are plans to continue to expand, using Nashville as a connector between the company's western flights and the east coast.
"I can't share any corporate secrets...but I can guarantee you there will be more destinations from Nashville," Horan said.
The company says it's all in the name, which stands for "joyful, simple experience."
"Bringing joy back to air travel and making it as simple as possible," Horan said.
And that it's perfect for anyone who wants to skip the airport, but still needs to fly.
If you want to try snag a seat for less, staff say to check out flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Those days tend to be less busy and they often offer lower ticket prices. You can also keep an eye out for occasional promotions and discounts.
