Navigating the Airways with BlackJet CEO Dean Rotchin

I want to take you for a ride this week. It is not a magic carpet ride, but rather a plane ride with BlackJet Founder, President and CEO Dean Rotchin to talk about how his company is helping change the aviation industry.

Here at PowerTalk, each week I bring you my one-on-one conversations with not only CEOs of public and private companies, but also those from the up-and-coming companies and disruptive apps that are likely to be game changers. That makes them potential disruptors in the world that I call PowerTrends. We’ve seen this time and again, and that’s why I keep a close eye not only on publicly traded companies, but also on venture and private-equity-backed ones as well.

If you’re a frequent traveler or even just an occasional one, you already know what a hassle traveling has become. Getting to the airport hours before your flight to face long lines and/or flight delays or cancellations is just the start of it. It seems the airlines like American Airlines (AAMRQ), United Continental (UAL), Delta Air Lines (DAL), US Airways (LCC), Spirit Airlines (SAVE) and others are nickel-and-diming you all the way.

Want to check a bag? Pay more.

Want to get a snack on the flight? Pay more.

Want to watch a movie? Pay more.

There’s even talk of passengers having to pay to bring carry-on luggage on board the aircraft.

Don’t forget, you still have to get there hours ahead of time so you can have some up-close and personal time with the Transportation Security Administration’s passenger screeners.

Did you know that there are a number of smaller airfields that have private planes flying in and out of them all the time?

Oftentimes, those private planes aren’t full, and that situation means the operator is leaving money and profits on the table.

That’s where BlackJet comes in.

Through its app and website — BlackJet.com — the company matches excess seating on private planes with those folks who are looking for a better way to travel. That’s just the start; as CEO Dean Rothchin explained to me, there’s far more flexibility when traveling with BlackJet than with a conventional airline. Some have called BlackJet the Uber of the airline industry.

Even though some critics may scoff at this idea, I can tell that BlackJet is gaining ground and a following. I know the company is serving five cities — San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, South Florida and Las Vegas — and is expanding to five others, Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

After listening to this PowerTalk with Dean, you’ll not only see how BlackJet is turning the aviation industry on its head, you’ll understand there are alternatives out there that can make you feel like you’re worth a few million dollars even if you don’t have that much.

Listen to my behind-the-scenes PowerTalk conversation now, so you are even more in the know:

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Access prior PowerTalk interviews here:

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