JSX Review: Is America’s Semi-Private Jet Airline Worth It?

Imagine turning up at the airport just 20 minutes before your flight, skipping the security queue, and boarding a jet with just 30 leather seats, all for the same price as a regular airline ticket. That’s the pitch from JSX, a semi-private airline that sells individual seats on regional jets flying out of private terminals across the United States.

On my recent trip to the States, I booked a JSX flight from Dallas Love Field to Houston Hobby to see if it lives up to the hype.

How I Booked JSX

I’ve long wanted to see what all the fuss is about with JSX. My chance came with a one-way trip from Dallas to Houston, and searching on Google Flights revealed JSX was around the same price as if I were to fly with United or Southwest, at US$239.

As this was my first JSX flight, I was able to score a $100 discount with a referral code YVMGY9, so JSX ended up being much cheaper than the competition! Plus, the JSX Hop-On fare comes with two checked bags, while Southwest and United didn’t include any baggage.

JSX Dallas Ground Experience

One of the biggest perks of flying JSX is that you skip the main airport terminal and fly out of JSX’s own terminals or private jet FBOs (fixed-base operators, the facilities private jets normally use). Instead of heading into Dallas Love Field’s passenger terminal, my Uber drops me at JSX’s hangar on the edge of the airport.

Check-in is straightforward with no queue, and the agent lets me know my flight is running late. Because JSX operates as a public charter, there’s no TSA checkpoint. Instead, JSX runs a quick screening of its own, and it tells passengers they can turn up just 20 minutes before departure. Talk about convenience!

One thing to know is there are no overhead bins on the JSX Embraer 145. My small July carry-on suitcase was checked in at the terminal, and on arrival it was waiting on the apron at the bottom of the aircraft stairs. You don’t lose any time to a baggage carousel, but it’s worth remembering if you need anything in the cabin.

The Dallas terminal itself isn’t all that exciting. It’s a light, bright and comfortable place to wait for your jet, but it’s definitely not in airport lounge territory. There are plenty of comfortable seating options, and many of them have power points close by.

Tea and coffee is offered at automated machines, plus there are a few packaged snacks to choose from. A large vending machine also sells a range of drinks.

For a carrier that says you can arrive less than half an hour before wheels up, JSX has done quite well here.

JSX Embraer 145 Seat & Cabin

The Embraer 145 normally seats up to 50 passengers, but JSX fits it with just 30 seats. That’s the maximum it can carry while still flying under charter rules, which is what keeps JSX in private terminals and away from TSA checkpoints.

It’s a comfortable layout for passengers, with a single seat on each side of the aisle. Stripping out nearly half the seats does wonders for a regional jet, and the cabin feels genuinely spacious, with no ducking or shuffling down the aisle. The cream leather seats are very comfortable, with enormous legroom but pretty average width. I can’t help but think the seats could be much wider without the ottoman in each row.

The best seats are those lettered ‘C’, which come with an ottoman alongside in the space where a second seat would otherwise sit. It’s a handy spot for drinks and snacks, but the real win is underneath. You can stow your bag under the ottoman rather than under the seat in front, which leaves the footwell clear to stretch your legs right out.

Every seat has a tray table in front and a US-style AC power outlet on the wall to the side.

My one gripe with JSX’s cabin is the windows. Many rows don’t line up with them, leaving you staring at a stretch of cabin wall. It’s an easy problem to solve when you’re not trying to cram seats in, so I’m not sure why JSX didn’t bother to space each row around a window.

Snacks & Drinks Onboard JSX

Service kicks off with drink orders taken promptly after takeoff. Everything is complimentary, including beer, wine and spirits, and I select a rum and Coke, which is delivered as a DIY affair to mix myself.

Once drinks are out, a snack basket comes through the cabin with a variety of options, all of which are on the premium end of the scale. My picks are a packet of chips and a beef jerky stick.

For a flight scheduled to take just over an hour, it’s pretty solid. After all, JSX’s main deal isn’t being ultra-premium, it’s being the quickest and easiest way there.

JSX Starlink WiFi

WiFi on board is powered by Starlink, and it’s free for every passenger. I ran a speed test mid-flight and clocked upload speeds of 133Mbps, which is faster than plenty of home connections.

There’s no inflight entertainment system, with no seatback screens or streaming portal, so you’ll need to bring your own content. But with WiFi this quick that’s hardly a problem, as you can simply stream whatever you like on your own device.

JSX Onboard Service

There’s just one flight attendant looking after the entire cabin, which is a tough gig on a flight scheduled for just over an hour. Thankfully only 16 of the 30 seats are filled on my flight, so our crew member is able to get through the drinks and snacks service with ease.

She’s friendly but efficient, which is exactly what’s needed with such a short service window, as there’s not really any time to chat to every passenger.

Summing Up: Is JSX Worth It?

Considering one of the biggest benefits of JSX is speed, it was disappointing to be delayed by around an hour. Thankfully I didn’t need to be anywhere fast, and delays are the kind of thing that can happen with any carrier. Plus, didn’t change how pleasant the journey was from start to finish.

Outside of the delay, it’s hard to fault the JSX experience. Being dropped at a private hangar instead of a sprawling terminal, walking meters to check-in, then waiting in a comfortable space before boarding with minimal security checks is a totally different world from a typical US domestic flight.

Once on board, you get a spacious cabin, a comfortable leather seat with plenty of legroom, free drinks and snacks, plus Starlink Wi-Fi fast enough to stream on.

What really seals the deal is the price. When I booked, JSX cost about the same as flying with United or Southwest, which makes the choice an easy one. If you hate big US airports, JSX is well worth a look.