Flexjet and Abercrombie & Kent Present "Passport to the World" as This Year's Ultimate Holiday Gift

DALLAS, Nov. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- (www.flexjet.com; www.abercrombiekent.com) – For those who want to give their loved ones the world, this year's ultimate holiday offering from Flexjet operated by U.S. air carrier Jet Solutions and handcrafted by Abercrombie & Kent is unmatched. Passport to the World is a completely private jet experience circling the globe. From the Forbidden City to the Taj Majal, travelers will have exclusive access to hidden wonders for a once-in-a-lifetime journey of global discovery.

"Flexjet is thrilled to partner with Abercrombie & Kent to be the first to offer a customized private jet experience around the world," said Deanna White, President, Flexjet. "With Passport to the World, guests will fly privately to seven of the world's most famous cities and get exclusive access to legendary sights and landmarks. Plus, with a private jet, getting there will be half the fun."

"Traveling by private jet makes it possible to visit some of the most inspiring World Heritage sites in just two weeks, which under ordinary circumstances would be difficult – perhaps impossible – to see on a single trip," adds Geoffrey Kent, famed explorer and founder of Abercrombie & Kent. "By combining Flexjet's exceptional travel experience with Abercrombie & Kent's unparalleled global travel network – with more than 50 offices around the world – this remarkable worldwide journey is well within reach."

This five-star Passport to the World experience for up to eight people includes a 14-day Abercrombie & Kent journey, traveling in world-class comfort and style with one's own private party aboard a Challenger 605 aircraft. The spacious business jet features larger, higher windows, along with cutting-edge avionics, state-of-the-art studio and video systems, global Wi-Fi and leather seats that transform into beds – allowing more space to comfortably unwind and relax.

An expert flight crew provided by Jet Solutions will remain with the group throughout the journey, learning each traveler's on-board preferences and anticipating their needs. Abercrombie & Kent will assist with expedited clearance through immigration and customs wherever possible, to maximize time spent enjoying each destination.

Orchestrating each stop of the journey is an Abercrombie & Kent guide chosen from the ranks of its international coterie of professionals, who oversees everything from start to finish, relying on a lifetime's worth of knowledge to reveal sights only locals know.

This journey also includes accommodations at the best landmark hotels reflecting the history and heritage of each extraordinary location, paired with incredible dining experiences at some of the world's best restaurants, as detailed in the program highlights below.

Osaka / Kyoto, Japan (two nights) – Following a quick stop in Anchorage to refuel, the group lands in Osaka and continues to Kyoto, home of the famed Toji Temple, which was built in the year 826 and at 187 feet stands as the tallest pagoda in Japan. Travelers enjoy exclusive access to Toji's Five Storied Pagoda as well as the emperor's private retreat, both of which are closed to the public. No trip to Kyoto would be complete without a visit to Arashiyama Kitcho, often described as one of the best Japanese restaurants in the world with food "almost too beautiful to eat," as distinguished by its three Michelin stars. Travelers savor this feast accompanied by geisha dancing, music and games. Following an afternoon Japanese Tea Ceremony, travelers return to the Ritz-Carlton Osaka, located in the prestigious business and shopping district of Nishi-Umeda.

Beijing, China (three nights) – From hutongs, narrow alleyways that date back to the Ming period and earlier, to the "Birds Nest" and "Water Cube," the two stunning architectural highlights from the 2008 Olympics, travelers encounter 3,000 years of history firsthand in Beijing. Travelers also visit the Temple of Heaven, one of the great monuments built during the reign of the Ming emperors, where a resident master gives a special lesson in Tai Chi beneath the grandeur of the magnificent temple. Visit the Joyongguan section of the Great Wall, one of the vast structure's most scenic stretches, for a Champagne toast and white-cloth picnic lunch atop the wall itself. Travelers spend their nights at The Peninsula Beijing – a graceful melding of the grandeur of the past and the luxury of the present – ideally situated near the city's historic heart, the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.

Hong Kong, China (two nights) – Guests bid farewell to Beijing as they travel to Hong Kong, the dazzling jewel of the Far East. Travelers board a privately chartered Peak Tram car – Hong Kong's oldest means of public transport – for a trip to the top of Victoria Peak, where cooling breezes, picturesque vistas and verdant foliage greet them, followed by a sunset cruise around Hong Kong's famed Victoria Harbor. At Man Mo Temple, the most revered Daoist temple in the territory, guests have the opportunity to draw a joss stick and have their fortune told by the temple priest. An authentic dim sum lunch at Lung King Heen, Hong Kong's only three-star Michelin restaurant, is followed by a restorative session in Zu Di An Muo, traditional Chinese reflexology used to treat any body ailment. Travelers stay at The Peninsula Hong Kong, one of the world's legendary grand hotels born in the glamorous 1920s.

Agra, India (two nights) – Travelers arrive in Agra to the palatial Oberoi Amarvilas hotel, where they are welcomed with showers of rose petals and given a red-powdered bindi on their forehead as a mark of respect. Travelers visit the Taj Mahal in both the morning and the evening, seeing for themselves the unforgettable way in which the monument seems to change hues with the colors of the day. A private Mughal-themed dinner with Kathak dancers caps an incredible visit to India.

Istanbul, Turkey (two nights) – Istanbul embodies the meeting of the East and West, and is the only city that was an imperial capital for 1,700 years. Visitors enjoy private openings of the Hagia Sophia, one of the most extraordinary creations in the history of architecture; the Topkapi Palace Complex, the center of Ottoman government from which the Turks ruled most of Europe and the Middle East; and the Chora Church, known to be the richest repository of Byzantine interior wall decorations. Travelers dine with the owner of a stunning 18^th-century wooden mansion of an Ottoman royal, and witness a demonstration of Whirling Dervishes. Accommodations are at the Ciragan Palace Hotel Kempinski Istanbul, which combines the architectural grandeur of a palace on the Bosphorus with the comforts of a modern, deluxe hotel.

Paris, France (two nights) – On their first evening in Paris, guests dine overlooking the City of Lights at the Jules Verne restaurant atop the Eiffel Tower. Travelers make their Paris visit their own by choosing from an extensive list of exclusive activities including private, after-hours access to the permanent collections on display in the world-famous Louvre Museum; the Hidden Versailles Tour, featuring the private quarters of Louis XV and Louis XVI; and a walking tour with a Parisian restaurant critic and food expert, introducing guests to some of the most delectable food in Paris. Travelers reside at Le Meurice, ranked among the most elegant hotels in the world for almost two centuries.

This 14-day Passport to the World experience begins at $1.5 million. This includes $750,000 for land arrangements from Abercrombie & Kent for up to eight people, and a Flexjet 25 jet card for a Challenger 605 business jet, which starts from $750,000 for this itinerary. For details, please call 1-888-755-3491 or visit www.abercrombiekent.com/passport.

About Jet Solutions
Richardson-based Jet Solutions, established in 1995, is one of the largest FAR Part 135 air carriers, having operated more than 1,000,000 flight hours for customers throughout the world. Jet Solutions is the first air carrier in the world to be recognized as achieving the Air Charter Safety Foundation's Industry Audit Standard, and is the exclusive provider of the Flexjet 25 Jet Card program. http://www.jetsolutions.com/.

About Flexjet
Richardson, Texas-based Flexjet—a division of Bombardier, the world's largest business aviation manufacturer—first entered the fractional jet ownership market in 1995. Flexjet now offers whole aircraft ownership and management, fractional jet ownership, Flexjet 25 jet cards and charter brokerage services. Flexjet's fractional aircraft program is the first in the world to be recognized as achieving the Air Charter Safety Foundation's Industry Audit Standard, and Flexjet is the first and only company to be honored with its 14^th FAA Diamond Award for Excellence. Flexjet's fractional program fields an exclusive family of Bombardier business aircraft—some of the youngest in the fractional jet industry with an average age of approximately six years—including the Learjet 40 XR, Learjet 45 XR, Learjet 60 XR, Challenger 300 and Challenger 605 business jets. For more details on innovative programs and flexible offerings, visit www.flexjet.com.

Flexjet has an approved fractional ownership program pursuant 14 C.F.R. Part 91, Subpart K, and managers flights for individual aircraft owners under Part 91 whole aircraft management program.

The Flexjet 25 Jet Card program is operated under Part 135 by U.S. air carrier Jet Solutions, LLC. Flexjet acts as an agent for Jet Solutions, LLC, in connection with the Flexjet 25 Jet Card program. Flexjet acts as an agent for the customer with on-demand charter broker services when arranging transportation operated under Part 135 by U.S. air carriers.

About Bombardier
Bombardier is the world's only manufacturer of both planes and trains. Looking far ahead while delivering today, Bombardier is evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere. Our vehicles, services and, most of all, our employees are what make us a global leader in transportation.

Bombardier is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Our shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and we are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indexes. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, we posted revenues of $16.8 billion. News and information are available at http://www.bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.

About Abercrombie & Kent
Abercrombie & Kent pioneered luxury adventure travel with our first African safaris in 1962, and today our award-winning travel services extend around the globe to more than one hundred countries on all seven continents. A&K's custom itineraries and small-group journeys offer one-of-a-kind inspiring experiences, while our 50 on-site offices ensure invitation-only access to the people and places that make every destination unique. Join the world of A&K by following us on Facebook and Twitter: @AKTravel_USA.

Bombardier, Challenger 300, Challenger 605, Flexjet, Flexjet 25, Learjet 40, Learjet 45, Learjet 60, Passport to the World, and XR are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.

Note to Editors
Photos available for download:
http://portfolio.abercrombiekent.com/res/sites/flexjet-passport-to-the-world

SOURCE Flexjet