- Flying dates on private jets to dinner in Paris is a real thing among millionaires.
- I talked to six matchmakers who work with millionaires about the elite dating world of the super-rich for Business Insider's month-long series, "Dating Like a Millionaire."
- Nearly all mentioned their clients had taken dates on a private jet trip across the world.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
The allure of the private jet among the rich is very much alive — especially when it comes to date night.
That's according to several of the six elite matchmakers I talked to for Business Insider's month-long series, "Dating Like a Millionaire," who play cupid for high-net-worth individuals — from royals and celebrities to entrepreneurs and CEOs. They all work with clients locally and globally, who have a net worth ranging from the low millions into the billions.
As the matchmakers detailed the lavish dates their clients had been on, I noticed a common trend: Many of these dates involved private jets, most commonly to Paris. I always thought being whisked away on a private jet to a romantic dinner in the city of love was nothing more than a plot point in rom-coms, but apparently it's a real thing for millionaires.
"Cocktail hour in the sky, landing, checking into a suite at the Ritz to find a very 'Pretty Woman' moment of diamond necklace and earrings from Graff on loan for the evening, and a red Valentino gown on the bed fit for a true princess,"Amy Andersen of Linx Dating in Silicon Valley told Business Insider, describing in detail a private jet date to Paris she'd set up. "And a private dinner on a chartered cruise up the Seine river."
The cost of this outing was included in Andersen's $250,000 VIP membership, which entails date planning, restaurant reservations, and detailed "romantic concierge" services domestically and internationally, she said. Her rates begin at $35,000 for a basic premium silver membership; for VIP clients, rates begin at $150,000 and can cost as much as $500,000 for some global searches.
Janis and Carly Spindel of Janis Spindel Serious Matchmaking Inc. in New York City say their fees run from $25,000 for basic private matchmaking to $1 million for global VIP private matchmaking. While they introduce their clients to matches, the clients set up their own date nights.
The mother-daughter duo recalled a similar date in which the client picked up his date in the UK via private jet for a dinner and weekend stay at the Ritz in Paris, they told Business Insider.
But Paris isn't the only place millionaires jet to for pricey date nights.
Mairead Molloy of Berkeley International based in London had one client who asked if they could hire a private charter plane complete with live musicians on board for a full evening of dinner and dancing in Miami — all in a 24-hour whirlwind of a date that Molloy estimated to cost over £650,000 ($817,410). Molloy's pricing ranges from £15,000 ($18,600) to £60,000 ($75,000), or as much £100,000 ($125,000) for tailored packages.
Private jets are the pinnacle of luxury and wealth, often the top mode of travel among billionaires, CEOs, celebrities, and world leaders, Business Insider's Katie Warren previously reported.
It offers privacy, productivity, comfort, luxury, convenience — and freedom, Eric Roth, president of International Jet Interiors, told Warren.
Generally, it has its perks for busy millionaires and billionaires flying for work. "Flying on a private jet can be the difference of being at three different cities for meetings and still returning home at a decent hour," Roth said.
But it clearly has some benefits when it comes to dating, too.