BladeOne, Blade’s by-the-seat service, is returning to South Florida this Thanksgiving with flights from Westchester County to Palm Beach and Miami. Tickets start at $2,450 each way. That is several times what a first-class ticket on the same route typically costs, so the real question is what the extra money buys.
Blade last ran the program in the 2023 season. The announcement does not say whether it operated in the 2024 and 2025 winters, whether the $2,450 fare is per seat and includes the Manhattan helicopter connection, or which Embraer model will fly. We will update this piece when Blade clarifies.
How the BladeOne Schedule Works
The season runs from Thanksgiving through March 2027. Flights depart from Westchester County Airport, which avoids JFK and LaGuardia. Manhattan-based travelers can connect by Blade helicopter, so the whole trip stays off the commercial grid.
| Route | Airport | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Westchester (HPN) to Palm Beach (PBI) | Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) | Southbound Thursdays and Fridays |
| Westchester (HPN) to Miami | Opa-Locka Executive Airport | Southbound Thursdays and Fridays |
| Palm Beach (PBI) to Westchester (HPN) | Westchester County Airport | Northbound Sundays and Mondays |
| Miami (Opa-Locka) to Westchester (HPN) | Westchester County Airport | Northbound Sundays and Mondays |
The days match the long-weekend pattern of second-home owners who leave the city Thursday and return Sunday or Monday. Note that Opa-Locka sits northwest of downtown Miami, typically a 20 to 30 minute drive depending on traffic. That matters if you are headed to Brickell or South Beach.
What You Get Onboard
The flights are operated by Aero on Embraer regional jets. The announcement does not name the model. The aircraft carry 1×1 forward-facing club seating, so every seat has direct aisle access and nobody sits beside a stranger. The cabin is far roomier than a typical airline layout.
Catering comes from Major Food Group, and caviar is on the menu. Bookings go through either Blade or Aero, and trip books are available for frequent travelers.
Traveling With Dogs
Up to five dogs under 20 pounds can travel for $500 per flight. An all-inclusive $3,500 option provides a guaranteed seat for your pet, which matters for people who winter in Florida with a small dog.
Where By-the-Seat Fits Among Your Options
Full charter flights give you control of the schedule and the aircraft, and they cost far more on a busy route, particularly around holidays. Our guide to budgeting for a charter flight shows how quickly those numbers climb.
BladeOne departure days and times are fixed, so you can’t request a specific hour. In return, you don’t pay for an empty return leg or a cabin you won’t fill.
| Option | Best For | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| BladeOne seat | Solo or couple, weekend routine | Fixed days and times |
| Full charter | Families, groups, custom timing | Highest cost |
| First class commercial | Travelers who prioritize price and flexibility | Busy terminals, security lines |
For a benchmark, a one-way first-class ticket from New York to Palm Beach or Miami often runs in the high hundreds of dollars and can reach about $1,500 at holiday peaks. Shared-flight operators such as JSX, Wheels Up and Jet It price differently, and JSX fares on Florida routes have generally sat well below $2,450. Check current fares before you compare. The BladeOne premium buys the private terminal, the roomier cabin and a shorter door-to-door time. Blade has not published per-flight pricing for its trip books, so ask for current rates.
If the concept is new to you, our explainer on semi-private flights covers the basics.
The Joby Context
Joby Aviation announced in August 2025 that it would acquire Blade’s passenger business in a deal valued at up to $125 million including earnouts. Joby is building toward electric air taxis, and Blade’s helicopter network gives it a customer base and landing infrastructure. Neither company has linked the deal to the BladeOne relaunch.
Aero is also expanding with Blade. The two partnered on a coast-to-coast summer route, which we covered in the Hamptons Express launch.
Who Should Book
This works best for travelers with predictable patterns. Think of the owner who flies down every other Thursday, or the family relocating for the winter.
Is $2,450 worth it? For a once-a-season trip, probably not. For a standing weekly routine, a trip book could change the math, and the comfort and the Westchester departure are real advantages. If you need a specific departure at 4 p.m. on a Wednesday, charter is still the answer.
Book early. Thanksgiving, Christmas and February school-break weekends will fill first.