Usually, when I write about air travel, I’m focused on comparing airlines.
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It’s all about figuring out when to book budget tickets versus when to go with a legacy airline. It’s about knowing how to book tickets directly and when to go with a third-party site. It’s about knowing those little tricks that make air travel survivable, too, from middle-seat strategies to knowing what to pack in your carry-on.
But air travel is diversifying quickly. While most of us travelers are focused on budget-related topics like how to figure out which economy seat tier to go with, that’s not the case across the board.
As of 2026, the US has more alternative airline companies than you might imagine. And, no, I’m not talking about regional companies like GoJet or SkyWest Airlines.
I’m talking about semi-private airlines, business class-only airlines, and other highly novel projects in air travel. Though they’re definitely luxury-leaning, they aren’t nearly as expensive as chartering a private jet.
If you can’t stand the current state of air travel and have a little extra to spend on flying, these are the alternative airlines you need to know about.
Alternative airline companies operating in the US
For East Coast to Europe: La Compagnie
I’ve covered La Compagnie twice. It’s a business class-only airline that was founded in 2014 with the goal of making upscale air travel more accessible. The airline offers limited service between the East Coast and Paris, Nice, and Milan, as well as domestic travel around Europe.
La Compagnie was joined by beOnd in 2023, a competing business class-only airline that offers service between select European hubs and Middle East destinations like Dubai and Riyadh.
For flights in SoCal & Mexico: JSX
Like La Compagnie, I’ve had JSX on my radar for a few years. You can book flights around Southern California and the Southwest with JSX, along with select service to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. More recently, JSX has expanded its routes to include locations in Texas, Florida, and New England. JSX runs from private terminals, letting you zip through security lines and check in.
For flights in the Rockies, SoCal, & Mexico: Aero
Like JSX, Aero operates private terminals around the US and at select Mexican destinations. They offer more niche routes, letting you fly into airports in Aspen, Napa Valley, and Heber Valley. They also offer a route to and from Maui.
For the East Coast: Slate Aviation (Shared)
Slate Aviation lets you book private jets or shared seats on pre-scheduled flights, similar to Tradewind (which I’ll cover below). You can book a seat on a shared flight for routes between New York-area airports and Florida destinations, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beach. You need to join as a member to book those shared seats, which start as low as $1,295.
For the Northeast & Caribbean: Tradewind (Scheduled)
Similar to Slate Aviation, you can book a private jet or join a scheduled route with Tradewind. Their routes are focused around the Northeast, including Nantucket and Boston, along with destinations in the Caribbean, from Anguilla to Antigua. They also offer select services to Canada and Florida, depending on availability. You can book Tradewind flights to get around the Caribbean, too, making it ideal for island-hopping.
