Traveling to Japan? Forget the high-speed train. High-flying international jetsetters are opting for private helicopter transfers in a bespoke whirlybird called Hélicoptère par Hermès. Flying as fast as 155 miles per hour, the helicopter is designed with orange Hermès accents and cushy leather seats. As recently profiled by CNN Travel, the $10 million helicopter is the preferred airport transfer for affluent travelers seeking out over-the-top experiences — ever since Tom Cruise inaugurated it in 2009.
To quote CNN Travel: “ ‘Our female passengers say it makes them feel like they're inside a Hermès bag,” says Takako Otsuka of Mori Building City Air Services.’ ” CNN Travel cites Tokyo’s Hermès Helicopter as “part of the growing “experiential” side of luxury travel,” quoting Michelle Eirinberg Kluz of Boston Consulting Group on the trend: “All over the world, luxury shoppers tell us they’d rather spend more on experiences than on clothes and jewelry.”
Keen to partake? The price tag is ¥280,000 (US$3,578) for a one-way transfer (including car service).