There's an ultra-posh new way to fly from LA to Vegas — I tried it, and I may never go back

There are plenty of ways to get from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. I have now discovered my favorite.

On a recent trip to Vegas, I skipped LAX entirely and headed instead to a private aviation terminal at Van Nuys Airport, where I boarded a sprawling private jet with just a handful of other passengers. Literally no crowded terminal and no dicey security line. Definitely no fighting for overhead bin space.

The experience was courtesy of THEOS, a members-only flight club operated by Cirrus Aviation Services that offers private flights by the seat, including service between Van Nuys and Las Vegas, launched in the last year.

In other words, you get remarkably close to the private-jet experience without having to charter an entire aircraft yourself.

What is THEOS?

THEOS describes itself as a members-only club built around premium regional travel and curated experiences. Its offerings include weekly routes between Van Nuys and Las Vegas, along with flights tied to concerts, sporting events, UFC weekends, holidays, and other major events. The club also works with the Vegas Golden Knights on special "Knight Flights."

Members can also tap into Cirrus Aviation's empty-leg flight program, which makes otherwise unoccupied repositioning flights available at substantial discounts compared with traditional private charters. Availability changes frequently, so it's best suited to travelers with some flexibility.

And THEOS isn't only about getting from point A to point B. The club can also help arrange experiences around a trip, from shows and sporting events to ground transportation and other Vegas plans.

What it was like to fly THEOS

If you spend a lot of time getting the life sucked out of you in chaotic airports (as I do), the biggest luxury was just how ridiculously easy the whole thing felt.

Instead of navigating LAX, I departed from Clay Lacy Aviation in Van Nuys. In Las Vegas, THEOS operates through Atlantic Aviation, again bypassing the traditional commercial airport experience.

And then there was the plane itself. I flew aboard a Cirrus Aviation Challenger 850, a large private jet (the biggest one I've ever flown on, even in my long career as a luxury travel writer), with the kind of space and comfort that makes even a very short flight feel like an absolute event.

The cabin was seriously posh, with plush leather seats and gleaming gold details throughout. Even the lavatory got the glam treatment: A leather banquette folds down over the toilet, creating a surprisingly spacious perch for makeup application — or whatever else one does in a private-jet bathroom. Once onboard, we were offered cold towels and Champagne, with plenty of snacks laid out for the short hop to Vegas.

The flight from Southern California to Las Vegas is so short that flying commercial necessarily means spending far more time dealing with the airport than actually being in the air. This flipped that equation completely.

Of course, THEOS isn't trying to compete with a cheap Southwest fare. Membership is curated, and the club says its members generally include high-net-worth individuals, frequent travelers, business leaders and people looking for elevated, time-saving regional travel.

But that's also what makes the model interesting: Rather than chartering a whole private jet, members can access the experience by the seat — and at a price point not that much more than flying first class on a commercial airline like Delta. And if budget allows, it's an absolute no-brainer for a major life event like a bachelor or bachelorette party, elopement, or milestone birthday (catch me on a flight for my 50th next year!).

I've flown between LA and Vegas more times than I can count, in just about every manner imaginable. After doing it this way, schlepping back through LAX is going to be a tough sell.

And hey, here's some girl math to seal the deal: Flying home private meant I saved the $40 I otherwise would have dropped in the airport slots. Win-win.

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