Zach Wilson’s uncle booked a charter flight for fans to see his NFL debut. Here’s how you can get in on it

New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson prepares to pass during an NFL football practice, Thursday, May 27, 2021, in Florham Park, N.J. Wilson’s NFL debut is expected to come on Sept. 12 against the Carolina Panthers in the Jets’ regular-season opener. | Kathy Willens, Associated Press

Zach Wilson’s uncle, JetBlue founder David Neeleman, has set up a chartered flight option from Salt Lake City to Charlotte for fans interested paying their way to attend Wilson’s NFL debut game on Sept. 12

JetBlue founder David Neeleman had a dilemma: he wanted to see the BYU-Utah game on Sept. 11 in Provo, and also make it to the NFL debut for his nephew, New York Jets rookie quarterback Zach Wilson, the next day in Charlotte.

The problem was there weren’t flight options that would allow him to do both.

His solution? Set up a chartered flight, and he’s presenting a way for 200 fans to pay their way and join him for a “once-in-a-lifetime weekend” to the Jets’ season opener at the Carolina Panthers.

The Wilson Weekend website describes everything the exclusive experience will entail, from the cost for those wishing to book a seat on the chartered flight and a hotel room to arriving in Charlotte, and all the other details in between. And, of course, seeing Wilson, the former BYU and Corner Canyon High star quarterback who’s expected to start for the Jets as a rookie, play in his first NFL regular-season game.

“David searched for flights to be able to attend both events. No route or flight would solve the issue. The options were to either miss the BYU vs. Utah game or arrive late to the Jets game,” the website reads. “Knowing he was not alone, David’s creative problem-solving kicked in. How could he make it to both events and also help provide an opportunity to others in a similar predicament?

“Understanding the impact that Zach has had on BYU and the state as a whole, chartering a smaller jet wouldn’t do. For this reason, he is chartering an entire 200 passenger Jetblue A320 so that this once-in-a-lifetime weekend could be shared with many more.”

For BYU fans, the trip would include an extra bonus: it will also be the NFL debut for another former Cougar, left tackle Brady Christensen, a Bountiful High grad and third-round draft pick by the Panthers.

So, what would it take to join the party?

Details of the Wilson Weekend event

• A 200-person JetBlue chartered flight will take off from Salt Lake International Airport at 1:30 a.m. MDT — approximately five hours after the scheduled start time of the BYU-Utah football game in Provo — and will land four hours later at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, at 7:30 a.m. EDT.
• Buses will get the entire party to and from the airport to the Sheraton Charlotte Hotel, where partygoers will have a room and some time to rest up before the game.
• Following the game, the group will fly back to Salt Lake City that night, and be back in Utah around 24 hours after the start of the BYU-Utah game.
• There are a few package options — from one to four persons — that cost between $599 and $799 per person.

What’s included

• Roundtrip airfare on the chartered flight (only carry-on baggage is allowed, no checked baggage)
• Transportation to and from the Charlotte airport to the Sheraton Charlotte Hotel
• A room at the Sheraton Charlotte Hotel, where fans will have 4-5 hours to rest before checkout an hour prior to the Jets-Panthers game

What’s not included

• Tickets to either the BYU-Utah or Jets-Panthers game are not included in the package. The Wilson Weekend website has a link to buy tickets to the NFL game.
• Transportation to and from Salt Lake International Airport will be the responsibility of those wanting to attend.

Any further questions?

The Wilson Weekend website has a Q&A section detailing the final points of the experience.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/2TWmU1k