Viva Mexico

Dallas-based hop-on jet service takes off to sunny Mexico for spring break

Spring break in Cabo, here we come.

Photo courtesy of JSX

Affordable hop-on jet service JSX is launching two weekend “pop-up” flights from its home base of Dallas Love Field to Los Cabos, Mexico this spring.

Though travelers should still follow CDC guidelines for flying, JSX says the fights are meant to be a safer alternative to overcrowded airports and packed planes amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“For many travelers, this will be the first international trip they have taken in over a year and we are pleased to offer our customers a safe and socially-distanced experience both on the ground, and in the air so they can fly with peace of mind,” says JSX CEO Alex Wilcox in a release.

The new roundtrip flights are offered just twice: Thursday through Sunday, March 11-14, and Thursday through Monday, April 1-5, and are available for booking now at www.jsx.com. (April 4 is Easter, by the way, for those who want sing the "Hallelujah" chorus on the beach.)

Fares start at $499 each way and details include:

Two roundtrip flights for either the March or April dates.
Roundtrip-only flights must be booked at least 72 hours prior to departure date.
Customers may arrive just 60 minutes before their flight from Signature Flight Support DAL, Terminal 2, 7515 Lemmon Ave., Dallas.
Arrive at and return from Los Cabos FBO Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico — free of crowds and lines.
Customers must follow all CDC requirements for COVID-19 testing and comply with federal regulations for face coverings on the ground and inflight. (The CDC requires each customer to present a negative COVID-19 test from a test taken within 72 hours of the scheduled return flight to the United States; not provided by JSX.)

"JSX flies between private terminals on 30-seat jets at prices comparable to a commercial ticket, which means travelers can escape for crowd-free spring break travel without exposure to airport crowds, jostling with overhead bins, or irksome middle seats," the release says. "Plus, two complimentary checked bags as well as beverages, snacks, and cocktails inflight are included in every fare."

The carrier is also launching a new daily flight between Dallas Love Field and Houston Hobby to support fast and efficient day trips between the cities. The second six-day-a-week roundtrip service begins on Monday, March 1, from the JSX private terminals at Dallas Love Field and Houston Hobby. Fares start at $99 one way. Houston flights operate from the JSX hangar at 8401 Nelms St., Houston. Read more about the existing flights to Houston here.

Dallas-based JSX debuted service from Love Field in June 2020, with introductory flights to Las Vegas and North Carolina. They've also added service to Lajitas Golf Resort in West Texas.

JSX calls itself a “hop-on jet service” because customers may arrive just 20 minutes before departure at private terminals and simply “hop on” a flight, avoiding the crowds and lines. At Love Field, travelers have access to valet parking, Wi-Fi lounges, and speedy baggage retrieval.

On board, passengers can relax in a business class-caliber seat and enjoy complimentary drinks, snacks, and cocktails. It also has a pet-friendly policy that allows small dogs and cats to fly for free.

The company's goal is to provide a luxury travel experience at competitive prices, they say.

Traveling by private jet became popular for travelers at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic last spring and summer, experts say. JSX's safety standards, dubbed "Simpli-Fly," include contactless temperature screenings, an advanced air circulation system, and no middle seating. Masks are required in lounges and on board flights.

JSX is also now introducing a unique seating configuration whereby 30 single seats are arranged in a 1x1 layout, each offering at least 35 inches of legroom and no overhead bins to allow for comfortable social distancing in the air. Some seats offer a leather-covered cocktail table and work area.

JSX flights can be booked directly through the website or the app. The company also partners with JetBlue, and TrueBlue members may earn points on JSX flights.

transportation vacation

Culinary Star

Canyon Ranch appoints Michelin chef for swanky new Hill Country resort

Val Cantú/Facebook

Well, shucks. Chef Val Cantú is all about masa.

A Central Texas-born chef with Michelin cred will return to his birthplace to head up the forthcoming Canyon Ranch Austin resort: Val Cantú, the chef behind two Michelin-starred San Francisco restaurant Californios, will lead the kitchen at the resort's restaurant, Estella.

Canyon Ranch is a premier wellness destination resort and spa headquartered in Fort Worth, where there's a spa location at the Crescent Hotel. Canyon Ranch Austin is set to open in September 2026 in Spicewood, a Hill Country town just outside Austin.

The original Canyon Ranch, which opened in Tucson, Arizona in 1979, is highly regarded as one of the top health resorts in the world, earning three keys from Michelin — the highest ranking a hotel can get — and the chain lauds the wellness benefits of both modern science and "ancient wisdom."

The Austin restaurant will follow that same ethos, a release says.

“Estella will be light, bright, fresh, and clean,” says Cantú in the release. “It’s a distilled version of what I do that will be focused on seasonality, sourcing, and the kind of delicious food that makes you feel good after you eat it.”

Canyon Ranch operates some of the country's most acclaimed spas. Facebook Canyon Ranch

Cantú is developing the menu with experience from fine dining and his personal Texas heritage; he was raised in Brownwood, about 150 miles northwest of Austin, where his father owned a Mexican restaurant. Tortillas are an important part of what's to come at Estella.

“When I’m making tortillas, I feel connected at a root level,” says Cantú. “It reminds me of making tortillas with my grandmother and my dad.”

Canyon Ranch CEO Mark Rivers emphasized Cantú's well-balanced approach: “Chef Val brings a rare combination of technical mastery, cultural authenticity, and emotional intelligence to his cooking," he says. "His approach aligns perfectly with how we think about wellness as intentional, thoughtful, and rooted in real life.”

Californios dishes If Estella is anything like Californios, presentation will be a huge factor.Photo courtesy of Californios

Although the release does not share how much Estella will have in common with Californios, it's easy to imagine that the artistic plating and education about the indigenous cultures of Mesoamerica will carry over.

“This is a homecoming for me," Cantú says. "Cooking in the Hill Country allows me to return to the flavors, ingredients, and traditions that first shaped who I am."

spas resorts wellness openings mexican cuisine chefs