Unrivalled. Choice. Freedom.

From musicians and sports stars to families, business travellers and those on last-minute weekend getaways, ACS is adept at meeting the needs of a broad range of clientele. Nobody knows this better than our new brand ambassador Maria Sharapova.  

Based in the USA, the former world number one, Grand Slam-winning tennis player is no stranger to travel, with her sporting career taking her around the world. Now retired from the game, Maria is enjoying more freedom: “I can be more spontaneous with my travel now, which is really nice. When I was playing, I had a set schedule. I knew where I was going to be almost every single week. Now I can take my family on spontaneous holiday trips, so it feels more flexible, which is one of the perks of having the capability of flying private.” 

Having recently become a parent, Maria particularly enjoys how easy private air travel makes trips with a baby. “It’s a really nice perk to have when you have a child and you have a lot of things to carry. I also travel a lot for business, so it’s nice to be able to schedule a private plane at the last minute to fly to San Francisco or New York City or Miami, and come back home and have dinner with my family at a normal hour.” 

Maria is also familiar with the world of private jets. “I remember one of my first times flying on a private jet was actually to the Nike headquarters in Portland, Oregon. I was 17 years old. It was an extraordinary experience.” 

Maria’s familiarity with private jets makes her uniquely positioned to identify ACS’s unrivalled service; its access to aircraft; and the freedom it offers customers to travel anywhere, any time.   

Maria still travels a lot for work. Since retiring from tennis, she’s become a successful businesswoman, launching her confectionery brand Sugarpova and appearing on Shark Tank in the USA. Maria’s travel is often at short notice and on a schedule that’s constantly changing.

“Wherever I’m travelling, I know ACS will be able to assist. My plans can change at the last minute, so it’s good to know I can contact someone at ACS at any time of day, anywhere in the world, with local knowledge to help,” she explains. “Once I make a request with ACS, I know that everything is taken care of. All I have to do is turn up for my flight.” 

It’s not all work and no play, though. Maria often travels alone or with her team for work, but often flies with family and friends of differing group sizes, which is where ACS’s wide choice of aircraft is essential. 

“The solution I receive from ACS is always designed around what I need. It’s never a one-size-fits-all charter. It’s never generic. ACS ensures the aircraft is right for what I need, whether that’s a short trip or a long-haul flight. And with ACS, there’s no restriction of a limited fleet.”  

Maria’s team appreciates having one point of contact for all her travel.  

“Having a dedicated ACS account manager – who’s always available and who knows me, my family, and our travel preferences – is such a plus and adds a personal touch that I really enjoy,” says Maria. “Because we know the same person is always arranging our flight, we can rest assured that there are no surprises when we arrive at the airport.” 

ACS’s unrivalled service doesn’t end with the flight. Our travel department is on-hand to help arrange hotels, which Maria also appreciates.  

“With the amount I travel, having an ACS Empyrean Card just makes so much sense. It makes booking a flight, and even a hotel, so simple. With Empyrean, I can book a one-off charter or multiple future charters quickly and efficiently. And, unlike other jet cards, I can book some of the best hotels in the world too. I know that every time I fly, I’m getting the best available aircraft at the best market rates.” 

With so much choice and flexibility available, the question is: where next for Maria?  “Once you share that experience with your friends and family, you think of all the amazing places you can go together, and you can also go to destinations that are not easy to get to. It makes it very easy with a phone call: “I want to go to Napa” or “I want to go hike in Montana”, and all of a sudden you find yourself on a quick getaway.”