About this Event
Wednesday, May 27, 7.00pm
Thursday, May 28, 10.00am
Wednesday, June 3, 7.00pm
Sunday, June 7, 4.00pm - SOLD OUT
This two-hour immersive experience lands on Nassau Street in downtown Princeton for a limited run from May 27 – June 7, 2026 — arriving right on time, as communities across the country search for more meaningful ways to reconnect.Set aboard a “mock” airplane flight, Business Class© invites the public to step beyond echo chambers and performative small talk through shared, real-time interaction across the armrest. Seat 1A is not guaranteed.
Using the airplane as metaphor with tight rows in economy, and luxurious champagne in first, passengers take part in a facilitated dialogue experience that moves from the departure lounge and seat allocation, to onboard meal service and landing. Participants can expect small-group discussion, individual reflection, and an opportunity to examine both their own assumptions and behaviors, as well as the broader systems and norms that shape our society and our workplaces. Passengers leave with renewed connections, fresh perspectives, and a stronger sense of action toward building a better world to come. No performing or acting is required and people are invited to share as much or as little as they would like.
Our Captain has been described as "brilliant," "a ray of sunshine" and "an incredible facilitator - her warmth made me feel immediately at ease."
Past participants and frequent flyers share their experiences on our testimonial page and below - simply summed up by one as "The flight we all need to take to find our common future."
“Business Class is simply genius,” said Matt Peacock, MBE, Director of Arts & Homelessness International. “It’s the perfect vehicle (excuse the pun) to discuss the most pressing issues of the day, whether that be in an institution, society, the environment… it shines a light on power, privilege and values.”
Local response has been equally enthusiastic. “Wow… consider me mesmerized by Captain Schutt’s response, intuition, and creativity,” shares Leighton Newlin, Councilman for the Municipality of Princeton who flew earlier this year. “Really just shaking my head at where boarding flights with strangers can take you.”
The experience is piloted by “Captain” Becky Schutt (BS Airlines), whose 25-year career spanning arts, business, and social impact began at Community Park Elementary School. A former Fellow and Course Director at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School, she has taught MBA students from more than 30 countries and worked in over 25 countries, designing programs for governments, charities, cultural institutions, artists, and social entrepreneurs worldwide, including directing the Venice Biennale Arts Fellowship Program for the British government and co-authoring Dubai’s cultural strategy. Her work focuses on trust-building, inclusive systems, and redefining hope and success.
Business Class©, presented with generous support from Corcoran Sawyer Smith, will offer two “departures” per week, open to the general public on a pay-what-you-can, pay-it-forward basis. Stipends are available for those who cannot otherwise afford to be on board.
At a time when nearly one in six Americans report feeling isolated most or all of the time, organizers say the experience is designed to make inequity visible while opening pathways to connection. “In the shadow of overwhelming challenges, Business Class offers more than comfort—it’s a place to reconnect with ‘the other’ and let hope grow,” said Naomi Sage, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Center Harlem and a former Princeton resident.
For Robert "Nick" Lopez, Broker-Associate and Central New Jersey Regional Manager of Corcoran Sawyer Smith, the experience reflects values he sees every day in his work and community. "Experiences like this remind us that growth isn’t just personal, it’s collective. When we create space for authentic connection, we strengthen not just ourselves, but the communities we’re proud to be part of.”
Flights have previously “departed” from London, and New York— and in settings including board rooms, classrooms, living rooms, cultural institutions, and the Princeton Public Library—bringing the experience to a wide range of communities, organizations and contexts.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
195 Nassau St, 195 Nassau Street, Princeton, United States
USD 0.00 to USD 65.87
