Diddy Halts Private Jet Flights Over Fuel Prices

LOS ANGELES — Fuel prices have grounded an unexpected frequent-flyer: Diddy.

Sean "Diddy" Combs complained about the "... too high" price of gas and pleaded for free oil from his "Saudi Arabia brothers and sisters" in a YouTube video posted Wednesday. The hip-hop mogul said he is now flying on commercial airlines instead of in private jets, which Combs said had previously cost him $200,000 and up for a roundtrip between New York and Los Angeles.

"I'm actually flying commercial," Diddy said before walking onto an airplane, sitting in a first-class seat and flashing his boarding pass to the camera. "That's how high gas prices are. I'm at the gate right now. This is really happening, proof gas prices are too high. Tell whoever the next president is we need to bring gas prices down."

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On the Net:

http://www.diddy.com

Comments

[M1]

It is time Americans start living with the idea that those at the top must begin to sacrifice proportionately for those at the very bottom. We need to ask ourselves...just how much do the rich really need? We have sick uninsured people dying in waiting room floors in County Hospitals in this country...we seem to have learned to just walk over them....this is not the American Dream...it is an American nightmare.

Diddy is not the disease...he is just a small measure of how far we have fallen from the mark of the true American Dream.

[KnightOfTheRight]

Why don't you just move to Cuba and stay there ? There are no Diddy types out there, except the castro types maybe. You will be in the paradise of equality.

[racom]

Careful, your humanity is showing through. NOT!

[Rendon76]

Please somebody do something Diddy needs to fly his private jet again!

[Mass Irish 2nd Generation]

The sacrifices are Pop Stars are forced to make. This is all your fault, George Bush!!!!!!!

[mw1260]

This is just showboating. I don't know what he's flying, but a G550 only holds about 6000 gallons of fuel, and should only burn about half of that between LA and NY. There's no way that it costs $200,000 for 6000 gallons of fuel -- try maybe 35-40K for a G550. Let's say he hardly ever flies, and gets a really bad last-minute off-the-rack rate of 8000/hr for the G550 -- that's still $120,000 at the outside for the most sought-after ultra-long-range private jet around today. And the fuel cost has only doubled -- most of the cost is the operating cost of the hardware.
So what he's really complaining about is that:
a) he's paying maybe 20K more than he did last year
b) he's not getting enough attention due to the Olympics and the presidential nominating conventions

[B]

I looked up OMNI Jet International Jet Operating Costs' "Direct Cost of Operation" figures for the Gulfstream V (one of his employees called it that in a previous video blog). OMNI put the hourly operating cost, including fuel, at $2,827.
That would come out to $16,962 for a 6 hour transcontinental trip http://www.omnijet.com/doc//).
If cost really were a concern, there happen to be wide-ranging alternatives between the extremes of flying solo in a G-V and flying with 200 other passengers.
For example, if Combs were looking for a long term strategy and were able to keep passenger-count down on these trips, he might look at the Beechcraft Hawker 800XP or 900XP. The 800XP would deliver coast-to-coast performance with 6 passengers for $1,000 less per hour total operating cost. The 900XP will let him add passengers and still fly for less. ...It adds up.
But, wait, the whole cost is a business deduction, anyway.
My guess is he was flying, in this case, on someone else's dime, needed to fill his video blog, was bored waiting in the terminal, and had a little fun.
Why doesn't someone ask him?

[anastasiabeaverhousen]

You forgot to include the cost of the d r ugs he brings on the plane.

[Finnegan569]

So, Diddy is all about keeping it real! Regular Americans and much of the world have been dealing with high gas prices for a while now! OMG, Diddy can't afford to fuel his jet.. There must be a oil/gas crisis!

I'm glad that he came out of his anal retreat to make this profound announcement! The best part of his statement is that he said that someone should do something about it.. Is he for real?

[LynndaMaree]

Why in the Heii is he waiting for the next President. How come he didn't have the testicular fortitude to ask Bush and McSame to do something about it.

[unclesmedley]

just about time for him to make up a ridiculous new name for himself. How bout Fluffy Goober? or Skippity Dipstick?

[LynndaMaree]

roflmbao

[Mass Irish 2nd Generation]

"No Oil Diddy" "Greyhound Diddy." I guess he will have to buy Kenny Chesney's old touring bus and customize it for a Pop Star King like myself.

[PanFx]

How about this: Oomfoofoo Mensche

[mabinog]

Poor Diddy, deprive of his private plane. He should communicate this hardship to the Mc--Bush campaign. This is a rich person suffering here! It can't all be in his head.

[Ihaveadream]

Hey no-talent P or whatever you call yourself these days - try burning some of that Cristal champagne in your private jets. The Saudis aren't your brothers and sisters. If you would educate yourself, you would know that relationship belongs to the Bush family.

[django707]

I feel your pain, brother.

[Smuggard]

Maybe Puffy or Diddy or Combover or the Artist Formerly Known As Not Particularly Talented should raise gas money by finding somebody else's hit song and recording himself saying "yeah" over it a few times. Seemed to work before.

[eddiebly]

I can't fly to my Los Angeles home. Oh the horror!!! God save the Queen!!!

[vonniewit]

Like him or not - he is a smart business man. I don't blame him for flying first class now, instead of spending millions on private flights. Trust me - more and more celebrities are doing the same.

[Dannydel]

I'm a little bit tired of this narcissistic punk. Somehow, he keeps getting his snot nosed photo in the paper with tottally absurd and meaningless non-stories like this one. This jerk is a waste of space.

[martinchill]

think we'll see diddy doing a show for the troops anytime soon?

maybe they'll listen to him whine about gas prices.

[SpoxLogic]

Heh,,heh! No comments, I like Diddy. But, WTF!!? OK..OK..no comments..really. I mean..I hope that if I ever become uber-rich that I can still stay grounded (like his private jet -snark)....I guess money does change your whole outlook on life, after all.

Ooops..sorry, I forgot..no comments!

[POLINUT]

Gee...I guess next he will have to carpool (Puff, driver, and several groupies) in the Bentley...my heart certainly bleeds...gah!