🤝 BFF Take
For Long-Term Travel Exposure, AWAY's Tech Model Is More Durable Than JETS' Airlines
JETS (US Global Jets) concentrates in US and global airline stocks, including American, United, Delta, Southwest, and Ryanair, plus aircraft manufacturers and airports. Airlines are notoriously difficult businesses: high fixed costs, fuel price sensitivity, labor intensity, and vulnerability to economic downturns. JETS fell 60%+ during COVID-19 and has not fully recovered on a total-return basis. AWAY (ETFMG Travel Tech) owns online travel agencies, hotel booking platforms, and travel technology companies: Booking Holdings, Airbnb, Expedia, Trip.com, and Tripadvisor. These asset-light technology companies earn fees on bookings without owning planes, hotels, or infrastructure. Both are high-risk thematic funds. For a long-term travel theme bet, AWAY's technology model with higher margins, less capital intensity, and more pricing power is structurally more attractive than JETS' airline exposure.
📋 Quick Takeaways
✈️JETS: owns airlines (high fixed costs, fuel sensitive, cyclical). AWAY: owns travel tech (Booking, Airbnb, Expedia — asset-light).
⚠️JETS fell 60%+ in 2020. Airlines are structurally difficult businesses. AWAY fell too, but recovered faster.
🎯Bullish on travel broadly: AWAY's tech model has better long-term economics. JETS is pure-play airline volatility.
📊 Data-Based Take: AWAY has the lower fee
Whether the lower-cost fund suits your situation depends on your existing holdings, account type, tax situation, and how you use each fund. This is a cost comparison, not a personalized recommendation.
✓
Reviewed by a CFA® Charterholder · Data updated Jun 2026 · Educational only, not financial advice
AWAY
ETFMG Travel Tech ETF
📋 JETS vs AWAY — Key Facts Side by Side
| Metric |
JETS |
AWAY |
| Fund Name |
US Global Jets ETF |
ETFMG Travel Tech ETF |
| Issuer |
US Global Investors |
ETFMG |
| Tracks Index |
US Global Jets Index |
Prime Travel Technology Index |
| Expense Ratio |
0.60% ✓ |
0.75% |
| Cost per $10K/yr |
$60.00 |
$75.00 |
| AUM |
$1B |
$0.2B |
| Holdings |
50 |
30 |
| Inception |
2015 |
2019 |
| 1-Year Return |
+8.50% |
+22.00% |
| 3-Year Return |
-5.20% |
+5.50% |
| 5-Year Return |
+1.20% |
— |
| Avg Bid-Ask Spread |
0.10% |
0.20% |
Data from ETF BFF database. Returns are annualised. Not investment advice.
📊 JETS vs AWAY — Annualised Returns
Annualised returns (trailing, price-based). Past performance does not guarantee future results.
🎯 Should You Buy JETS or AWAY?
Choose if...
JETS
- You want the lowest fees — saves ~$15/yr per $10K vs AWAY
- You want broader diversification (50 holdings vs 30)
- You want geographic diversification beyond US stocks
Choose if...
AWAY
- You want geographic diversification beyond US stocks
- You already use ETFMG and prefer staying within their fund family
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❓ JETS vs AWAY — Frequently Asked Questions
Is JETS a good long-term investment?
Airlines have been one of the most challenging long-term investments historically. Warren Buffett famously sold Berkshire's entire airline position in 2020. Airlines burn enormous capital, compete heavily on price, and face recurring shocks from fuel prices, labor disputes, and demand disruptions. JETS can perform well during travel recovery periods, but as a long-term holding, airline stocks have historically underperformed the broad market.
What companies does AWAY hold?
AWAY holds online travel and hospitality technology companies. Key holdings typically include Booking Holdings (Booking.com, Priceline, Kayak), Airbnb, Expedia Group (Hotels.com, Vrbo), Trip.com, Tripadvisor, and Global-E Online. These are asset-light platforms that connect travelers with accommodations, flights, and experiences without owning the underlying assets. Their business models are more resilient and higher-margin than operating airlines or hotels.
How did JETS and AWAY perform during COVID?
Both funds were severely impacted by COVID-19 travel restrictions in 2020. JETS fell approximately 60% as airlines faced existential risk with near-zero revenue for months. AWAY fell roughly 50% as travel bookings collapsed. AWAY recovered faster because its underlying companies (Booking, Airbnb, Expedia) did not face the same cash burn as airlines and benefited earlier from pent-up travel demand. Neither fund has delivered strong total returns since inception on a risk-adjusted basis.
Are JETS and AWAY suitable for retirement portfolios?
Neither JETS nor AWAY is appropriate as a significant portfolio holding for retirement investors. Both are highly concentrated thematic funds with above-average volatility, above-average expense ratios (0.60% and 0.75%), and limited track records. They are best suited as small satellite positions for investors with a specific travel thesis who are comfortable with significant volatility and potential for extended underperformance.
New to ETF investing? See answers to the most common ETF questions →
📄 JETS & AWAY Fact Sheets
ℹ️ Data shown is for educational purposes and may not reflect the most current figures. Returns are trailing price-based and exclude dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. ETF BFF is not a licensed financial advisor — this is not personalized financial advice.