Wheels Up Review

To book a flight with this service as a non-member, you’ll first need to download the Wheels Up mobile app (members also have the option of using the Member Website).

This platform, which has a near-perfect 4.9 out of 5 average rating on the Apple App Store, is particularly user-friendly. Wheels Up’s extensive fleet of owned, leased, managed, and partner aircraft gives you over 1,500 private jets to choose from. From relatively small turboprop planes like the King Air 350i to large-cabin heavy jets like the Gulfstream G450, you’ll find the perfect plane for your travel needs.

First, hit the “Request Flights” button and enter your details, such as the departure date and time, number of passengers, and departure and arrival airports. You also have the option to request catering or ground transportation at this stage. Once you’ve added all your information, select “Submit” to see which private jets are available for your flight. You can see the real time rates and estimated arrival time for each of your options, and it will only take a couple more clicks to book whichever flight makes the most sense for your trip.

If you run into any problems, you can call 855-FLY-8760 for support. Members also have access to the Wheels Up Community Forums, where you can send direct messages to other users and arrange shared flights to save money.

Types of memberships

While you don’t need to be a member to use this service, anyone who flies private regularly can consider taking advantage of the membership programs. Wheels Up offers two membership options for individual users: Connect and Core. There’s also UP For Business, a membership program that’s designed to meet the needs of companies rather than individuals.

• Connect: This option will provide you with access to the Member Website, Community Forums, and additional perks. It requires a one-time initiation fee of $2,995 as well as annual dues of $2,495 starting in the second year of your membership.
• Core: Guaranteed aircraft availability with as little as 24 hours’ notice, access to your own dedicated account manager, and exclusive deals with other luxury lifestyle brands are among the benefits included with this membership tier. It will cost you a $17,500 initiation fee plus $8,500 annual dues starting in the second year of membership.
• UP For Business: From commercial Delta flights to Wheels Up jet flights to aircraft ownership and management, this program will help you access whatever air travel solutions your business needs. No long-term commitment is required, though you will need to open an account with at least $100,000.

Empty leg deals

Another reason to sign up for a membership is that you will have access to discounted “hot flights” available when an aircraft is being repositioned to pick up other members for another flight. These one-way, empty-leg trips are posted daily on the Wheels Up app, and priced as low as $320 per flight.

Surcharges

Non-members will need to pay a transaction fee of $495 for each flight that they book through the Wheels Up app (this fee is waived for members). A federal excise tax will be applied to your flights as well.

Wheels Up can arrange flights for any point-to-point trip within the U.S. and Europe. The company can also set up flights to just about any other international destination, as long as they start or end in the U.S.

Available jets

In addition to providing a wide variety of flight routes to choose from, Wheels Up offers a particularly strong selection of aircraft. Your options include:

• Turboprop planes, including the King Air 350i
• Light jets, including the Citation Encore+
• Midsize jets, including the Citation Excel/XLS
• Super midsize jets, including the Citation X
• Large-cabin/long-range jets, including the Gulfstream G450