Private aviation membership company Wheels Up announced a couple of new partnerships this week as it approaches becoming a public company next week through its business combination with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Aspirational Consumer Lifestyle Corp.
In collaboration with Porsche Cars North America (PCNA), Wheels Up members will have access to Porsche Drive, PCNA’s on-demand vehicle subscription and rental program, in select cities. For Wheels Up members, the program’s $595 activation fee will be waived for the subscription offering and a 10 percent discount will be applied to short-term rentals.
Invitations to events, races, and other experiences also will be offered to Wheels Up members. Likewise, Porsche owners will have access to the Wheels Up program fleet and special pricing on Wheels Up Core and Connect memberships along with hospitality services. Additionally, Wheels Up members and flyers will have access to transfer to and from Wheels Up flights in a Porsche vehicle.
Through a new partnership with American Express, the credit card company’s platinum card members will receive discounts and flight credits on new Wheels Up Core and Connect memberships, as well as access to its partner offerings and member-only tentpole and regional art, sports, and entertainment events. The American Express Premium Private Jet Program also allows platinum members to use Wheels Up Marketplace without purchasing a membership, waives a transaction fee, and provides an option to use capped pricing on select aircraft for a round-trip flight within the continental U.S.
All of these new programs come as July 12 has been set as the extraordinary general meeting date for Aspirational shareholders to approve its combination with Wheels Up Partners Holdings. If approved and other customary conditions are met, the combination would close effective July 13 and Wheels Up would become a public company.
“Following our record-breaking first quarter, we continue to see unprecedented demand within the Wheels Up marketplace, from both existing members and an influx of new customers,” said Wheels Up founder and CEO Kenny Dichter. “We are excited to be moving forward with this vote and look forward to continuing on our path of innovation as a public company, expanding the addressable market for private aviation, and connecting more customers with aircraft than ever before.”