Story ID: 
Wheels Up Introduces Signature Membership Program
By: Charles Alcock
Caption: New prepaid charter plan covers Challenger 300 and Phenom 300 jets
Word Count: 469
Private flight provider Wheels Up today launched a new membership-based option focused on the Bombardier Challenger 300s and Embraer Phenom 300s being added to its fleet. The Signature Membership program, which is aimed at both corporate and leisure customers, will guarantee year-round access to these super-midsize and light jets.
Members pay a $500 monthly fee and make a minimum prepaid deposit of $200,000 to cover costs. Flights will be available throughout the contiguous U.S. and up to a 225-mile radius beyond the coastline.
Signature Membership offers two options: Dynamic and Fixed Plans. Under the Dynamic Plan, members can book flights at variable hourly rates according to fluctuating demand for any given time or destination. Meanwhile, the Fixed Plan is for customers seeking consistency and predictability in travel costs.
Under the Fixed Plan, hourly rates, depending on the size of the prepaid deposit, vary between $8,695 and $9,295 for the Phenom jets. For the Challenger 300s, flight hour rates start at $12,495 and run up to $13,495.
According to Mark Briffa, Wheels Up's chief sales officer, the company's investment in more modern aircraft has bolstered its guaranteed availability and trip recovery performance. "This gives us a concentrated and consistent fleet base to support guaranteed availability 365 days a year. If demand temporarily exceeds fleet capacity, our network of trusted, safety-vetted operators provides us with access to hundreds of aircraft, enabling us to source the same or better aircraft when needed," he told AIN. "And, in the rare case that Wheels Up cannot recover a flight within four hours, members receive a 5% credit back into their account."
The Delta Connection
The new program also gives members access to benefits through Wheels Up’s partner and leading shareholder, Delta Air Lines, including Delta SkyMiles Diamond Medallion status. Members can apply funds on deposit to pay for Delta scheduled airline flights, receiving a 20% discount on some routes booked through Wheels Up.
Signature members will be invited to the company’s Wheels Down private events and curated experiences. These include events such as the U.S. Masters golf tournament, Monterey Car Week, and the Cayman Cookout.
Wheels Up’s existing membership options include individual membership starting at a $100,000 deposit. Options for small and medium-sized businesses start at $250,000, rising to $500,000 for the company’s Custom Enterprise Solutions program.
“When we announced our fleet modernization plan in October of last year, it included plans to integrate our premium Phenom 300 series and Challenger 300 series aircraft into our programmatic offering by the end of 2025,” said George Mattson, Wheels Up’s CEO. “The new Wheels Up Signature Membership does just that, offering guaranteed access to our modernized fleet of best-in-class aircraft, along with the reliability, flexibility, and premium experience fliers have come to expect from Wheels Up.”