Wheels Up is adding KIng Air deposit tiers from $50,000 to $20,000 to its entry-level Connect membership.
After saying it had tested discounts for its King Air fleet on a regional basis, Wheels Up is now rolling out a more formal program.
The new program goes by UP King Air 50, UP King Air 100, and UP King Air 200.
The 50, 100, and 200 refer to deposit amounts of $50,000, $100,000, or $200,000.
Connect-level members now get capped hourly rates on the popular turboprops. They come with a 48-hour non-peak callout on the eight-seat King Air 350is.
The hourly rate is $4,695 per hour, plus fuel and FET, based on a $50,000 deposit.
The $100,000 and $200,000 levels get a $4,495 hourly rate, plus fuel and FET.
At the entry level, you get guaranteed availability for 250 days. The higher levels get guaranteed availability for 275 days.
Connect annual membership is $2,495, and new joiners pay a $500 induction fee. However, joiners for the new King Air Connect memberships will pay neither and instead receive a $1,995 flight credit.
Core membership is $17,500, including initiation, and $8,500 subsequently. There are discounts for American Express Centurion and Platinum card members and members making deposits over $100,000.
| Tier | Connect – Hourly Rate* | Core – Hourly Rate** | Connect – Guaranteed Days | Core – Guaranteed Days | |
| Pay-as-you-go | Dynamic | $5,495 | 0 | 300 | |
| $50,000 | $4,695 | NA | 250 | NA | |
| $100,000 | $4,495 | $5,395 | 275 | 325 | |
| $200,000 | $4,495 | $5,295 | 275 | 365 | |
| $400,000 | NA | $5,295 | NA | 365 |
Core members get more days of availability based on their deposit levels.
They also get guaranteed availability and capped hourly rates on light, midsize, super-midsize, and large cabin aircraft.
Previously, Connect members’ benefits were relatively limited to sharing flights and empty legs, with other flights priced via uncapped dynamic pricing.
However, the new King Air Connect offer is only valid for flights East of the Mississippi in the Continental U.S. It excludes Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
Also, flights must depart between 8 am and 8 pm.
While Core members also benefit from lower prices than capped rates, it could mean some members join both the Core and Connect programs, according to a spokesperson.
Core members who wish to benefit from the lower capped rates on the King Air Connect memberships will be able to purchase a Connect membership in the next several weeks.
The Connect King Air memberships are only available to new Connect members immediately.
Current Connect members will be able to upgrade as soon as tomorrow.
There is no change to the current Core membership King Air pricing and rules, particularly west of the Mississippi.
Wheels Up has a fleet of over 70 King Airs and last year ranked as the third-largest private jet operator by fractional and charter hours.
During its Q4 earnings call, executives said the company planned to focus efforts in high-density areas to cut repositioning expenses.
Like most fixed-rate, guaranteed availability jet cards, Wheels Up only charges for occupied flight time within the primary service area.
Paid subscribers can compare both programs, including the daily minimums, which vary, and more than 50 providers and 250 jet card and membership options.
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