Let's Go Private: Wheels Up

For most, private air travel is the stuff of mega-celebrities, glamorous influencers, business tycoons, and chic politicians (we are looking at you Vice President Harris). Through their social feeds and media coverage, we live vicariously, but still fly commercially. 

That is until, Wheels Up. 

Wheels Up is an aviation enterprise that has made flying privately more accessible and inclusive than ever before. On the accessibility front, booking a private plane is as easy as downloading the Wheels Up app or signing up to one of their membership tiers. On the inclusivity front, this company is deeply committed to making private aviation possible for everyone. Their ranks of pilots, executives, marketing talent and agencies, and, above all, passengers, all include BIPOC and LGBTQA+ members in a way rarely seen; maybe never seen. Wheels Up looks and is the way the world looks and is. 

The world of Wheels Up is one we want everyone to experience, as we recently did. Private travel is much more within reach than you think. 

To imagine a trip on a private plane is to first envision, well… the plane. But before "we board," let's tell you there's nothing quite like an FBO or private terminal. You can say goodbye to taking off your shoes to clear security, killing hours in crowded terminals before your flight departs or scrambling to line-up to board, because when you fly privately, you can rock up rock star-style minutes before your wheels up time. And sometimes you can skip the terminal altogether and drive right up to your jet. There's nothing like climbing the stairs of a Wheels Up Citation or KingAir 350i aircraft. 

Once on-board, surrounded by folks you know, or have come to meet through Wheels Up, you take to the air. This effort handled for us with smooth precision by our female pilots. We are excited for a time when telling of a female pilot isn't newsworthy. 

While in the air, our attention switched between feeding Instagram images of in-flight amenities not served from a knee and shoulder-attacking metal cart, laughing along with our fellow passengers, and basking in the luxury and intimacy of one's own aircraft… even if for just the day. We now appreciate how hard it is to resist that iconic post from inside a private cabin. 

Wheels Up took us to Napa Valley where we enjoyed visits to two exceptional wineries, thanks to Wheels Up's partnership with Wine Access. Wine Access is a leading online wine retailer focused on creating immersive experiences, empowering consumers to enjoy the under-the-radar winemakers and iconic producers who define the art of wine. We spent time with the vintners at Staglin Family Winery and Dana Estates experiencing Napa Valley with an intimacy few get to enjoy.

Being a Wheels Up member provides exclusive experiences both in the air and on the ground thanks to their partnerships with Porsche, Inspirato, and The Waldorf Astoria among many others. Through each of these partnerships one creates memories with a new community of friends and fellow travelers. 

Bounding down the jet's stairs and leaving the Wheels Up world behind got us thinking about the many ways that Wheels Up can be part of a one-of-a-kind engagement or honeymoon experience. Imagine popping the question and boarding a Wheels Up jet and flying to an engagement party unlike any other. Or how about leaving your reveling wedding guests to party the night away while you and your new husband fly Wheels Up to your one-in-a-lifetime honeymoon.    

As we shared in our recent wedding trends article, couples are embracing smaller-scale weddings, and spending their budgets on more spectacular elements or experiences. One of these absolutely should be flying Wheels Up to one's engagement party, wedding or honeymoon.   

Thanks to Wheels Up, your name gets to be included on the flight manifest among that of the influencers, celebrities, tycoons, and politicians. Get your flights booked and your social feeds ready!