Members of This Private Charter Airline Can Now Earn Elite Delta Status — Here's How

19.06.2024 - 12:37 / travelandleisure.com / George Mattson

Flying with private charter airline Wheels Up just got more rewarding, as members have an enhanced shortcut to achieving top-tier elite status with Delta Air Lines.

With this limited-time promotion, Wheels Up members can receive Diamond Medallion status through reduced spending requirements:

Meeting either of these thresholds grants Delta Medallion status for the remainder of 2024 and all of 2025. Wheels Up account holders with several members can earn a maximum of 4 Diamond Medallion status per calendar year, as outlined by the fine print of the promotion. 

If the qualifying spend is met before Aug. 19, members will gain access to one of the most valuable perks of Diamond status: Choice Benefits. These include options like confirmed upgrade certificates, a $2,000 Wheels Up flight credit, and many more. (Diamond Medallion Status earned through spending after Aug. 20 won’t include Choice Benefits but can be unlocked after earning 12,000 Medallion Qualification Dollars with Delta.) 

Beyond Choice Benefits, there’s a reason Diamond Medallion is a highly prized airline elite status by many travelers. Delta fliers will enjoy perks like top priority of complimentary upgrades, access to a VIP customer service line, and earning 11x SkyMiles on Delta flights. 

«We are introducing the marketplace to a new way of flying private, one that further delivers choice to customers and adds to the value of Wheels Up's premium travel experience by capitalizing on our global aviation network, competitive pricing model, and unique capacity to offer guaranteed availability and recovery to our members in areas where they travel most,» said Wheels Up CEO, George Mattson, in a statement. 

The partnership between the two companies, which began in 2020, combines the perks of private aviation with Delta’s renowned global network and operational excellence in the commercial airline industry. Case in point: Delta upheld its reputation for timeliness in May with the most on-time arrivals of any major U.S. carrier. 

This new promotion is just one example of the many ways Wheels Up fliers get rewarded. Within the Wheels Up program, members will also earn 2% in flight credit for every $50,000 spent on private charters.