For most travelers, flying to Europe’s summer hot spots like the South of France, Amalfi Coast, or Greek Islands requires a lengthy, multi-stop journey: The transatlantic flight takes a day of travel in itself, and then you have to factor in layovers, hours spent at the airport, and final-leg drives, puddle jumpers, or ferry rides. That is, unless you have a private jet to whisk you straight there.
This summer, Delta Air Lines is making it easier for commercial fliers to get to hard-to-reach destinations like these with the option to connect international Delta flights to “last leg” jet charters via Wheels Up, a private aviation company (of which Delta is a major shareholder).
Here’s how it works. If you purchase a flight in Delta One, the airline’s business class cabin, to Athens, Barcelona, Naples, Nice, or Rome this summer, you’ll receive an email or mobile app prompt notifying you of the ability to book your onward travel plans—perhaps to St. Tropez, the Amalfi Coast, Mykonos, or Ibiza—through Wheels Up. Click from there and you’ll be directed to the Wheels Up website, where you can charter a private aircraft for the final leg of your journey.
A real-life itinerary includes a Delta One flight between New York-JFK and London Heathrow, followed by a charter plane from Farnborough Airport to Toulon Hyères Airport in France, ending with a helicopter ride or car transfer to St. Tropez. Between each leg, Wheels Up arranges a private transfer service that can pick you up directly from the tarmac, when permitted.
While the details—and pricing—will vary depending on the trip, the whole idea is to get you as close to your final destination in as little amount of time as possible. Thanks to its 2022 acquisition of the UK-based private aviation company Air Partner, Wheels Up’s charter business now has access to 7,000 aircraft around the world, including seaplanes, helicopters, and private jets of varying sizes, such as the Bombardier Challenger 300 jet and Embraer Phenom 300 (both can seat up to 9 passengers). The vast network means both the aircraft type and destinations are incredibly customizable.
“Delta has a huge global network, they fly to hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of airports,” George Mattson, CEO of Wheels Up and former member of Delta’s Board of Directors, tells Condé Nast Traveler. “But if you connect it now to Wheels Up, it’s every airport—it’s infinite.”
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For travelers concerned about the environmental impact of private jet travel, Wheels Up customers have the option to purchase Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) through Delta’s SAF program, something that is not typically available to private fliers due to the fuel’s limited availability. (In 2024, it only accounted for 0.3% of global jet fuel production, and it’s not yet widely available at the majority of airports.)
The integration between the Delta and Wheels Up also includes loyalty program incentives: Wheels Up Members who spend $100,000 over a one-year period receive Diamond Medallion Status with Delta, and Delta SkyMiles members with Diamond or Platinum Medallion status can select a Wheels Up private flight credit as one of their annual Choice Benefits (Diamond members receive a $2,000 credit, while Platinum members receive a $1,500 credit). And this summer, Wheels Up members who purchase a new fund or add to their existing balance through June 30, 2025 will receive Delta SkyMiles Diamond Medallion Status along with one of three reward options: up to 5% in Wheels Up Flight Credit, up to 1 million bonus SkyMiles, or enhanced fund benefits, including lower maximum hourly rates.
The ultimate goal is to merge two historically siloed sectors of the aviation industry to better serve the flying habits of premium travelers. “The vast majority of people who fly private also fly commercial,” says Mattson. “So why should they have to manage these two things separately?”
