{"id":90960,"date":"2022-08-23T16:00:46","date_gmt":"2022-08-23T16:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stratosjets.com\/blog\/"},"modified":"2024-03-19T14:54:55","modified_gmt":"2024-03-19T14:54:55","slug":"costco-once-sold-private-jet-memberships-what-you-should-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stratosjets.com\/blog\/costco-private-jet-memberships-buyer-beware\/","title":{"rendered":"Costco Once Sold Private Jet Memberships: What You Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the clock struck midnight and 2020 rolled in, travelers continued to board private jets and commercial airliners seemingly unaware that in a few short months, the world would change drastically and so would the travel industry. Before the end of the new year, however, when travel finally began to resume, Costco announced a partnership with Wheels Up in their bid to offer a new Costco private jet service.<\/p>\n

Those eager to return to the skies may have looked at this new service as a great way of getting back into the air, but for others, it warranted a much closer look.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a deep dive into the Costco private jet membership program and partnership.<\/p>\n

What is Costco, and What\u2019s the History Behind It?<\/h2>\n

For those that have never stepped through the doors of one of these iconic warehouses, Costco is a wholesaler who offers discounted products to those holding an annual membership card. Some of the products they sell are popular among consumers and enticing enough to have shoppers continue to renew their membership every year.<\/p>\n

This multi-billion dollar global retailer operates in eight countries. The first location, however, opened in 1976 under the Price Club moniker and was actually a converted airplane hangar in San Diego. A few years later in 1983, the first Costco warehouse opened in Seattle. In 1993, the two companies merged and the rest is history.<\/p>\n

Wheels Up: A Brief Glimpse Into the Private Aviation Company<\/h2>\n

As one of the more recognized private jet providers, Wheels Up has been in operation since 2013. They were one of the first providers to offer a membership model that offered charters on their fleet of King Air 105i turboprop aircraft. By 2014, the company had secured a little more than 1,000 members and added Cessna Citations to their fleet.<\/p>\n

\"Cessna

A Cessna Citation sits on the tarmac.<\/p><\/div>\n

After acquiring Delta Private Jets, Travel Management Company, Gama Aviation Signature, Mountain Aviation, and a few smaller regional providers, Wheels Up has grown into the second-largest private aircraft operator with NetJets being the largest.<\/p>\n

It was around this time that Wheels Up and Costco partnered up to provide travelers with access to an exclusive Costco private jet membership.<\/p>\n

What is the Costco\/Wheels Up Membership?<\/h2>\n

In 2020, the private aviation industry was abuzz with the news of this new partnership and that an annual membership was being sold for roughly $17,500<\/a>. The membership also included a $3,500 Costco shopping credit, a $4,00 flight credit and access to exclusive events.<\/p>\n

Like most private jet memberships, the fee only gives travelers the ability to book flights, but doesn\u2019t include the costs of the flights themselves. With Wheels Up as the private jet provider, this means members can book a flight on one of the 300 aircraft in their fleet plus 1,250 partner aircraft and then pay for the charter once the booking has been made.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

After thousands of aircraft were grounded due to global health protective measures , this offering was a welcome surprise among the jetset crowd.<\/p>\n

How Did the Wheels Up Membership at Costco work?<\/h2>\n

The Costco jet membership existed solely as a gateway into booking guaranteed flights through Wheels Up\u2019s fleet of aircraft. Once you purchased the membership, you were given guaranteed access to book flights with a capped hourly rate.<\/p>\n

However, it appears the partnership no longer exists. There is no information available on either website<\/b>.<\/p>\n

The Pros and Cons of a Private Jet Membership at Costco<\/h2>\n

A membership at Costco is really popular among shoppers, but does it make sense to book a private jet membership through the wholesale powerhouse?<\/p>\n

A Look at the Membership Benefits<\/h3>\n

The membership came with a few enticing options, like the shopping and travel credit. Here are a few other pros:<\/p>\n