Bringing Private and Commercial Travel Together
Wheels Up and Delta share a long-standing strategic partnership, but members had limited opportunities to directly apply their Wheels Up funds toward Delta travel. This project introduced a dedicated booking experience that enables eligible members to seamlessly redeem their Wheels Up funds for Delta flights, creating additional value while strengthening engagement across both brands.
THE CHALLENGE
Balancing Two Premium Brand Experiences
The experience needed to feel unmistakably Wheels Up while leveraging the familiarity and trust of Delta's booking ecosystem. The challenge was creating a journey that:
Maintained brand consistency
Reduced friction during flight search
Clearly communicated fund redemption
Preserved the confidence of Delta's established booking patterns
ENTRY POINT
Guiding Members Into a New Booking Path
The experience begins with targeted promotional placements across the Wheels Up ecosystem. Members discover an opportunity to use their existing Wheels Up funds toward Delta airfare and are directed into a dedicated booking environment.
Key considerations included:
Visibility without disrupting primary site goals
Clear explanation of member benefits
Strong call-to-action hierarchy
Setting expectations before entry
DEDICATED BOOKING PORTAL
A Delta-Powered Experience Through a Wheels Up Lens
Upon entering the portal, members are presented with a familiar flight search workflow inspired by Delta's booking experience while remaining visually aligned with Wheels Up's premium aesthetic.
The design focused on:
Familiar search behaviors
Reduced learning curve
Clear member eligibility messaging
Strong visual continuity with Wheels Up
SEARCH RESULTS EXPERIENCE
Helping Members Compare and Book With Confidence
Search results mirror the structure and clarity customers expect from Delta while introducing fund redemption indicators unique to Wheels Up.
The experience helps members understand:
Flight options
Fare selections
Eligibility requirements
Estimated fund usage
Remaining balances
PAYMENT & TRANSACTION TRANSPARENCY
Making Fund Redemption Easy to Understand
One of the most important moments in the journey occurs at checkout. Members needed complete visibility into how their Wheels Up funds were being applied and what remaining balance, if any, would be charged through Delta.
The payment experience prioritized:
Transparency
Trust
Transaction clarity
Reduced customer support dependency
Outcome
The final experience creates a direct connection between private and commercial travel, giving members additional flexibility while strengthening engagement with both Wheels Up and Delta.
The result is a booking journey that feels intuitive, transparent, and aligned with the premium expectations of both customer bases.