I flew on an $8 million private aircraft that costs $5,000 an hour to charter and seats 8 — see inside the King Air 350i

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With commercial flying proving to be a nightmare for travelers this summer, more people are switching to private aviation.

Charter company VistaJet reported a 29% increase in new members over the past year, while competitor NetJets told Insider it has recorded a 72% increase in demand since the pandemic.

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Other companies are also seeing increased demand, including Wheels Up, which was founded in 2013 and has become one of the largest private charter companies in the world.

Dubbed the "Uber of the Skies" by CEO Kenny Dichter, Wheels Up specializes in short and medium-haul flying but can also provide bigger jets for long-haul travel.

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Wheels Up has access to over 1,500 planes, including smaller turboprops like the King Air 350i and longer-range jets like the Citation X. Hourly rates are "all-inclusive," meaning all fees and costs are included, so travelers know exactly how much they'll spend.

Of those 1,500, the company owns or manages a direct fleet of 361 planes. A company spokesperson explained that Wheels Up's service is versatile and can accommodate what its customer needs with a wide range of aircraft with different capacities and ranges.

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To fly with Wheels Up, customers can become members or pay on-demand. The company has three membership options: Connect, Core, and Business.

However, all tiers have access to empty legs and shared flights, which can be organized via a dedicated Wheels Up members-only community forum.

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Members can "pay-as-you-go" or deposit up to $400,000 at sign-up. The deposit impacts the capped hourly rate for each category of aircraft, which varies from $4,995 for a King Air 350i to $12,995 for a large jet.

Moreover, the deposit can determine when members can book a flight. Those that deposit $100,000 or less must wait 90 days before booking a charter due to increased demand for private flying.

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Non-members can also book Wheels Up flights via the mobile app, but the flight prices are not capped, meaning the rate can vary significantly depending on demand. A spokesperson told Insider that the average is around $5,000 per hour but can be more or less.

Wheels Up also has a partnership with Delta Air Lines that allows members to fast-track their elite status with the airline and earn extra SkyMiles.

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I flew on the company's King Air 350i turboprop aircraft and was reminded of how much more convenient private flying is compared to commercial aviation. Here's what passengers can expect.

Seating up to eight passengers, the King Air 350i is manufactured by Beechcraft and costs $8 million to buy new.

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The turboprop aircraft is the foundation and workhorse of the Wheels Up fleet. The particular King Air 350i I flew on is owned by the company and painted in a branded livery.

We took off from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey around 4:30 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon. Because I was flying private, I did not have to go through security or scan a boarding pass, making the process quick and easy.

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Two pilots, which every Wheels Up flight is scheduled with, flew the turboprop to East Hampton on Long Island, New York.

To be a Wheels Up pilot, applicants need a minimum of 3,500 flight hours to become a captain and 1,200 to be a first officer. Pilots must undergo extensive initial and recurrent flight training, as well as training in first aid and emergency situations.

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Wheels Up recently announced a partnership with Delta that will allow cadets in the carrier's pilot training program to log hours with Wheels Up. This will provide "another path to full-time employment" and help alleviate the pilot shortage.

The takeoff was smooth, but the hour-long ride to New York was very bumpy. Despite the turbulence, the cabin was comfortable and amenity heavy.

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Onboard, there are four sets of reclining seats facing each other in a 2x2 configuration.

The padded loungers can swivel, giving more legroom between seats and making conversation across the aisle easier.

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Between each set of loungers is a large, sturdy table that folds out from the fuselage wall.

I thought the seats were spacious with plenty of legroom. I could easily maneuver around the aircraft and talk to other flyers.

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Also featured with the seat is a set of cupholders…

…a storage compartment…

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…adjustable windows…

…crossbody seatbelts…

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…and power outlets. Travelers can also connect to inflight WiFi.

During the flight, passengers will have access to plenty of snacks and drinks that are stored in easy-to-access drawers throughout the cabin, like water, soda, juice, granola bars, chips, and nuts…

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…as well as alcoholic beverages like liquor and wine.

There is also coffee...

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…and television screens that display flight information.

In the back of the plane is a cargo compartment for luggage…

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…and the bathroom, which is separated from the cabin by a sliding door and comes with a view.

The toilet is hidden under a cushion…

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…while the sink is behind a door to the left of the toilet. The door was a little difficult to open, but I was impressed by what was inside.

The sink comes fully stocked with first aid items and toiletries, like band-aids and mouthwash. There is also a large mirror on the inside of the door.

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After an hour of cruising, we touched down in New York. We were off the plane and in the airport within a few minutes of landing.

Overall, I enjoyed Wheels Up's service, and the experience reminded me of how convenient flying private is and why deep-pocket travelers are switching over.

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However, the one caveat I had with the King Air 350i is that four seats face backward, so on bumpy flights — like mine — some travelers could feel sick. If you're prone to motion sickness, it may be wise to bring anti-nausea medication onboard.