What are the benefits of airport VIP services?
If you can hire an escort to whisk you straight to the front instead of waiting in long airport security lines and immigration lines, then why bother with those lines? A growing number of airport concierge companies promise this service to departing and arriving passengers. The companies offer their services in airports around the world and are independent of airlines and airports (they have permission to operate at the airports where their services are sold).
The popularity of these services has increased in the last few years as airports have become more congested, according to airline and airport analyst George Hobica. He said they're ideal for travelers who have trouble waiting in long lines, can't find their way around airports or have tight connections. He recommends hiring an airport concierge if you want to get on the plane right before its doors close. Additionally, you are treated as a VIP.
Those who have an international departure and are flying in economy class may particularly benefit from an airport escort, Mr. Hobica said, because theyre required to arrive at the airport three hours in advance and have to contend with longer security lines, compared with business and first class fliers who usually have separate security lines. It can save you a great deal of time to take an airport escort, he said.
As an example of an established company that provides airport escorts, consider Royal Airport Concierge. Now operating in more than 550 airports worldwide, the company depends on its own greeters and local companies to provide escorting services. Founder Ron Gorfinkel says that the type of service provided depends on the rules set forth by the airport and the country. For a departure from Italy, for example, a greeter is permitted to escort departing passengers onto the plane and help them stow their carry-on luggage while fliers arriving into Londons Heathrow Airport have the option to be met at their gate and taken to customs and immigration in a golf cart, where they are fast tracked through the lanes. Pricing varies, but costs on average $300 to $450 for a four-passenger trip.
As a result of being intrigued by the idea of getting star treatment at an airport, I decided to try Blacklane, a Berlin-based company that launched a concierge service in August, Blacklane PASS, at the airport last year.
The Basics:
Blacklane began in 2011 as a car service company and now offers escorting services in more than 500 airports worldwide through Blacklane PASS. The escorts work for either the airport itself or for an airport concierge service. The services offered by Blacklane are based on the country and airport policies. Generally, according to CEO Jens Wohltorf, the company escorts travelers through security, customs, immigration, and handles refunded VAT. Moreover, the staff welcomes arriving passengers at the plane's exit, assists them through customs and immigration and baggage claim; it is even possible to schedule curbside pickup and arrange transportation with the driver.
The Cost:
Each subsequent guest will pay $100. Children two and under are free. Wohltorf points out that the majority of fliers tip their escorts, but one is not required.
My Experience:
The Blacklane PASS was booked for me, my two children, and my parents on a recent trip from Paris Orly Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport. I reserved the service online a week before our trip (first-time customers must reserve online but subsequent bookings can be made online or via phone) and received a text message from our escort, Reda (only permitted to use his first name), the night before our journey introducing himself and asking if I could text him when we were five minutes away from the airport so that he could greet us. The driver gave us a drop-off point, and when we pulled up at the terminal, he was waiting at the curb to greet us. Amarillo Airport Taxi Service Our four carry-ons and four check-in bags were loaded onto a luggage cart by Reda as he had us report to the line for our airline, La Compagnie. Although the line wasn't chaotic, I did feel glee when Reda flashed his pass to an airline employee who promptly let us bypass the others.
Checking in, we went to claim a VAT refund for the Paris shopping we had done. This is where our situation got sticky: the lady who managed our refund process told us that having receipts for our items wasn't enough to claim refunds. We needed actual items in order to do that. As we were unaware of the rule, the bulk of our shopping was packed in our check-in bags. Our refund totaled more than $1000, and we were remiss to let it go. My father and I begged her to make an exception, but she held strong-no items, no refund.
As Reda spoke for us, she informed her that we were VIPs at the airport. She relented and processed our refund. What would have happened without his assistance?