What's the point of airport VIP services?
If you can hire a personal escort to whisk you to the front of the line, why wait in long security lines? The promise is one that a growing number of airport concierge companies make to fliers, whether they are departing or arriving. The companies offer their services in airports worldwide and are independent of airports and airlines (they have permission to operate at the airport where they provide services).
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. According to him, using a concierge service is perfect for travelers who get irritated by standing in long lines, need assistance finding their way through an airport or have a tight connection where time is of the essence. Booking an airport concierge would be a good idea if you are among those who like to board just as the plane is closing up, he said. Also, you'll feel like a VIP with this service.
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 is possible to save a great deal of time by taking an airport escort, he said.
As an example of a reputable company that provides airport escorts, Royal Airport Concierge is one such company. Based in 2006, it now operates in more than 550 airports worldwide and uses both local and national companies to guide its escorts. 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.
After hearing about Blacklane's PASS concierge service, which launched in August of last year, I decided to try it out. Blacklane is a Berlin company that provides airport concierge services.
The Basics:
As a car service company, Blacklane started in 2011 and now offers escorting services at more than 500 airports around the world through Blacklane PASS. Airport concierge services or escorts hired from the airport themselves provide these services. Similarly, Blacklane provides services tailored to particular countries and airports. According to Jens Wohltorf, CEO and founder, the service escorts passengers through security, customs, immigration, carry their luggage and process VAT refunds. Furthermore, they meet arriving passengers at the airport and assist them with passport control, transportation, and curbside pickup as well as customs and immigration.
The Cost:
The service costs $200 for the first guest and $100 for each subsequent guest. Children two and under are free. Meet and Assist Service The majority of travelers tip their escorts, but Mr. Wohltorf says that it is not mandatory to do so.
My Experience:
Recently, I booked Blacklane PASS for my family and me to travel 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. After we got to the terminal, he was waiting for us with a smile at the curb. 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. It wasn't a long line, but I did feel a glimmer of pleasure when Reda flashed his pass to an airline employee, who promptly allowed us to bypass other passengers. luxury VIP Services
