Can airport VIP services be worth the cost?
When you're able to hire an escort directly to the front of airport security and immigration lines, why bother with long lines? Growing numbers of airport concierge firms make this promise to fliers, whether they are arriving or departing. Globally, these companies offer their services at airports and are independent from both airports and airlines (they have permission to operate at the airports where these services are sold).
George Hobica, an airline and airport analyst who has used these services, says these services have become more popular in recent years as airports have become busier. These services are perfect for travelers who dislike waiting in lines, find it hard to navigate through airports or have a tight connection. He recommends hiring an airport concierge if you want to get on the plane right before its doors close. You also feel like a VIP when using the service.
Those who have an international departure and are flying in economy class may particularly benefit from an airport escort, Mr. VIP Assistance 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. He told me that an airport escort can save you tons of time.
One well-established company that provides airport escorts is Royal Airport Concierge. Since 2006, it has operated in more than 550 airports worldwide, using its own greeters and local companies for 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. A round-trip ticket for up to four passengers costs between $300 and $450 on average.
As someone who is curious about escorting guests to an airport, I attempted an airport concierge service, Blacklane PASS, which was launched by a Berlin-based company in August of last year.
The Basics:
Originally a car service company, Blacklane now provides escorts at 500 airports worldwide through Blacklane PASS. The escorts are either employed directly by the airport or by an airport concierge service. The services Blacklane provides are based on the country and airport rules, just as Royal Airport Concierge does. CEO and co-founder Jens Wohltorf said that the company is generally escorting fast track fliers through security, customs, and immigration, carrying their luggage, and handling VAT refunds. Additionally, they provide support to arriving passengers at the plane exit, assist them with customs and immigration, as well as bag claim. They can even organize transportation and coordinate with a driver for curbside pickup.
The Cost:
The service costs $200 for the first guest and $100 for each subsequent guest. Children two and under are free. Mr. Wohltorf said that giving a gratuity is not required and is completely optional.
My Experience:
In addition to myself, my two children, and my parents, I used Blacklane PASS recently on a flight between Paris Orly Airport and 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. Our driver gave us a drop-off location, and when we arrived at the terminal, he was already waiting and smiled as he welcomed us. We stood in line for our airline, La Compagnie, at the beginning of the check-in line after Reda loaded our several carry-ons and four checked bags onto a luggage cart. While the line wasn't too long, I did feel a sliver of joy when Reda flashed his pass to an airline employee, who allowed us to bypass other travelers.
We checked into our hotel and then claimed our VAT refund after we had left Paris. Here's where things got tricky: the employee with whom we interacted during the refund process told us that the receipts for our items weren't enough to claim our refunds- we would also need the items themselves. Since we weren't aware of this rule, we packed the bulk of our shopping in our check-in luggage. More than $1000 was refunded, and we have been remiss allowing the money to disappear. Despite my father and I begging, she refused to make an exception - no, items, no refund.
I intervened on our behalf by telling Reda we were airport VIPs. After a pause, she agreed to process our refund. How would we have managed without his help?
George Hobica, an airline and airport analyst who has used these services, says these services have become more popular in recent years as airports have become busier. These services are perfect for travelers who dislike waiting in lines, find it hard to navigate through airports or have a tight connection. He recommends hiring an airport concierge if you want to get on the plane right before its doors close. You also feel like a VIP when using the service.
Those who have an international departure and are flying in economy class may particularly benefit from an airport escort, Mr. VIP Assistance 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. He told me that an airport escort can save you tons of time.
One well-established company that provides airport escorts is Royal Airport Concierge. Since 2006, it has operated in more than 550 airports worldwide, using its own greeters and local companies for 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. A round-trip ticket for up to four passengers costs between $300 and $450 on average.
As someone who is curious about escorting guests to an airport, I attempted an airport concierge service, Blacklane PASS, which was launched by a Berlin-based company in August of last year.
The Basics:
Originally a car service company, Blacklane now provides escorts at 500 airports worldwide through Blacklane PASS. The escorts are either employed directly by the airport or by an airport concierge service. The services Blacklane provides are based on the country and airport rules, just as Royal Airport Concierge does. CEO and co-founder Jens Wohltorf said that the company is generally escorting fast track fliers through security, customs, and immigration, carrying their luggage, and handling VAT refunds. Additionally, they provide support to arriving passengers at the plane exit, assist them with customs and immigration, as well as bag claim. They can even organize transportation and coordinate with a driver for curbside pickup.
The Cost:
The service costs $200 for the first guest and $100 for each subsequent guest. Children two and under are free. Mr. Wohltorf said that giving a gratuity is not required and is completely optional.
My Experience:
In addition to myself, my two children, and my parents, I used Blacklane PASS recently on a flight between Paris Orly Airport and 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. Our driver gave us a drop-off location, and when we arrived at the terminal, he was already waiting and smiled as he welcomed us. We stood in line for our airline, La Compagnie, at the beginning of the check-in line after Reda loaded our several carry-ons and four checked bags onto a luggage cart. While the line wasn't too long, I did feel a sliver of joy when Reda flashed his pass to an airline employee, who allowed us to bypass other travelers.
We checked into our hotel and then claimed our VAT refund after we had left Paris. Here's where things got tricky: the employee with whom we interacted during the refund process told us that the receipts for our items weren't enough to claim our refunds- we would also need the items themselves. Since we weren't aware of this rule, we packed the bulk of our shopping in our check-in luggage. More than $1000 was refunded, and we have been remiss allowing the money to disappear. Despite my father and I begging, she refused to make an exception - no, items, no refund.
I intervened on our behalf by telling Reda we were airport VIPs. After a pause, she agreed to process our refund. How would we have managed without his help?
Public Last updated: 2021-11-18 05:39:00 AM