Are airport VIP services worth it?

Rather than waiting in long airport security lines and immigration lines, why not have a personal escort take you there faster? An increasing number of airport concierge companies make this promise to fliers, regardless of whether they're departing or arriving. Services are offered in airports worldwide by companies that are independent from airports and airlines (they have permission to operate in the airports where they sell their products).

Analyst George Hobica, who has used a handful of these services, says airports have become busier in the last several years, so their popularity has increased. They are ideal for travelers who hate waiting in long lines, need directions to get around an airport, or have a tight connection.  موقع حجز فنادق - ArabTours24.com If you have the tendency to rush onto the plane just as its doors shut, booking an airport concierge might be worth your while, he said. The service also makes you feel as if you are 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. He told me that an airport escort can save you tons of time.

Royal Airport Concierge is an established company that provides airport escorting services. With its arrival at more than 550 airports world-wide in 2006, the company employs 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. Price varies but is typically $300 to $450 for up to four passengers.

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 are either employed by the airport or by a concierge company. Similar to Royal Airport Concierge, Blacklane provides services based on airport and country rules. The company most typically escorts fast track travelers through security, customs, immigration procedures, bears their luggage, and assists in the processing of any VAT refunds, according to co-founder and chief executive Jens Wohltorf. Also, they assist passengers through customs, immigration, and baggage claim, and can even help arrange transportation and coordinate curbside pickup.
The Cost:

Guests are charged $200 for the first time, and $100 for each following time. Children two and under are free. Mr. Wohltorf said that although most travelers tip their escorts, it is absolutely not mandatory.
My Experience:

For my recent trip from Paris Orly Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport, my two children and my parents booked Blacklane PASS. 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 giving us a drop-off point, when we pulled up at the terminal, he welcomed us with a big smile. The luggage cart Reda used to load our four carry-ons and four check-in bags was at the head of the queue for the check-in desk at La Compagnie, our airline. While the line was not long, I did feel a sense of elation when Reda showed his pass to an employee, who quickly allowed us to bypass the line.

Checking in, we went to claim a VAT refund for the Paris shopping we had done. 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. We had packed most of our shopping in our check-in bags without knowing this rule. We were remiss to let the money go when the refund was over $1000. My father and I asked her to make an exception, but she refused- no items, no refund.

Our representative, Reda, intervened on our behalf, letting her know that we were VIPs. A moment later, she agreed to refund our money. Without his help, what would we have done?