Can airport VIP services be worth the cost?
If you can hire an escort to take you to the front of the security and immigration lines at the airport, why would you want to wait any longer? A growing number of airport concierge companies promise this to their customers, whether they're taking off or landing. 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).
Analyst George Hobica, who has used some of these services, said their popularity has risen in recent years as airports have gotten busier. 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 says if you're the kind of person who likes to get on a plane just as the doors are closing, you should hire an airport concierge. Furthermore, you will feel like a VIP by using the 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 can save you a great deal of time to take an airport escort, he said.
In addition to offering airport escorts, Royal Airport Concierge is another established company. As of 2006, it operates in more than 550 airports worldwide, employing its own greeters as well as local companies for its escorting services. لحجز الفنادق - ArabTours24.com According to Ron Gorfinkel, the type of service provided depends on the rules at 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. Depending on the company, travel costs can range from $300 to $450 for up to four passengers.
My interest was piqued by the idea of receiving personal attention at the airport with an escort from Blacklane, a Berlin-based company that started its airport concierge service, Blacklane PASS, last August.
The Basics:
Blacklane began as car service company in 2011, but now offers escorts in more than 500 airports worldwide via its Blacklane PASS service. The airport itself may employ these escorts or one can find them through a local concierge company. Similar to Royal Airport Concierge, Blacklane also provides services based on country and airport regulations. 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. 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:
Each additional person will pay $100. The first guest costs $200. 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. After we got to the terminal, he was waiting for us with a smile at the curb. Reda loaded our four carry-ons and four check-in bags onto a luggage cart and led us to the front of the check-in line for our airline, La Compagnie. Even though the line wasnt too long, I was thrilled when Reda flashed his pass to an airline employee, who promptly let us elude other passengers.
Our next task was to claim a VAT refund for the shopping we had done while in Paris. Upon our first contact with the employee dealing with our refund, she informed us that receipts for the goods we purchased were not sufficient for claiming refunds; we needed the actual goods to claim the refund. Unaware of this rule, most of our shopping had been packed in our baggage check-in bags. Over $1000 in refunds was owed to us, and we were remiss in not returning the money. Even after demanding an exception, my father and I were unable to get a refund- no items, no refund.
We told her that we were airport VIPs and Reda interjected for us. She eventually relented and processed our refund. Would we have been able to accomplish anything without him?