A look at VIP concierge services to upgrade your airport experience

Everyone knows how the story goes: You get to the airport and have to seek out your method to your airline check-in desk, present your ID and drop your checked baggage off. Then, you discover your method to the Transportation Safety Administration checkpoint, place all of your belongings on the scanner, retrieve them and discover your method to your gate (or a lounge, when you’ve got entry).

However what if I advised you there is a significantly better model of this story? At many airports throughout the U.S. and even overseas, there’s various corporations catering to anybody trying to really feel like a VIP, even when only for a day. Among the providers supplied by these concierge suppliers embody meet-and-greets, baggage help, expedited safety screening, translation providers and extra privateness when going by means of the airport. In some instances, they will even get you right into a lounge so you’ll be able to calm down and be pampered.

All of those providers come at a premium. Nonetheless, for anybody who values their privateness or time — or just needs to eliminate a number of the obstacles the airport expertise entails — these VIP airport providers could also be price the additional cost.

Listed here are those you must take a look at everytime you really feel like an improve to celeb standing is warranted.

SkySquad

SkySquad offers providers at simply 5 U.S. airports: Baltimore/Washington Worldwide Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Worldwide Airport (FLL), Las Vegas’ Harry Reid Worldwide Airport (LAS), Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) and Orlando Worldwide Airport (MCO). Its mission assertion is “to empower people and households to journey with confidence,” and it does simply that by providing the next sorts of concierge providers on the above airports:

• Curb-to-gate or gate-to-curb service for departures, arrivals and layovers
• Assist with carrying baggage and loading them onto safety checkpoint scanner belts
• Verify-in help
• Entry to TSA precedence lanes and assist whereas going by means of safety
• Navigation by means of the airport, plus baggage chaperoning, so that you and your loved ones can use restrooms or seize a meal with out worrying about your belongings

Companies value $179 for both departure, arrival or connecting itineraries and embody as much as two hours of assist. You possibly can ebook SkySquad’s providers by calling 877-359-2256. Bear in mind, SkySquad requires making your reserving at the very least 24 hours previous to your travels, and all modifications and cancellations to your already booked providers should be made with greater than 24 hours’ discover to keep away from incurring additional expenses.

Extra providers — together with wheelchairs, help with customs and passport management for worldwide arrivals, and chaperones for unaccompanied minors — are usually not offered.

Reward your inbox with the TPG Day by day e-newsletter

Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants

By signing up, you’ll obtain newsletters and promotional content material and comply with our Terms of Use and acknowledge the info practices in our Privacy Policy. Chances are you’ll unsubscribe at any time.

Its first tier, VIP Meet & Greet, offers a welcome upon arrival, help along with your baggage, assist by means of all airport formalities and common airport navigation.

SkyVip’s mid-tier, known as VIP Salon, contains all commonplace assist, plus extra premium facilities like chauffeured tarmac transport from aircraft to gate, entry to lounges and seamless baggage dealing with.

Its high providing, VIP Personal Suite, elevates the expertise even additional with a personal suite to calm down in whereas ready on your subsequent transfer. You can be whisked to or from the plane in a personal car, and your baggage can be carried for you, with somebody caring for all of the formalities.

Costs range relying on what airport you are contracting providers for, your journey dates and the extent of VIP service you require. For instance, a meet-and-greet at Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA) will set you again $475, whereas the VIP Salon service at LAX will value $1,620. In the meantime, the VIP Personal Suite expertise at London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) prices $5,235. Reservations may be made by way of e-mail at reservations@usvipservices.com or by calling 855-575-9847.

Not all service tiers can be found in any respect airports the place SkyVip offers protection. Moreover, providers are usually not rendered at passport management and customs clearance areas, and all reservations are capped at two hours. Cancellations or modifications require greater than 24 hours of advance discover to keep away from incurring a cancellation payment. SkyVip doesn’t supply help with medical wants, assist inside restrooms or assist for passengers with mobility, imaginative and prescient or listening to limitations or disabilities.

Royal Airport Concierge

Royal Airport Concierge is one other firm working at a whole bunch of airports throughout the U.S. and worldwide. Very similar to its rivals, it gives welcome help, porter and check-in providers, fast-track assist for passport management, lounge entry, transportation to your gate or plane by way of cart or non-public car, and an escort to and out of your plane.

Costs range by location as a result of the character of the service ranges accessible at every airport is totally different. You’ll obtain a quote by way of e-mail when you request it from Royal Airport Concierge’s web site.

Please word that providers should be contracted at the very least 48 hours prematurely. Additionally, cancellations made inside 24 hours will incur a payment.

Clear launched its concierge services late in 2024. It gives two ranges: Specific (which brings you from the curb to the entrance of the Clear lane and helps with baggage and check-in) and Gate Service (which incorporates taking you from the curb to the entrance of the Clear lane, serving to you along with your baggage and as you move by means of safety, and guiding you to your gate or lounge). To reap the benefits of a Clear Concierge service, you need to already be a Clear Plus member and ebook your service at the very least 10 hours forward of your travels. Any cancellation with lower than a 12-hour discover will incur a payment.

Clear Concierge providers can be found at 22 U.S. airports. Its Specific service begins at $99 and is sweet for as much as 9 vacationers (who must all be Clear members). The Gate Service begins at $179 for as much as 9 passengers. Reservations may be made by means of Clear’s web site and telephone app.

Observe that, as of this writing, Clear doesn’t supply providers for arrivals or connecting flights; it’s completely accessible for departures. Moreover, Clear Ambassadors is not going to wait with you when you arrive at your gate, nor will they escort you from a lounge to the gate, watch your kids or pets, or present providers to unaccompanied minors.

Anybody with the Centurion Card from American Specific could make use of one of the many perks this extremely unique card confers to them. For no extra value, cardmembers can ebook a VIP arrival service for themselves and as much as eight passengers touring with them at over 30 airports worldwide. The expertise encompasses a meet-and-greet planeside, the place a consultant will assist with their baggage and escort them by means of the airport, together with customs and passport management. Baggage porter providers are additionally accessible for a payment.

Centurion Card holders can ebook these providers by contacting Centurion’s assist workforce at the very least 76 hours previous to their flight. To be eligible for the complimentary service, you need to ebook a business- or first-class ticket utilizing Amex or have used your Centurion Card to cowl the taxes and costs on an award ticket redemption.

The knowledge for the Centurion Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

You may discover 5 Star Service at 16 U.S. and 6 worldwide airports. Advantages embody checking in at Flagship First counters, entry to the Admirals Club, precedence boarding on your flight, reaccommodation standing within the occasion of any disruption, and personalised service all through the airport.

An upgraded model of the service known as 5 Star Choose can also be accessible at 4 airports: Chicago’s O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD), Dallas Fort Value Worldwide Airport (DFW), Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA) and LAX. It contains all the usual 5 Star Choose advantages, however provides entry to Flagship First eating areas, in addition to transportation throughout the airport by way of an American Airways car or cart.

5 Star Service prices $350 for the primary passenger, plus $100 per extra grownup or $50 for youngsters 17 and underneath. The service caps out at a most of 5 passengers, however bigger teams can contract an extra greeter for an additional cost. 5 Star will also be booked utilizing your American Airlines AAdvantage miles. As for 5 Star Choose, pricing is slightly steeper: $650 for the primary passenger, $150 for every extra grownup and $75 per baby 17 and underneath.

Reservations for both providing should be made at the very least 24 hours prematurely of journey for U.S. airports and a minimal of 48 hours prematurely for worldwide airports. Passengers should fly in enterprise class or firstclass on American Airways or a Oneworld associate airline to order this add-on service. Reservations may be made by way of telephone at 877-578-2702 or by emailing fivestar.service@aa.com.

For the discerning Delta Air Traces flyer, the airline gives its VIP Choose service at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport (ATL), Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Minneapolis-St. Paul Worldwide Airport (MSP), New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA), San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO), Salt Lake Metropolis Worldwide Airport (SLC), LAX and SEA. It offers only one tier of VIP service that features a meet-and-greet curbside or on the gate, porter service and help with baggage, entry to the Delta Sky Club, boarding at your most popular time and help with flight monitoring and rebooking ought to something surprising happen.

Delta VIP Choose prices $500 for the primary passenger and $100 for every extra traveler. Teams with 5 or extra individuals additionally require an extra greeter at an additional cost. The one requirement to be eligible to buy this extra service is being ticketed on a Delta-marketed and -operated flight in the primary cabin or larger.

Companies should be booked at the very least six hours previous to utilizing the service, with cancellations required at the very least 12 hours prematurely. Bookings may be made by emailing vipselect@Delta.com or calling 855-235-9847.

As a part of the United Signature Service, you’ll obtain premier check-in, entry to a United Club lounge, premier entry by means of safety checkpoints and a Group 2 boarding place. All providers are capped at a most of three hours, however you’ll be able to add extra hours for an additional cost. Observe that if you happen to want help along with your baggage — whether or not checked or carry-on — you have to extra porter providers, which incur a separate extra cost.

Costs range relying on the airport you are reserving providers for, however, for example, you’ll be able to anticipate to pay $400 for the primary passenger (with extra expenses for extra vacationers and baggage) when departing from Dulles Worldwide Airport (IAD) close to Washington, D.C.

United recommends reserving at the very least 24 hours prematurely of your travels, and cancellations are required 48 hours previous to journey. Companies may be booked by way of telephone at 866-662-4952 or on-line on the United Signature Service web site. Companies are solely supplied to these flying on United flights; itineraries on Star Alliance companions are usually not eligible.