Notes

Do airport VIP services make sense?
Rather than waiting in long airport security lines and immigration lines, why not have a personal escort take you there faster? As far as airport concierge services are concerned, it's a promise they make to travellers, whether they're leaving or arriving. Airport-based companies like these offer services worldwide and are independent of airports and airlines (and are allowed to operate in the airports where they sell services).

In the last several years, as airports have become increasingly crowded, airline and airport analyst George Hobica indicates that these services have become more popular. They're perfect for travelers who are annoyed if they're forced to wait in long lines, need help finding their way in a busy airport or have a tight connection. 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. He said the airport escort service could save you a lot of time.

As an example of an established company that provides airport escorts, consider Royal Airport Concierge. As of 2006, it operates in more than 550 airports worldwide, employing its own greeters as well as local companies for its escorting services. A service's type depends on the airport's policies and the country in which it is offered, said founder Ron Gorfinkel. 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.

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:

With Blacklane PASS, Blacklane offers escorts in more than 500 airports around the world. The company was established in 2011 as a car service company. The escorts are either employed directly by the airport or by an airport concierge service. Like Royal Airport Concierge, Blacklane offers services specific to a particular country or airport. 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. Additionally, they meet arriving passengers at the airport gate and help them process customs, immigration, and baggage claim. They can even assist with arranging transportation and coordinate curbside pickup.
The Cost:

A first-time guest will be charged $200 and each subsequent guest will be charged $100. Children two and under are free. Most fliers tip their escorts for services rendered, but Mr. Wohltorf tells me that this is optional and absolutely not necessary.
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 we got to the terminal, he was waiting for us with a smile at the curb. Reda loaded the bags onto a luggage cart and guided us to the front of the check-in 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.

Once the checks had been processed, we were ready to claim our VAT refunds from the shopping we had done in Paris. This is where our situation got sticky: the lady who managed our refund process told us that having receipts for our items wasn't enough to claim refunds. We needed actual items in order to do that. Our bags with our bulky shopping were packed in our check-in bags because we were unaware of 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.

I spoke on behalf of Reda and told her we were airport VIPs. Her reluctance to process our refund came after a pause. Where would we be without his help? Airport Fast Track Services
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