Notes

Are VIP Airport Services Worth It?
If you can hire an escort to whisk you straight to the front instead of waiting in long airport security lines and immigration lines, then why bother with those lines? Growing numbers of airport concierge companies promise this service to fliers, whether they're arriving or departing. They sell their services in airports throughout the world and are independent of airlines or airports (they have permission to operate at a specific airport).

Analyst George Hobica, who has used a few of these services, said they've gained popularity in recent years as airports have become busier. His advice: They're ideal for travelers annoyed by long lines, those seeking assistance at the airport or those who are pressed for time and need assistance. 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. You are also treated like 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. According to him, airport escorts can save you a lot of time.

As an example of an established company that provides airport escorts, consider Royal Airport Concierge. 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. Ron Gorfinkel, the founder of the company, said the type of service provided depends on the rules of 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. The company's pricing varies, but an average ride costs $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:

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 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. Generally, according to CEO and co-founder Jens Wohltorf, fast-track fliers are escorted through customs, customs and immigration, and their luggage is carried. ألمانيا They assist passengers with customs and immigration, and can arrange transportation and provide curbside pick-up. In addition, they meet arriving passengers at the exit of the plane and assist them with baggage claim.
The Cost:

Each additional person will pay $100. The first guest costs $200. Children two and under are free. The typical passenger tips his escort, but Mr. Wohltorf said gratuities are 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 indicating a drop off point, he waited at the curb and welcomed us as we pulled into the terminal. Reda loaded our four carry-ons and four check-in bags onto a luggage cart and led us to the front of the 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.

We checked into our hotel and then claimed our VAT refund after we had left Paris. Our situation got sticky when a woman who dealt with the refund process told us that we needed the actual items to claim our refunds. We had packed most of our groceries into our check-in bags unaware that this rule applied. The refund amount added up to more than $1000, and it was remiss of us to let this money go. Despite my father and I begging her to make an exception, she would not budge- no items, no refund.

I intervened on our behalf by telling Reda we were airport VIPs. Her reluctance to process our refund came after a pause. How would we have managed without his help?
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