Notes

Are airport VIP services worth it?
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? Growing numbers of airport concierge companies promise this service to fliers as they depart or arrive. To Airport Airports and airlines are independent of these companies (they are allowed to operate in the airports where they sell their services).

Analyst George Hobica, who has used a few of these services, said they've gained popularity in recent years as airports have become busier. They are ideal for travelers who hate waiting in long lines, need directions to get around an airport, or have a tight connection. He advises booking an airport concierge if you like to board your plane right as it is about to close. You also feel like a VIP when 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. According to him, airport escorts can save you a lot of time.

A company that specializes in providing airport escorts is Royal Airport Concierge. Since 2006, it has operated in more than 550 airports worldwide, using its own greeters and local companies for its escorts. The type of service provided will depend upon the rules and regulations of the airport and the country, according to 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.


I was intrigued by the idea of having an escort at an airport, so I decided to test one from Blacklane, a Berlin-based company that launched its airport concierge service, Blacklane PASS, in August of 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. Blacklane, like Royal Airport Concierge, offers services according to country and airport regulations. Airport meet and greet services TopAlpha 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 exit of the aircraft and assist them through customs and immigration as well as baggage claim; they can even arrange transportation and coordinate with a driver for curbside pickup.
The Cost:

Guests are charged $200 for the first visit and $100 for every subsequent visit. Children two and under are free. Mr. Wohltorf said that although most travelers tip their escorts, it is absolutely not mandatory.
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. When we pulled up at the terminal, he was waiting to welcome us with a smile. Reda stacked our four carry-ons and four check-in bags on a luggage cart and guided us forward to the head of the check-in line for the airline we were flying, La Compagnie. I was quite gleeful when Reda flashed his pass to an airline employee, who allowed us to circumvent other passengers.

Once we had checked in, it was time to request VAT refunds for our Paris shopping. 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. Our bags with our bulky shopping were packed in our check-in bags because we were unaware of this rule. Refunds totaled over $1000, and we were remiss to let this money go. Despite my father and me begging her to make an exception, she refused- no, items, no refund.

She was informed that we were VIPs at the airport by Reda. She eventually relented and processed our refund. Would we have been able to accomplish anything without him?


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