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There is no need to queue for airport security and immigration if you can hire a personal escort to whisk you straight to the front of the line. A growing number of airport concierge companies promise this service to departing and arriving passengers. Services are offered in airports worldwide by companies that are independent from airports and airlines (they have permission to operate in the airports where they sell their products).

Analyst George Hobica, who has used some of these services, said their popularity has risen in recent years as airports have gotten busier. Airport meet and greet services 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. He advises booking an airport concierge if you like to board your plane right as it is about to close. In addition, the service makes you feel 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. He said airport escorts can save you a lot of time.

A company such as Royal Airport Concierge provides airport escorts. Now operating in more than 550 airports worldwide, the company depends on its own greeters and local companies to provide escorting services. Founder Ron Gorfinkel said that the type of service provided depends on the rules of each airport and 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. A round-trip ticket for up to four passengers costs between $300 and $450 on average.

As someone who is curious about escorting guests to an airport, I attempted an airport concierge service, Blacklane PASS, which was launched by a Berlin-based company in August of last year.

The Basics:

As a car service company, Blacklane started in 2011 and now offers escorting services at more than 500 airports around the world 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. 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. vip tourist services Also, they assist passengers through customs, immigration, and baggage claim, and can even help arrange transportation and coordinate curbside pickup.
The Cost:

Every additional person costs $100. Each guest costs $200. Children two and under are free. The majority of travelers tip their escorts, but Mr. Wohltorf says that it is not mandatory to do so.
My Experience:

Several weeks ago, my parents, my children and I flew from Paris Orly Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport using Blacklane PASS. Airport fast track 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. He gave us an exact pick up point, and as soon as we pulled up at the terminal, he smiled and welcomed us. In a luggage cart, Reda loaded our four carry-ons and four check-in bags and led us to the front of the line at La Compagnie, our airline. Although the line wasn't chaotic, I did feel glee when Reda flashed his pass to an airline employee who promptly let us bypass the others.

After checking in, it was time to claim the VAT refund we'd earned from our Paris shopping. We encountered a sticky situation here: the employee with whom we dealt for the refund process told us that receipts weren't enough for claiming refunds; we needed the actual items. Since we weren't aware of this rule, we packed the bulk of our shopping in our check-in luggage. Our refund totaled more than $1000, and we were remiss to let it go. Even after demanding an exception, my father and I were unable to get a refund- no items, no refund.

I spoke on behalf of Reda and told her we were airport VIPs. Then she relented and completed our refund. Without his assistance, how would we have survived?




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