Private suites, personal screening services and helicopter transfers designed to avoid long traffic jams are among the perks being offered to well-heeled American Airlines customers for a price.
American is latest to come out with expanded services catering for affluent passengers traveling through New York JFK or Los Angeles airports.
The US carrier’s Five Star Service is marketed as “a premium and personal airport experience available departures, connections and arrivals in select markets”.
The basic service costs $US350 for the first person, $US100 for additional adults and $US50 for each child. There is also a more expensive Five Star Select.
The new additions mean customers in LA or New York can skip the traffic with a private helicopter transfer from Blade that will pick them up at the destination of their choice and fly them to the airport.
According to Blade founder Rob Wiesenthal, the helicopter transfer reduces a 90-minute drive to a five- to seven-minute flight.
Once at the airport, they’ll be picked up by a Cadillac and taken to American’s Flagship First check-in.
After clearing security, they can head to the Admirals Club, Flagship First lounge or Flagship First Dining before their flight.
The helicopter service is also available for arriving customers.
According to Blade's website, chartering the entire helicopter costs between $US695 and $US1325, depending on how far ahead it is booked, but a seat can be purchased for as little as $US195.
Passengers can also access The Private Suites entrance to LAX, offering customers with departing flights private security screening and a Cadillac escort across the tarmac to their gate or a lounge.
United Airlines is another airline to offer this service and passengers can be driven directly to the aircraft.
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American says arriving customers can clear international customs in fewer than five minutes with The Private Suite’s dedicated international arrivals hall.
The sticker price for the service on The Private Suite website is $US1200 for two people.
“We understand the value our customers put on their time and a personalized end-to-end travel experience — whether it is a private travel experience, a little more luxury, fine dining in the airport or getting to the gate quickly, we have them covered,” said American vice president of global marketing Janelle Anderson.
“This gives our customers a range of choices when traveling on American.”
The concept of helicopter transfers is not new, and New York Airways once transferred passengers from Manhattan heliports to city airports in 10 minutes.
The cost of a one-way flight from New York to La Guardia in 1955 was $US4.50.
The service was most famous for its flights from the top of the iconic Pan-Am building and for shuttling The Beatles to the Port Authority heliport for their concert at Shea Stadium during their 1965 US tour.
It ceased operating in 1979 after its third fatal accident.
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