LAX airport offers The Private Suite facility which — for a significant fee — allows private security and immigration along with BMW tarmac transfer to your plane. It’s a way to travel commercial yet still be discrete.
Annual membership is $4500 and there’s member and non-member pricing. Members can pre-order meals, have their car cleaned while they’re gone, and receive complimentary spa services.
In the spring United launched a partnership with the Private Suite to sell access at a discount ($1250 domestic, $1495 international) in conjunction with certain United flights — long haul international (London, Melbourne, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, and Tokyo) plus Newark, Aspen, Cabo, and Hawaii destinations
Now they’re offering access even cheaper. (HT: One Mile at a Time) First time users can pay:
- $375 one way or $700 roundtrip for domestic
- $500 one way or $900 roundtrip for international
- And that price includes access and services for up to 4 people
Credit: The Private Suite
In addition access is available now to passengers on all United flights at LAX. It’s no longer limited to certain airports.
At the price you get their shared lounge, rather than your own room. But you still get private security and tarmac transfers at a reasonable price if you’re traveling with one or more people.
The partnership page says to email privatesuite@united.com for this first-time offer.
Honestly I’d consider it at this price and even go out of my way to take a trip with United to do so. Of course since pricing isn’t published on the site there’s no way to know how long this special offer will last.
I’ve used the JetQuay terminal in Singapore both on arrival and departure.
Jetquay Terminal, Singapore
And of course I’ve used the standalone Lufthansa First Class Terminal.
The First Class Terminal was by virtue of traveling on a Lufthansa first class award. Singapore’s Jetquay Terminal was sold strangely inexpensively several years ago via the Intercontinental hotel there (far cheaper than through other hotels or booking direct).
For hand holding through the traditional airport process, American offers the most formal program that premium cabin passengers can purchase. I’ve seen American Idol’s Randy Jackson use it (and Billy Crystal not know about it).
Delta has a similar service, Delta VIP Select which at least two years ago was $125 per person or $200 for two.
Here’s Lufthansa’s car service in Frankfurt.. nothing like driving behind a 747!
I love how The Private Suite at LAX has become more accessible through their United partnership. Is this something you’d consider giving a try?
I doubt it will begin to compare to Lufthansa’s First Class lounge in Frankfurt
and having to fly United seems way to painful for an hour of premium experience before departure
Now BA Cathay or Qantas in First Class using the lounge I might be interested
My two cents
$100 per person with 4 person minimum…..or just $375 would be more accurate
The only thing I’ll miss about AA next year is Five Star in LAX. It is such a great experience.
Private Suite is for poseurs, actual VIP at LAX are already well handled via special arrangements. The airport before Private Suite has served celebs for a long time and without incident. The scuffles seen on TMZ are orchestrated.
I think it’s “discreet”, not “discrete”.