Because they pay full fare F, which on a three-class transcon flight, is a little over $4000 round trip.

So you're saying all AA customers paying full fare F get Special Services' staff to squire them around the airport and make their life as pleasant as possible? Or just those who are in show biz (even third rate bit players)? :rolleyes:

Agreed. And we don't even know that he was on a full F transcon, could have been on a YUP to MIA or something like that. I think that letting them avoid the crowds is nice, but let that be a service that they (or anyone else, for that matter) can pay for. If they are so ready to shell out $4k on a transcon flight, I would bet that they would fork over $400 for a Special Services escort. Seems fair to me. And, if I ever wanted to avoid crowds (severe germaphobia, self-proclaimed celeb status, etc) I could pony up the fee as well.

Fee for special services???

Where did this come from?? I scanned back a little and did not find out a specific fee .. other than a rant about how expensive it was to pay for this 'special services' (super secret) department.

Since Special Services is a group that caters to the top top tier each day .. their presence is not know or understood by most travelers. They don't have SpecService 'badges' on .. I know in ORD they can normally be identified by the carts they drive - with the fringe on top .. and in DFW I think they are labeled Premium Services.

Being the recipient a few times of these wonder people's services, I am sworn to protect their secrecy. But I doubt there is a pax charge .. they are there to serve the top top top travelers. And on slow day they even reach down to a few EXPs on discount tickets!

Did he get a special meal?

Yeah, why should they give special treatment to folks with deeper pockets than 99.99% of the people here? :rolleyes:

While it was not an AA flight, I took the Delta Shuttle LGA-DCA. Dick Gephardt was there. (AA Shuttle is the worst of all the available choices).

Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear. I meant that there should be a fee for special services in cases like this. For occasional travelers (not sure how much that actor flies), but want to not deal with crowds, they should institute a fee for a special services escort. I imagine that many of these guys would take it just to feel special. It would include an escort through security, to a club room (with a day pass), and then an escort to the gate and onto the plane. I think it would be a good way to get some extra $$ because anyone who requested it could get it, for the fee.

Quite a few recently
 

Roger Staubach and Jude Law in the Dallas Admirals club on two separate occassions. Ming Tsai, TV Food Chef and owner of the awesome Blue Ginger in the Admirals Club in Boston, also.

I sat next to her from Dallas to Washington National a few years ago. Although I was never a political supporter of hers, she sure was a nice lady.

Sightings - Amazing Race 7
 

Phil Keoghan and the Amazing race 7 teams on LAX to MIA at the start of race 7. There were about 4 teams on this flight, complete with 4 sets of camera crews, Phil and his staff. Phil was in Business across the aisle from me, one of his staff was next to me. They did not rush off the flight like you see in the show, they did get pre-boarded with the film crews filming. They were on their way to Lima Peru.

Danny Glover on GRU-DFW, he was not happy with is bulkhead seat in business, wanted someone else's seat, like the pilots sleeping seat. They finallly found one other that was in the last row. He was not happy with that because it might not recline enough. But settled for it finally.

BB King and crew on GRU-DFW, took up all the business class seats so I ended up in coach.

The guy that does the Publishers Clearing House awards sat next to me, he had a lot of good stories about suprising people with the large checks.

that is all I can remember at the moment.

Well, Phil Keoghan IS Executive Platinum! I wonder if he earns it with all the flying, or is it given to him because AA is a sponsor of the Amazing Race?

I don't believe EXP is given to anyone. He probably flies enough, plus AA may book him in J if they provide him with free travel as part of their sponsorship.

I sat accross the aisle from LA rapper Snoop Doggy Dog on a flight from LAX to ORD right after Biggie Small got shot. I found out later Snoop was travelling to Farrahkan's for a "peace conference' among rappers.

Nice bling!

Bumped into Stockard Channning in the LAX FL on Dec 21.