1) There are two LAX arrival options: standard and offsite. Standard option has your pre-arranged driver waiting directly in front of the terminal (or they just take you to the head house and you’re on your own. The off-site option does indeed take you off the airport property, but only to a “secure off-site location,” which is basically an underground hotel parking garage. The latter is really meant for high profile people to avoid paparazzi. It also ironically takes quite a bit longer as they have to drive all the way around the airport to get to the exit gate, which is over by T7/8. Id really only use this service if you want to impress someone or need to go somewhere right by the hotel they use.

2) I’ve tried to tip in the past, they always reject it. They seem to appreciate the thought though.

I called again thinking I would use VIP Select after all because even if they only meet me after immigration it would still be good to not have to go out of the secured area (well, I know, you get your check bagged so you are unsecured effectively, but I mean back out to the check in counters), check in, and go back to T4 again, but the phone rep this time told me they wouldn't meet me until I got to a Sky Club??? And that I would still have to go back to check in? Doesn't sound right to me, but it's what this guy said.

I wonder if there is an e-mail address for VIP Select where I could write it and get one consistent final answer.

That doesn't sound correct. I would wait a day or so and try calling again to get a different rep (if you call back today, chances are you'll get the same person - it's a small desk they staff with only a handful of people it sounds like).

There is an email for VIP Select, but it's intended for coordination leading up to the service itself, I'm not sure they would be able/willing to answer any logistics questions via email.

They'll meet you in the departure terminal pre-security. It honestly might just require you coordinating directly with the rep you are assigned day of (typically they text you an hour or two to confirm meeting time + location). If you're not flying on DL or a code share, they won't meet you with a Porche and escort you through customs. Something about stepping on other airline's turf.

You might also just consider booking it as a standard "departure" service, rather than a connection service, to avoid confusion.

Since I have a tight-ish self booked connection on unrelated airlines, what I'm hoping for is someone meet me in T4 anywhere, take my bags and check me in, without me going back to the building entrance. Is that a no-go?

It will be fine, but I'd book it as a "departure" service. Have them put in the notes that you'll be meeting at T4 (sometimes they want to meet you at T2, even if your flight is T4). Then, once its confirmed you'll get an email with airport contact within 48 hours of your flight. Additionally, someone from the airport directly will reach out day of to re-confirm. When the rep texts you day of, just explain to them that you are clearing customs in T4 on another airline and ask them to meet you landslide outside of customs.

Unless its changed, the people who book VIP Select are outsourced contractors who don't have too much of a clue. The airport contacts themselves are a lot more aware and nimble.

Quick update regarding my experience with Delta VIP Select last week.

Overall, it was a spectacular experience and something I'm actively considering including in future trip plans.

Here's a semi-detailed summary of my experience using their outbound service from JFK.

Several hours prior to the flight, I received a phone call from the assigned representative indicating they had not been given the driver's name/phone from the car service we were using, and was asked to simply text the representative with an ETA once en-route to JFK. Upon arrival at Terminal 2, the very friendly rep was waiting for us curbside in a bright green safety vest. We were led inside the terminal to the front of the bag check line, where bag tags were pre-printed for us. From there, we were led towards the front (but not quite the very front) of the TSA pre-check line and we cleared security. While waiting to go through security, I asked if it would be possible to head to the T4 SkyClub while we waited for our flight, since I'm not fond of the small-ish and older lounge they have in T2. Turns out, that was the plan all along, which I was really glad to hear!

We were brought down to the tarmac, seated in the back seat of the Porsche, and shuttled 3-4 minutes across to T4 where we were then led through some service hallways until we emerged literally at the front doors of the SkyClub. We bypassed the sizable line of folks waiting to enter, and were led to a cozy corner of the lounge that had been specifically reserved for us. A lounge staff member came over and asked if we'd like anything to drink, and we ordered some cocktails which were then brought right to our seats. We spent about 30 minutes relaxing in the lounge before our rep came back to retrieve us, and we were once again shuttled over to T2 via Porsche. We parked right next to our plane, walked right up the jet bridge steps, took our seats, and the door closed behind us moments later.

Overall, it was an exceptionally seamless and truly relaxing experience. One member of the group, who tends to be a particularly anxious traveler, even remarked about how peaceful the entire experience was from curb to plane. For the price they charge, this really is a worthwhile experience. I only hope that it remains a semi-secret - I could only wonder what would happen if the social media influencer crowd was to find out about this and the subsequent restrictions Delta would implement in response.

I would agree with others who said that the arrival or connection services are likely better values, but nonetheless the departure service was wonderful.

Thank God social media influencers are too dumb to read...

I assume the price would rise, it's already an oddity for some phone reps when you call who it's for and say yourself. They really are used to either an assistant or agent calling it in. They have zero issue doing it but I was asked once how I found out about it and I explained and they said "It really is a smart program if you can afford it, $250-$350 for peace of mind at the airport is the best". I really wish it counted towards MQD's as I always end up being a thousand or so short of Diamond every year and just have to plan out a weekend trip.

I'm happy to hear they added the private table as I figured when I saw it the other day it was for VIP Select. I've done it a few times there and an agent would offer to get us our first drink before she left but we were on our own afterwards and she kinda just found a space for us to sit which was easier during COVID but I figure the table idea came up as the clubs began to fill. I am usually flexible to the agents request as sometimes they ask If I could board first or last depending on her own schedule as it looks like they sometimes balance one or two "VIP's" at a time.

The other benefit of Pickup as mentioned in JFK is they have brought me to the garage to get my car before which if you end up at the end of Terminal 4 in the 40's-50's it's a nice to skip leg day.

Air France has this when you fly LP and it's a great service, especially resulting with zero hassle despite connecting in the jungle that is CDG. I'd definitely be using this for tighter domestic connections when flying DL just for peace of mind.

Might be too late. I'm on hold 5 minutes and counting, which isn't a lot, but is a lot for calling the VIP Select booking number.

how do you think influencers work? they only do stuff if the company pays them, they're not going to pay their own money to show off someone else's product. Influencers won't be showing this off unless Delta specifically wants them to, in which case, why would they "implement restrictions" when they're explicitly trying to drive up demand?

Influncers don't need Delta to pay them, they just need to believe their reel/video on whatever platform would generate enough ad-revenue. I can already imagine an Instagram or Tiktok reel of "Did you know for a couple hundred bucks you can be a VIP at an airport?"

whhhaaaaaa!??!?!?

#kardashians

(or the inverse, Kyleema Norman... Story here, go visit her Twitter feed for more -> https://nypost.com/2022/08/09/nyc-sc...p-about-delay/)