Paid airport concierge service / "meet & greet"...opinions? comments?
Oct 27, 2015, 6:53 am
#3
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Oct 27, 2015, 9:35 pm
#5
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Oct 27, 2015, 9:38 pm
#6
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The services and prices vary widely. Some are offered by hotels or airlines, while I suspect that most are independent contractors that operate with the approval of the airport (and its security, customs, and immigration functions if applicable). In some airports, things are sufficiently efficient and pleasant that a paid service seems unnecessary. An example would be Jet Quay at SIN.
Oct 27, 2015, 10:27 pm
#7
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We used bid vest in jnb which was an add on to tour services there. Met us at the gate and took us to immigration and to connecting flight to victoria falls We had some friends meeting us with a tight connection from lhr and bid vest was instrumental in communicating with the gate staff so that the con newton was met. When the four of us got on the plane, the pilot said, i dont know what the delay was,but we are ready to go. Was a wonderful service.
Oct 28, 2015, 2:53 pm
#9
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maybe it depends on the airport and trip length
For example flying into TLV and going through the hassle of passport control and all that is usually a hot mess. After 24 hours of international travel that can be worth the cost and trouble of booking a "VIP" meet and greet. You would be out in a flash and in the car headed to your hotel bed. The only way I know to insure that sort of booking is through a hotel concierge ahead of time in TLV. That to me is worth it.
In the USA for me not worth the cost. In other difficult places maybe worth the consideration.
In the USA for me not worth the cost. In other difficult places maybe worth the consideration.
Oct 29, 2015, 1:56 pm
#10
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I paid for a meet & greet for arrival at HCM city. It was a package deal for the pre-visit acceptance letter, assistance with Visa On Arrival, and transportation to hotel.
I thought it was a pretty good value for not having to mess with logistic details on a first visit to a new country and not having a lot of time.
Details in a thread of the Destination forum if interested.
I thought it was a pretty good value for not having to mess with logistic details on a first visit to a new country and not having a lot of time.
Details in a thread of the Destination forum if interested.
Oct 30, 2015, 10:19 am
#11
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Prolly because very frequent flyers are over-represented on FT. (ie most FT members fly a lot). As a result they tend not to need the hand holding.
We see the occasional "my parents need..." threads, or maybe a luxury traveler "i'll be with my wife and kids and its a new airport" threads.
But most people wont pay the silly $$$ for what amounts (usually) to a meet. The level of assistance with connections and through governmental functions seems quite variable....
We see the occasional "my parents need..." threads, or maybe a luxury traveler "i'll be with my wife and kids and its a new airport" threads.
But most people wont pay the silly $$$ for what amounts (usually) to a meet. The level of assistance with connections and through governmental functions seems quite variable....
Nov 1, 2015, 5:27 pm
#12
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Prolly because very frequent flyers are over-represented on FT. (ie most FT members fly a lot). As a result they tend not to need the hand holding.
We see the occasional "my parents need..." threads, or maybe a luxury traveler "i'll be with my wife and kids and its a new airport" threads.
But most people wont pay the silly $$$ for what amounts (usually) to a meet. The level of assistance with connections and through governmental functions seems quite variable....
We see the occasional "my parents need..." threads, or maybe a luxury traveler "i'll be with my wife and kids and its a new airport" threads.
But most people wont pay the silly $$$ for what amounts (usually) to a meet. The level of assistance with connections and through governmental functions seems quite variable....
Nov 1, 2015, 5:36 pm
#13
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so LH FCT is hand holding? why so much discussion by paid flyers?
IIRC LH VIP offers better car to plane flexibility than LH FCT
and paid VIP/VVIP car to plane is available at many airports
isnt it valuable to many business travelers to skip ALL queues when F doesnt provide it?
sometimes also possible to have (nonpax) guests in VIP lounge and or at plane arrival
i dont need my hand held, i dont want to spend any time in airports
IIRC LH VIP offers better car to plane flexibility than LH FCT
and paid VIP/VVIP car to plane is available at many airports
isnt it valuable to many business travelers to skip ALL queues when F doesnt provide it?
sometimes also possible to have (nonpax) guests in VIP lounge and or at plane arrival
i dont need my hand held, i dont want to spend any time in airports
Nov 2, 2015, 5:47 am
#14
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I looked through what Global Airport Concierge offers. It seems to me that for most airports it's just an escort at a rather steep price. For some others they resell the airport's own VIP package at a 50% markup. I've been using airport-provided VIP services and I find they're usually great value (I.e. better than LH's HON service in Frankfurt for example) but they're also pretty easy to book directly.
Mar 29, 2019, 9:41 am
#15
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Waste of money - GLOBAL AIRPORT CONCIERGE
Used this "service" on 22/11/2018 in Mumbai AirportI was astonished that there was NO FAST TRACK whatsoever. The agent basically babysat us and sent us to the various queues where we waited like anyone else.We could not see a single reason to have spent so much money on a service that did exactly zero for us and did not, in any way, resemble a VIP FAST TRACK service such as we have used elsewhere. The reason to drop several hundred USD is to circumvent and speed up arrivals. This simply did not happen.I am thoroughly disappointed with this service & feel horribly mislead and duped.This organization was not at all transparent and honest about what they could and could not provide at the MUMBAI Airport.I understand that different airports/countries "allow" different levels of service. It is their responsibility to know precisely what you can and cannot do and IMPART THIS to the client. Thank G-d I did not use them for departures.By being deceptive and over-promising, I am turned Global Airport Concierge forever.I feel like a complete idiot for trusting this company. My wife thought I was mad to have spent this money for zero benefit.It is a short-sighted money-grabbing exercise in not being upfront with clients.Instead of a client for life who travels a GREAT deal and uses this sort of service, they have lost me and my circle of well-heeled friends.
VIP whisking is a great service if it delivers. GLOBAL AIRPORT CONCIERGE failed at the MUMBAI AIRPOR on 22/11 for us