More perks for business and first class

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/airline-perks-offer-luxury-privacy-22693254

There have been a lot of stories in the last few days about all the new perks with first and even some with business.

Has anyone gotten this private check in room on AA?

I leave next week for the Middle East again.

I am flying AA to JFK, then the AA codeshare on Etihad to Abu Dhabi. At that point, I find out whether I am getting on a plane with a lot of other contractors out of Dubai or whether I have to make my way to Kuwait and fly mil air.

I want that private check in room and any other goodies. Has anyone experienced it?

These services are not status based and are offered with paid or FF ticketed First Class and sometimes Business.

If you are ticketed in that class you are entitled to the benefits.

While maybe something new with AA and UA, this is not new internationally.

I only know the airlines I have personal experience with.

The Lufthansa first class terminal is separate at FRA and they still have full HON Circle separate lounge at almost every airport for First Class passengers.

Iberia picks you up in private car at home or office. A private pre-flight dining room is provided at MAD.

Single flight airports like Buenos Aires would close the lounge when it was time for boarding and the lounge 'concierge' escorts you from the lounge to the plane before they start normal boarding and she introduces you to the flight crew.

Even SAS from Dulles used to take Business passengers on a separate people mover directly from the lounge to the plane years ago. They stopped and service levels have actually dropped with them.

These services are not status based and are offered with paid or FF ticketed First Class and sometimes Business.

 

If you are ticketed in that class you are entitled to the benefits.

 

While maybe something new with AA and UA, this is not new internationally.

I think this probably refers to Concierge Key (AA) and Global Services (UA) members, which are extremely high-revenue passengers, not "ordinary" elites like EXPs or 1Ks, or just people who've purchased business or first-class tickets. Airlines also have VIP services to handle VIPs or celebrities passing through airports. I cleared security not long ago at AA's JFK terminal right behind Mick Jagger, whose entire party (maybe 10?) were hustled away by AA special services as soon as he put his (boots) back on. I too was flying in first class, but nobody was there to greet me except a burly lady with a hand wand.

Many airlines are dropping "true" first class and simply raising business class standards. While there are indeed limo services or showers for some, these are very much the exception rather than the rule.

I too was flying in first class, but nobody was there to greet me except a burly lady with a hand wand.

Ain't it a b***. I get the same unglorified treatment. Such a shame to have to live "on the wrong side of the tracks".

Many airlines are dropping "true" first class and simply raising business class standards. While there are indeed limo services or showers for some, these are very much the exception rather than the rule.

It was you who turned me on to the Etihad flight out of ORD where they did come pick me up at the hotel, take me to the airport and escort me through the lines to security. And Etihad ALWAYS provides either a car or limo around Abu Dhabi for both business and F passengers, a luxury bus from Abu Dhabi to Dubai or if you ask nicely and they have a car available, they will limo you to Dubai. I absolutely feel very special (ego too big for the car) when I get dropped off in a stretch at the Sheraton Dubai in front of a lot of other government contractors who just got off a cramped coach flight from the USA. One time, the ride was in a Rolls. That ride sets the tone for the entire trip.

The article mentions SPECIAL treatment for REGULAR first class international, whether paid or award tickets. I haven't heard anyone mention it at all.

Have you heard of check-in in a private area with AA? Concorde had it at JFK so I am imagining what is mentioned in the article is somewhat the same. And since there are US gates are right next to the old Concorde lounge, could they possibly be using somewhat the same system at JFK???

Just curious. I want all the goodies!!!!

Yeah I read the article and wasn't sure what they were talking about. I've never been in the Concorde Room at Heathrow (just the Galleries and First lounges) and their Oneworld counterparts at other airports - I seldom fly F longhaul, more often J.

This article spurred a fair amount of chatter on the local newsless TV shows. As usual there was a lot of confused talk about international first v. business classes - people saying one when they mean the other. No big; I assume some of the off-the-wall perks the Gulf or other airlines pull for ultra-VIPs is intended to keep them off private jets instead of scheduled services.

Airlines also have VIP services to handle VIPs or celebrities passing through airports.

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VIP service areas are usually run by the airport authority. Here is an example from Zurich.

http://www.zurich-airport.com/passengers-and-visitors/airport-services-en/vip-service-en

While there are indeed limo services or showers for some, these are very much the exception rather than the rule.

Fortunately Switzerland is often the exception. Here is the lounge for all Business and First arrivals before noon at Zurich. A really great start to the day for a 'lowly' traveler like myself.

Fortunately Switzerland is often the exception. Here is the lounge for all Business and First arrivals before noon at Zurich. A really great start to the day for a 'lowly' traveler like myself.

 

There are a lot of lounges world wide that have showers. So that is not a big deal. And there are A LOT of ways to get into lounges worldwide-buy a pass, buy a yearly membership, fly F or J, or have status with an alliance airline and an international flight ticket.

But no one evidently knows EXACTLY what is meant by AA having a private check in ROOM for F passengers, then direct to the priority security lines. There have been F/J class check in lines forever. But is this something like flying Concorde out of LHR or JFK where it TRULY was PRIVATE?

I leave Wednesday. I want to know what I might miss out on that I could have possibly had. Make me feel special please before I go back into the war zones.

Have you been over to Flyertalk?

How would anyone on a cruise board have already experienced this if the press release the airline generated obviously generated the article that you linked.

It states clearly:

Among the recent additions:

— American Airlines now offers its top customers (you know if you are Concierge) and anyone flying international first class a private check-in area at its terminals in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and New York. Travelers exit through hidden doors leading to the front of security lines.

F at ORD, LAX, MIA and JFK.

You just save the walk around to security and just go in right to the front.

This is also common all around the world. In ZRH and GVA it is automated, we scan our boarding pass, gate opens, we are at the front of private security line. That is it, no big deal.

There are a lot of lounges world wide that have showers. So that is not a big deal. .

TRANSIT lounges have passes and status entry, ARRIVAL lounges are class restricted usually.

American Airlines now offers its top customers (you know if you are Concierge) and anyone flying international first class a private check-in area at its terminals in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and New York. Travelers exit through hidden doors leading to the front of security lines.

 

F at ORD, LAX, MIA and JFK.

AA blurb - http://www.aa.com/i18n/urls/flagshipcheckin.jsp?anchorLocation=DirectURL&title=flagshipcheckin

So what's different? Not much I can see.

Guess I'll find out Wednesday evening on Flight 30. Then again out of JFK Friday night to Abu Dhabi. Spent the money/miles for the big bucks tickets to the Middle East because my current contract is up June 30. Whether it will be renewed AND allow me to insert business class air prices in the contract, I have no idea yet (military budget cutbacks so we can give more to those who don't contribute). My current contract allows business class air. I very often buy the cheapo economy tickets, upgrade with miles and/or money and pocket the balance of the business class fare. This trip, I just spent the money.

Since my husband passed away, the miles are piling up and I really don't have a lot of places to use them other than for my 4 trips yearly to South America. I have been thinking about having a contest in my office based on "productivity" or something like that (how I am going to measure that with 82 people working VERY different jobs, I don't know) with the prize two RT tickets at least J class anyplace in the world. I would still be left with well over 700,000 miles even if I quit flying tomorrow.

It will be my luck that the winner has NO DESIRE to leave the USA or have a problem getting a passport or can't afford the hotel rooms or not want to go unless they can take 15 kids and both sets of grandparents. Or the real nightmare-one of my 7 drivers who ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY WILL NOT FLY.

I'll let you know if I get any SPECIAL treatment Wednesday night.

Does the AA check-in at LAX just mean the newish Flagship check-in?

As for Concorde at JFK and LHR the check-in for that wasn't completely separate. At LHR it was shared with the First check-in desks. When I flew Concorde the person guarding the F check-in area allowed me to skip right to the front of the short line of other Golds/First passengers. Security was the regular Fast Track that any regular elite/premium cabin passenger could use and the Concorde Room was shared with F passengers.

At JFK it was the same deal. Check-in, security and Concorde Room shared with BA First passengers.

Does the AA check-in at LAX just mean the newish Flagship check-in?

I guess we will all find out Wed when I fly AA 30 out of LAX.

As for Concorde at JFK and LHR the check-in for that wasn't completely separate. At LHR it was shared with the First check-in desks. When I flew Concorde the person guarding the F check-in area allowed me to skip right to the front of the short line of other Golds/First passengers. Security was the regular Fast Track that any regular elite/premium cabin passenger could use and the Concorde Room was shared with F passengers.

 

At JFK it was the same deal. Check-in, security and Concorde Room shared with BA First passengers.

At JFK, June 13, 2003 (Friday the 13th of all things), we were dropped off by the Radisson hotel shuttle at the opposite end of the normal check in area. There was a little desk, two attendants and a couple of porters met the hotel shuttle (they had asked what hotel we were at). We didn't touch luggage or anything except boarding passes and passports at all. We were then escorted upstairs directly to the Concorde Room for our breakfast, champagne, relaxation, movies, whatever we wanted. When it was time to leave, an attendant escorted everyone to the gate. They had ropes where only those flying Concorde could enter. And there sure weren't any first class passengers either in the Concorde Room or at the check in desk area. When we were escorted to the plane, I know there weren't any F passengers because everyone was given paperwork for Concorde pins and escorted right onto the plane.

There was a FedEx cargo pilot, his wife and another couple I met in the smoking room (Concorde Room was IIRC the ONLY place you could smoke INSIDE JFK at the time). We all sat in there drinking champagne and having a great time. DH was outside the smoking room watching the news after breakfast. The cargo pilot could only talk about how badly he wanted to see the cockpit. It was all he thought about.

They made an announcement if you wanted to see the cockpit, meet the pilots, get your pictures taken and get your Concorde certificates signed by the pilots, you had to exit the plane, then get back in line in the jetway to re-enter the plane. The cargo pilot and his party were sitting in the back of the plane. They must have drank a lot of booze because when it was time to get off the plane, they got off the plane and just kept walking down the jetway and missed the whole experience in the cockpit. We were the next to last people to enter the cockpit and meet the pilots and we never saw the cargo pilot or his group again. I bet to this day he is royally kicking himself BIG TIME.

I don't remember anything special at Heathrow.

Sounds like it was all done a bit differently after they announced the retirement. I flew in 2002 pre-retirement announcement.

Sounds like you checked-in curbside at JFK. Didn't realise BA offered that for R passengers.

I thought the Concorde Room at JFK could be used by F passengers. I certainly used it whilst flying F ex-JFK when Concorde was in service. :confused:

So what's different? Not much I can see.

 

Whether it will be renewed AND allow me to insert business class air prices in the contract, I have no idea yet (military budget cutbacks so we can give more to those who don't contribute). My current contract allows business class air. I very often buy the cheapo economy tickets, upgrade with miles and/or money and pocket the balance of the business class fare. This trip, I just spent the money.

 

 

Gee, it would be too bad if you couldn't fly business class or pocket some extra money just because tax dollars from the military budget might go to help some poor person get health care or some old person go to a nursing home.

Gee, it would be too bad if you couldn't fly business class or pocket some extra money just because tax dollars from the military budget might go to help some poor person get health care or some old person go to a nursing home.

Bringing politics into an air travel thread...Poor form (and shows general ignorance to business travel practices). You might want to read up on the travel policies to any companies you're a shareholder in sell any stock in those firms that send anyone in anything above Shank's Pony whilst you're at it.

So what's different? Not much I can see.

 

Whether it will be renewed AND allow me to insert business class air prices in the contract, I have no idea yet (military budget cutbacks so we can give more to those who don't contribute). My current contract allows business class air. I very often buy the cheapo economy tickets, upgrade with miles and/or money and pocket the balance of the business class fare. This trip, I just spent the money.

 

 

Gee, it would be too bad if you couldn't fly business class or pocket some extra money just because tax dollars from the military budget might go to help some poor person get health care or some old person go to a nursing home.

 

When was the last time YOU went to Afghanistan to feed our troops. Your comment was just nasty and uncalled for.

Gee, it would be too bad if you couldn't fly business class or pocket some extra money just because tax dollars from the military budget might go to help some poor person get health care or some old person go to a nursing home.

If you're going to be so rude, at least you could get your facts straight. You can't move "tax dollars from the military budget" to use for anything else.

Gee, it would be too bad if you couldn't fly business class or pocket some extra money just because tax dollars from the military budget might go to help some poor person get health care or some old person go to a nursing home.

As Fbgd posted, this was not meant to be a political discussion. BUT you really PO'd me with your statement.

It is roughly a 13 hour flight from JFK to Abu Dhabi. AND I will have already flown almost 5.5 hours from LAX to JFK. Then when I arrive Abu Dhabi, I need to check in with the military to see if I need to get car service/bus to Dubai or whether I have to board ANOTHER plane to Kuwait and make the hour+ drive out to Camp Arifjan, have the car completely searched by bomb detection dogs, stand behind bomb walls for 15 minutes while they try to detonate any kind of device and then drive to the processing center. Whether I have to process in Dubai or Camp Arifjan, it will be AT LEAST another 8-10 hours after I land in Abu Dhabi before I can sleep, maybe longer (more like 14-15 if I have to go to Kuwait).

And then I fly into Afghanistan. Sometimes on a regular airline, sometimes on a rougher than a cob military air flight. I am not particularly young (65). I also own the business and am primary on the contract, so the paperwork and processing I have to do is usually about 4-5 hours MORE than contractors who work for a contractor. So I loose 4-5 MORE hours of sleep than others.

You're going to DENY me the privilege of sleeping most of the way to the Middle East instead of carping that I am taking money away from older people??? I provide oversight against waste and fraud for a 280 BILLION dollar, 5 year contract. The contract provides primarily food and "sustainment items" (toothpaste, deodorant, hairbrushes, wet wipes, that kind of stuff). It is my job to make sure product gets where it is needed in a timely fashion and we don't have too much of any one thing but enough that soldiers and contractors aren't lacking what they really need. What little bit extra is added into my contract for business class air isn't even what was paid to the CEO of the ill fated Obamacare website creation. And I bet that CEO doesn't have to fly almost nonstop for 24 hours, stand in line after line when he gets off the plane just to get cleared to do his job and then hop in a plane that barely has seats to fly into a very dangerous part of the world.

Think first about the soldiers who are protecting our butts. You are a disgrace and disrespectful to the US Military.

greatam, as the mother of a Soldier who was deployed in Afghanistan, I would just like to say thank you. You provide such an important service to our military, so don't let babr upset you.

Sounds like it was all done a bit differently after they announced the retirement. I flew in 2002 pre-retirement announcement.

I also flew Concorde in 1994 (special deal with Porsche-test drive a Porsche, fill out the credit ap so they knew you could buy a Porsche and they gave us coupons for a $649.00pp one way Concorde flight). On that trip, we were checked in with first class but they did move us to the head of the line. No escorts, not much better IIRC than regular F check in. We probably didn't get any special treatment because we were on the "bargain" voucher program.

We came home on the QE2-the ill fated Xmas cruise where the ship got confiscated by the Coast Guard in NYC because 1/2 the ship was not finished from the retrofit and it was a mess in parts of the ship.

Sounds like you checked-in curbside at JFK. Didn't realise BA offered that for R passengers.

 

I thought the Concorde Room at JFK could be used by F passengers. I certainly used it whilst flying F ex-JFK when Concorde was in service. :confused:

Not curbside at all. It was at the far end of the regular check in area. Kind of between two walls with a desk and attendants. Then there was a conveyor belt that the porters put our luggage on. We didn't have to go through regular security-they had their own in that little corner. Then we were escorted to the Concorde Room. It truly was a private experience. Here's a pretty good description of what it was in 2003 with a couple of pictures. It was truly a separate area. Wish I could find my own pictures. One with a BA 747 on the parallel runway so I know for sure there were no F passengers in the Concorde Room that morning. If and when I ever find those pictures, I will post them.

http://www.travelscholar.com/concorde/

greatam, as the mother of a Soldier who was deployed in Afghanistan, I would just like to say thank you. You provide such an important service to our military, so don't let babr upset you.

Thank you. And thank your son for his service.

I know if someone isn't "watching the store" that when it is steak and crab leg or Mongolian BBQ night and product isn't there, there is a LOT of grumbling and po'd attitudes. It's the least I can do to make sure there is enough food to go around.

Thank you. And thank your son for his service.

 

I know if someone isn't "watching the store" that when it is steak and crab leg or Mongolian BBQ night and product isn't there, there is a LOT of grumbling and po'd attitudes. It's the least I can do to make sure there is enough food to go around.

Greatam, thanks for the link. The was really cool. Hopefully you'll find yours.

Don't let ignorant people get to you. Some people think they know everything but in reality, not so much, and have a lot to learn. It only shows their narrow minded uneducated look at life and their limited experience. Sure, you get paid for what you do and you probably make pretty good money but I can tell you it's not a job I or many of us would want or be able to do. Not just your actual job but traveling to the places you go, doing what you do. Amazing. Posters that are familiar with you and your posts know what kind of character you have.

I have a friend who knows lots of current events and trivia and that person thinks driving from LA to Santa Barbara is a "road trip". While she knows stuff, she has little to no personal experience of how stuff actually works.

You don't need to justify anything. It was interesting seeing the whole trip spelled out though. Your adventures fascinate me. I have a friend who works for the movie industry (camera guy). He says his contract calls for business or better. He says that no one wants to lose a day of work because they are exhausted from the trip and that actually saves the studio money.

LOL on Santa Barbara to LA being a road trip. That's a pleasant afternoon diversion for us. :)