Board it like Beckham
Global celebrity and footballer David Beckham doesn’t fly like the rest of us.
He may sit "up front" on the same flight, but he takes a very different path when he navigates the airport.
Beckham departs London Heathrow from the discreet Windsor Suite entrance at the southwest corner of Terminal 5. Once inside he’s directed to a private lounge room where Her Majesty’s immigration agent quietly checks his passport.
He never touches his baggage until he arrives at his destination.
When he wants to board the flight, he is screened without delay.
Then it’s a quick sedan car trip on the ramp direct to the aircraft. He hops up the stairs in view of a planeload of admiring fans and jealous passengers.
You too can board it like Beckham if you are willing to part with a cool £1,500 ($2,477). That’s what Heathrow Airport charges for its "Heathrow by Invitation" service for one to six guests.
The service may be booked by any premium class passenger and is available for arrivals, departures, and flight transfers.
At the highest level of service and status, airlines will meet and greet passengers at the curb, provide private screening, and whisk them to planeside in a sedan car on the ramp.
This level of service normally eludes "you and me" but is now within the grasp of anyone with the swipe of a credit card.
A new report by IdeaWorksCompany reviews how airlines all over the world now sell extra pampering to passengers for a profit.
Some airlines, such as Air France, American and Etihad, place easy-to-find information on their home pages.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is Delta’s VIP Select service. It operates in stealth mode and exposure appears limited to direct corporate sales activity and the occasional published article.
Go here for the full report:
http://www.ideaworkscompany.com/category/current-reports
Ian Jarrett
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