United Airlines and The Private Suite have announced a new relationship that will allow select United business class customers access to a private VIP Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Customers who purchase access will enjoy private and personalized check-in and baggage handling as well as private screening by Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers. United customers using the new terminal will be driven across the airfield in BMW 7-Series sedans directly to their aircraft. The United-branded lounge at the new terminal includes individual suites and restrooms and features a full bar and top-tier food service.
Access to The Private Suite will be included in certain business-class fares. United has negotiated a highly preferential rate for use of the exclusive service. The Private Suite experience will initially be available through select corporate travel booking desks and travel agents, and later available for purchase on united.com or through the United app as part of a premium-cabin ticket fare.
Passengers traveling to/from the following destinations will be able to take advantage of this new service:
- Aspen
- Cabo San Lucas
- Hawaii
- London Heathrow
- Melbourne
- New York/Newark
- Shanghai
- Singapore
- Sydney
- Tokyo Narita
More details here.
CONCLUSION
I’ve reached out to United for more details on pricing and will provide updates and clarification in a post tomorrow. For now, we have only this info on pricing:
With this service, you’ll save $4,500 on The Private Suite’s annual membership fee that’s normally required for travel with other airlines. In addition, you’ll enjoy favorable rates when compared to making separate bookings for travel and The Private Suite experience.
In any case, an interesting new development that will likely be very expensive, but worthwhile to some.
It’s not a subscription service – it’s a one-time surcharge (each way) to biz and first fares on those routes.
Bookable via GDS.
How much?
This would seem to suggest that The Private Suite’s original business model isn’t working out for them – even in LA, the market for this service at current prices would have to be limited, sandwiched as it is between the (generally improving) premium passenger service through the terminals and private aviation. A good move by United, however – if the price is right, will encourage me to consider them for TPAC flights over the coming year.
For $1495 international flights it must include unlimited caviar, black truffles in every bite of food and a 1.5 hours massage with P2 Champagne.
+1. I suppose that there are a very few people that will find this useful, but for miles and points fans, this is insanely stupid. Honestly, it saddens me a bit that this is even worth a post. I’d hoped for better.
Wasn’t one of the reasons this service was established to try to lure high profile travelers – say Hollywood types – away from private jets to paid first class travel using Private Suite as a gateway at LAX? If the studios are paying for the flight this gives them a less expensive option for transporting their stars