by Mimi Kmet
Last updated: 12:30 PM ET, Thu July 5, 2018
United Airlines has partnered with The Private Suite to allow access to a pre- and post-flight private VIP suite at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The Private Suite facility, located across the airfield from the main airport terminals, has 13 individual suites and a shared lounge with food service and a bar. And United has access to one of the suites, as well as the lounge.
The individual suite has a comfortable living room with a TV, outlets for electronic devices, and accessories like chargers and ear buds; a full bathroom with a spa-style shower and bath amenities; a stocked food pantry and beverages; and a two-person daybed. An adjacent conference room has teleconferencing capabilities, among other features. And for travelers with children, there's a toy menu and an outdoor play area.
Passengers who book a United Private Suite Fare, which includes the actual fare plus $1,250 to $1,495 per person, per segment (United MileagePlus points may not be used), bypass the LAX terminal complex and go straight to The Private Suite, a gated, secure compound. Comparatively, The Private Suite's direct rates start at $2,700 per segment plus a $4,500 annual membership fee for each passenger and up to three traveling companions; or $3,500 per non-member and up to two companions.
There, a team of eight people performs duties like escorting passengers to the suite, tagging their checked luggage and delivering it to the aircraft, handling special requests, escorting them through a private TSA screening, and driving them to the aircraft in a BMW. Additional services, such as vehicle cleaning and an in-suite manicure, massage, or haircut, are available at additional cost.
Arriving passengers are driven from the aircraft to The Private Suite facility, which has its own U.S. Customs and passport control area for international arrivals, where they are reunited with their checked luggage.
If someone wants to book the United Private Suite Fare at a time when the suite is already occupied, United can make arrangements with its in-airport lounge. But Anthony Toth, the carrier's managing director-Western Division, said he doesn't anticipate spillover, because the eligible flights are spread out throughout the day.
Currently, United Private Suite fares are available to business-class passengers on nonstop international flights between LAX and Los Cabos, Tokyo, Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore, Melbourne and London, as well as on nonstop flights to and from New York/Newark, Aspen, and all airports in Hawaii that the carrier serves. They're initially available through select corporate travel booking desks and travel agents.
Eventually, they will be offered to coach-class passengers, according to Toth. They'll be available at United's website and through the United app as part of a premium-cabin ticket fare. "You don't have to be an executive, a head of state or a movie star to do this anymore," he said.
United is looking at offering the service to other U.S. airports but declined to say which ones, according to Toth.
Meanwhile, The Private Suite, which opened at LAX just over ago, is developing two additional facilities that are slated to open in Miami and New York/JFK next year, according to a company spokeswoman.
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