Once upon a time, flying was probably among one of the most glamorous things you could do. The seats were spacious, the food was real and the champagne was always perfectly chilled.
In the golden olden days, you used to be able to turn up 30 minutes before your flight left with no ID. And then—oil, terror, crumbling pound—times changed.
Today, nothing quite personifies the anxiety-inducing madness of modern air travel like an airport terminal. While most of us have to put up with endless queuing and navigating 300 WHSmiths for a bottle of normal-sized water and giant Toblerone, for A-listers and the Royal Family, airport travel looks remarkably different.
Here’s how the 0.1% travel do airports…
Secret terminals
Sometimes even stars and royals have to take commercial flights like the rest of us (it helps their eco credentials if they’re not always flying on their private jet). Of course, you’ll never see them hanging around the EasyJet bag drop or going barefoot across airport security because they don’t actually step inside the main terminal at all. Instead, you’ll find them inside the hush-hush private terminals, far away from the prying eyes of the public and paparazzi.
At Heathrow, it’s called The Windsor Suite and as the name suggests, the royals are regulars here as are heads of state. Prince Harry was snapped outside its doors hours after appearing at The King’s Coronation in May, while William, Kate and their brood use this terminal every time they fly from London, even Boris Johnson frequented its hallowed halls when he was PM. You don’t have to be of royal blood to use it, but you’ll need deep pockets — it costs just over £3,000 for up to three people — but with a slick service that sees you whisked from your front door to the aircraft, it’s tempting.
There are similar experiences on offer at Gatwick and Luton airports too, run by Signature Elite Class. Hannah Felt, group head of partnerships at luxury concierge Quintessentially tells me this doors-to-flight-steps service is in big demand, especially post-Covid. “Our members use these services mainly for the convenience and fast track nature, but also often to enhance a special trip.”
Dom Pérignon and Michelin-starred food on tap
Heathrow VIP guests are taken to an unmarked entrance where luggage is checked in for them while they settle into a private lounge (of which there are eight) with walls that feature a revolving curation of artworks by Warhol, Bacon and Banksy — you’ll want the recently reopened and sprawling royal suite. No bratty kids (unless they’re your own) or buffet hoarders to share your space here, thank you very much. While all the paperwork is taken care of, your butler will keep you wined and dined. There’s free-flowing Dom Pérignon and a Michelin-starred menu from Jason Atherton for when you get peckish and a personal shopper on hand to take you around the terminal (by buggy, no one expects you to be walking).
When it's time to head to your flight, you'll have your own security lane, which takes seconds to get through. “Security was so seamless, you hardly realised it was happening,” said a friend who was recently treated to the experience during a work trip. “That and being driven to the steps of the plane was the best thing about it.” Yes, that’s right, when it’s time to board, Windsor Suite guests are driven across the tarmac, rock star style, directly to their aircraft.
Freebies galore
Waiting around for a flight can be boring work but for VIPs, it’s an excellent time to indulge in a little TLC. Guests at LA’s private terminal, PS LAX, which was modelled on Heathrow’s Windsor Suite and opened in 2017, enjoy free pre-flight massages, in-suite manicures and haircuts. You can even book a doctor to give you those last-minute travel jabs or a prescription renewal. A-listers who come here — including the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Chrissy Teigen and Ben Affleck — can also take advantage of the endless toiletries and travel gadgets up for grabs — from universal chargers and noise-cancelling headphones to vitamins and suncream. It’s basically an all-you-can-grab complimentary Boots. Other tangible reminders of how different the other half live include organic seaweed snacks, 85 percent cacao, limitless Laurent-Perrier, scented candles and daybeds for two.
Invitation-only tiers
If you think being a Gold Card member is as good as it gets, think again. There’s an invitation-only tier you don’t even know about and airline officials are top secret about it. You’ll want to be part of the club — namely Qantas Chairman’s Lounge, BA Executive Club Premier or American Airlines Concierge Key. According to our sources, you can’t apply, you simply wait to be asked. One insider told us to be considered for BA’s Black Level, you need to control a travel budget which spends at least £2 million per year with British Airways or have “the ability to influence travel policy” — i.e. you’re a big wig. Benefits include airlines holding flights if you’re running late and use of secret airport tunnels to get you to the aircraft seamlessly.
When do you have to slum it
If A-listers really have to slum it in the main terminal, it’s not all bad news. The Virgin Clubhouse at Heathrow has the ability to be transformed into a private space for A-listers (out come the sliding doors and opaque dividers) creating a VIP area within a VIP area, with Peloton bikes and expert mixologists on hand.
Elsewhere, British Airways just announced the arrival of its Whispering Angel pop-up bar in its Club Lounge B Gates lounge at Heathrow T5 (you’ll need to be flying First or Business, or be a Silver or Gold member).
Rosé for breakfast, anyone?
