ATLANTA- Six years after introducing a respite from airport chaos in Los Angeles (LAX), a luxury travel company is banking on the idea that Atlanta Airport (ATL) and transiting passengers will be willing to pay an additional $4,850 per visit for a touch of elegance.
Previously known as Private Suite, PS gained recognition by offering the private jet airport experience, which completely bypasses security queues and simplifies luggage handling, to commercial air travelers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Atlanta Airport TSA Bypass
Established in 2017, the company recently opened a second location adjacent to the airfield at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
This airport, home to Delta Air Lines’ hub and the world’s busiest airport, is where the company’s staff will, just like at LAX, efficiently transport customers to and from the aircraft door of commercial flights.
Within its private terminal, the PS staff will cater to guests, providing them with food, assisting with travel requirements, and ensuring they bypass security lines through an exclusive Transportation Security Administration checkpoint.
PS guests are unlikely to encounter any queues, as each lounge can accommodate up to 32 individuals, the maximum allowed capacity; a spokesperson suggests that the facility will likely “never be full.”
However, avoiding airport hassles comes at a price. The three private suites, furnished with snacks, beverages, comfortable seating, and airfield views, cost $4,850 per use for a group of up to four travelers.
The salon, a less exclusive shared lounge, charges $1,095 per person and can accommodate up to 20 people.
Starting at $1,250 per year, PS memberships can reduce the per-use fee. With the highest all-access premium membership, priced at $4,850 annually, suite usage decreases to $3,550 and salon usage to $750.
Private Terminal Plan
Owned by the private equity group TPG, PS has chosen not to disclose its revenue or daily customer counts in Los Angeles.
However, it has announced plans to open additional private terminals at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Miami International Airport by 2025. Despite these expansion plans, the journey has had its ups and downs since PS’s inception at LAX in 2017.
According to PS CEO Amina Porter, an attempt to establish a presence at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport faced a setback when the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey paused the bidding process for a private luxury terminal.
Porter further explains that the pandemic, with its disruptions to international travel, also hindered the company’s expansion efforts. “We’re making up for lost time now,” Porter states.
Exclusive Suites
In Atlanta, PS features three exclusive private suites, all conveniently located along a single hallway adjacent to a shared salon lounge.
Suite customers also enjoy complimentary access to this lounge, which boasts airfield views, a staffed bar, comfortable seating, and accommodations for approximately 20 travelers.
Each of the three suites is equipped with plush seating, a two-person day bed, a food service pantry, a restroom, and an airfield view.
Upon arriving from a flight, customers are chauffeured in a BMW from the aircraft door to PS’s terminal. Neither arriving nor departing customers need to enter the main airport.
Besides the exclusive TSA checkpoint, there is on-site immigration and customs processing for passengers arriving from international flights.
Given the increasing difficulty in accessing airport lounges and the ongoing airport staffing shortages resulting in seemingly endless wait times, PS is betting on the value of time in the equation.
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