This Service Makes Getting Through the Airport Easier Every Single Time

"David Lowy, the president of Vancouver-based Renshaw Travel, has spent his career planning trips for demanding clients who expect top-notch service. And while he considers himself pretty savvy-he's on Travel + Leisure's Travel Advisory Board, after all-something Lowy will often splurge on is an airport greeter. These concierge-style pros will meet passengers planeside, help them breeze through customs and immigration, and guide them to baggage claim-turning what can be a hectic and overwhelming ordeal into a soft landing."

"Where this kind of VIP service really shines, Lowy says, is when you've got a connection. "Let's say you're going [from] Chicago to Frankfurt to Athens, but you only have an hour to connect," he says. "It's a huge airport, and you have to clear immigration into the EU and then go through security. If you have a guide, they know the fastest route-and sometimes they can even put you into a car to speed things up." Depending on the airport, the cost of such white-glove treatment may run to a few hundred dollars, Lowy adds. "But it's worth it.""

""This type of thing is newly relevant after the travel debacles of the past few years," says Jack Ezon, also a member of T+L's Travel Advisory Board and the co-founder of Embark Beyond. "With losing bags always a possibility and airport chaos an ordinary occurrence, our clients are much more willing to splurge to ease travel concerns." Among Ezon's clients, demand for airport greeters is up more than 160 percent compared with pre-pandemic times, he says."

Airport greeters meet passengers planeside, expedite customs and immigration clearance, assist with baggage claim, and guide travelers through large or complex airports to reduce stress and delays. These concierge services are particularly valuable for tight connections, where greeters can identify the fastest route, expedite security and immigration, or arrange ground transport to speed transfers. Costs vary by airport and provider and can run to a few hundred dollars, but many travelers consider the service worth the price. Meet-and-greet services can be booked through travel advisors or directly via providers such as Royal Airport Concierge, GetYourGuide, and Viator. Demand for airport greeters has risen sharply since the pandemic amid increased concerns about lost baggage and airport disruptions.

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