By Barbara Peterson

The process of getting to your flight can seem daunting in the age of the mega-airport.

From bag-check to security to the serpentine concourses filled with high-end shops, private airline clubs, restaurants, spas and more, making your way through a supersize airport terminal is like a journey in itself. And it can be especially overwhelming if you're on a tight schedule, or traveling with young children and older family members.

In addition to being time-consuming and often stressful, the long trip from curb to departure gate isn't something all fliers are physically prepared to handle. And it isn't just those with mobility issues -- some travelers just have difficulty trekking through long airport corridors with their gear.

"We're all aging while our airports are getting bigger," says Ty Osbaugh, principal architect at Gensler, the architectural firm behind dozens of new airport terminals, including one that opened in September at San Diego International Airport.

To help fliers navigate these behemoths, airlines and airports have added improved signage, interactive maps and digital displays showing estimated walking times to departure gates. They've also updated their apps with better maps and flight information.

But as airports around the world become ever larger and more complex, interest is growing in more-personalized assistance programs that promise a less-painful airport experience for travelers who are willing to pay.

Offered by airlines and other companies for a fee, these services may include perks like personal concierges, assistance with luggage, expedited security access, access to VIP lounges and more -- and in many cases you don't have to be a first-class passenger, frequent flier or premium credit-card holder to book them.

Paul Tumpowsky, chief revenue officer of Fora Travel, a travel agency, says he almost always recommends that his clients use some sort of airport-assistance service. It can be pricey, depending on the services you choose, but it is usually worth it, he says. "Coming off a crowded plane at a strange airport, nothing beats seeing someone holding a sign with your name on it," he says.

Here is a closer look at some of the services available:

Airline add-ons

At least three major U.S. airlines -- Delta, United and American -- and Air France and British Airways are among the carriers that offer premium hand-holding services for passengers at key airports.

Delta's Delta VIP Select program is available in 11 of its domestic hubs, including New York (at LaGuardia and JFK), Los Angeles, Atlanta and Minneapolis. The service includes a guide to take you through the airport, help with check-in and baggage, complimentary access to Delta's Sky Club lounges and in some locations a private car to take you straight to the plane. Prices start at $550 for the first passenger, and $100 for each additional flier per trip.

United passengers can get VIP treatment at the airport through the airline's Signature Service program, available at 21 airports in the U.S. and abroad. A greeter will meet you at the curb, accompany you through security and get you inside the airline's club, starting at around $250 a person.

Air France offers a range of concierge services at Paris Charles de Gaulle for prices starting at $350 a person. British Airways offers its fliers access to an airport concierge through a partnership with Diamond Air. It can be particularly useful for travelers flying in and out of airline's base at Heathrow Airport, which has the most flight connections of any airport in the world. The service will send someone to meet you upon arrival, escort you through immigration and customs and take you to your connecting flight. Prices vary.

American Airlines' Five Star Service program, meanwhile, is available only to passengers traveling in business or first class. It is offered at 22 U.S. and international airports, including New York, Los Angeles, London and Tokyo, for $350 for the first person, $100 per additional adult and $50 per child.

Of course, for fliers whose main concern is mobility, airlines operating in the U.S. are required to provide transportation to and from gates via wheelchair at no additional charge for those who need it. Airlines suggest you request wheelchair assistance when you book your flight or up to 48 hours before departure.

Concierge companies

Travelers who want a personal airport guide also can work with separate concierge companies, some of which have contracts with big airports around the world.

Their airport sherpas will help you avoid lines at check-in, escort you to a fast-track security lane, get you into a VIP lounge and take you to your gate when it's time to board. If you're arriving from abroad, they can meet you at your arrival gate and help you through customs. In some places this service could include transfers by limo directly to the waiting aircraft.

Providers include the Queen of Clubs, offered by a boutique luxury-travel company in several European countries, including the U.K. and France, as well as larger networks such as Perq Soleil and Royal Airport Concierge, which are in hundreds of airports worldwide. Prices vary; a meet-and-greet or a transfer service at major international gateways in Europe and Asia could range from $250 to more than $500 a person.

A newer arrival in this business is Clear Concierge, a new service from Clear, the ID security firm that speeds fliers through security checkpoints faster by verifying their identify for an annual fee. The company is now offering Clear members a personal escort who will take them from curb through security for $99, to a wider array of services that will get them all the way to the departure gate for $179. It's being rolled out at 23 major U.S. airports, including Denver International, Orlando and Salt Lake City.

Luxury offerings

For a true splurge, a small number of clubs can offer passengers flying commercial a whiff of the private-jet lifestyle, bypassing the hated airport experience altogether.

In the U.S., the PS brand (for private suite) offers fliers a sanctuary in the form of a separate terminal away from the main airport. There, travelers get full lounge amenities and can check their luggage, get a boarding pass and clear security and customs privately. Michael Holtz, CEO of travel firm SmartFlyer who uses the service often, says a private car service takes passengers to and from the lounge and the plane, which they board or disembark from via the jetway stairs.

PS is available in Los Angeles and Atlanta and plans to add locations in Miami, Dallas and Paris. Prices start at around $1,200-plus per person.

Barbara Peterson is a writer in New York. She can be reached at reports@wsj.com.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 31, 2025 12:00 ET (16:00 GMT)

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