American Airlines Five Star Service is the carrier's paid VIP service, intended to take any hassle out of the ground experience. For an extra $350 (for one person) you can be looked after from the curb to the gate, and get access to the Admirals Club. Then for $650 you can buy Five Star Select, which offers the incremental value of being driven through the airport, and also getting access to Flagship Lounges and Flagship First Dining.
I wouldn't consider any of this to be a very good value, but I figured it's at least worth covering...
What do you make of the value proposition of American Five Star Service?
"escorted by foot" will eliminate any pesky ambulation-disabled people .
If American had ever had any sort of strategic vision or ability to differentiate themselves in a positive manner, they'd have offered this program for international first class passenger as part of the service.
Well, "service" such as it is, soon to be was; their only real differentiation seems to be offering Surly and Extra Surly depending on the day and the person.
It's worth noting that Five Star is a shadow of its former self. Management has consciously chosen to move down market. Eliminate finer touches. In the old days, Five Star offered expedited Customs for international arrivals and even partnered with Blade. A person could actually use AA miles to book Blade. It reminds me of how British Airways has changed. Quite sad.
Yeah, it seems that AA and BA colluded in a race to the bottom. I wish I were joking.
How do I become one of these people who has so much money they can pay for someone to walk them through an airport but doesn't have the mental capacity to do it myself.
Unless your celebrity wanting not to be bothered economically this would never make sense. Really at $650 a throw maybe one should consider flying private.
It couldn't possibly be some poor slob who worked two janitorial jobs his whole life to fulfill a promise to his wife that one day they would take one special trip. And, that one special trip would be the only trip they'd ever be able to take. Open your mind to the dreams that everyday people might have.
I could see a good use for an elderly traveler who is less experienced in navigating airports. This can be especially true for a tighter connection in an unfamiliar airport.
Sounds like a big rip off to me. Especially the Five Star Select option.
The only way this makes any sense at all is for a large group that is traveling domestically in first class and intends to purchase flagship lounge for $150/person.
This way, the Five Star Select works out to be a single $500 "cover charge" for flagship dining for everyone in the group (no matter how many people) along with all the hand-holding, golf cart transfers, etc.
There are firms that provide airport concierge services. Amex Centurion Card uses these firms. Mastercard uses these firms. And, typically, a hotel concierge can arrange them. I have and family members have used them a fair number of times. If you book them directly, they are a fraction of the cost of the cost you likely saw with Five Star.
I paid for the service once for my father a few years ago.
He was traveling HNL-DFW-BWI flying Flagship Biz then domestic F. He's older and DFW is large, so I thought he'd appreciate the assistance. In the end it was a Terminal D to D connection and the agent walked him to the FL, then the gate. In that scenario it was not worth the cost.
I book this service for my 83 year old mom when she’s connecting in DFW.
For $350 I don’t have to worry about her ability to navigate or walk or get into the lounge. If the passenger is marked as needing assistance, then I have found they generally use a gold cart to help her accomplish it all.
They literally take her to a lounge, find a seat for her and get her situated, and then when it’s time to board the next flight they proactively come back to her and help her collect her things and ensure she gets to the flight on time.
For some people who are not that familiar with travel and navigating airports, I think it’s definitely worth the peace of mind.
Now that you've posted the article with Delta charging $500 for similar services; it seems, either DL is price-gauging, or AA isn't charging enough... bah! Either way, that's a nope for me, dawg.