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Rather than waiting in long airport security lines and immigration lines, why not have a personal escort take you there faster? The promise is one that a growing number of airport concierge companies make to fliers, whether they are departing or arriving. Services are offered in airports worldwide by companies that are independent from airports and airlines (they have permission to operate in the airports where they sell their products).Analyst George Hobica, who has used some of these services, said their popularity has risen in recent years as airports have gotten busier. They are ideal for travelers who get frustrated when they have to wait in long lines, need assistance finding their way through airports, or have short connections when time is of the essence. A concierge is very useful if you like to get on the plane just as it's closing, especially if you like to get on just as the doors close. In addition, the service makes you feel like a VIP.Those who have an international departure and are flying in economy class may particularly benefit from an airport escort, Mr. Hobica said, because theyre required to arrive at the airport three hours in advance and have to contend with longer security lines, compared with business and first class fliers who usually have separate security lines. It can save you a great deal of time to take an airport escort, he said.As an example of a reputable company that provides airport escorts, Royal Airport Concierge is one such company. Since 2006, it has operated in more than 550 airports worldwide, using its own greeters and local companies for its escorts. According to Ron Gorfinkel, the type of service offered depends on the rules of the airport and the country. For a departure from Italy, for example, a greeter is permitted to escort departing passengers onto the plane and help them stow their carry-on luggage while fliers arriving into Londons Heathrow Airport have the option to be met at their gate and taken to customs and immigration in a golf cart, where they are fast tracked through the lanes. Up to four passengers can be transported for $300 to $450 for the company.I was intrigued by the idea of having an escort at an airport, so I decided to test one from Blacklane, a Berlin-based company that launched its airport concierge service, Blacklane PASS, in August of last year.The Basics:Originally a car service company, Blacklane now provides escorts at 500 airports worldwide through Blacklane PASS. The escorts work for either the airport itself or for an airport concierge service. Blacklane, like Royal Airport Concierge, offers services according to country and airport regulations. Generally, according to CEO and co-founder Jens Wohltorf, fast-track fliers are escorted through customs, customs and immigration, and their luggage is carried. They can also arrange transportation and coordinate with a driver for curbside pickup. They meet arriving passengers at the plane's exit and assist them through customs and immigration.The Cost:Guests are charged $200 for the first visit and $100 for every subsequent visit. Children two and under are free. The vast majority of air travelers tip their escorts, but Wohltorf said that tipping is optional.My Experience:For a recent trip from Paris Orly Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport, including travel for myself, my children and my parents, I booked a Blacklane PASS. I reserved the service online a week before our trip (first-time customers must reserve online but subsequent bookings can be made online or via phone) and received a text message from our escort, Reda (only permitted to use his first name), the night before our journey introducing himself and asking if I could text him when we were five minutes away from the airport so that he could greet us. After indicating a drop off point, he waited at the curb and welcomed us as we pulled into the terminal. Our four carry-ons and four check-in bags were loaded onto a luggage cart by Reda as he had us report to the line for our airline, La Compagnie. It wasn't a long line, but I did feel a glimmer of pleasure when Reda flashed his pass to an airline employee, who promptly allowed us to bypass other passengers.Once we had checked in, it was time to request VAT refunds for our Paris shopping. Here's where things got tricky: the employee with whom we interacted during the refund process told us that the receipts for our items weren't enough to claim our refunds- we would also need the items themselves. Our bags with our bulky shopping were packed in our check-in bags because we were unaware of this rule. Refunds totaled over $1000, and we were remiss to let this money go. https://topalpha.de/ar/????-????-????????-VIP/ Despite my father and I begging, she refused to make an exception - no, items, no refund.Reda stepped in on our behalf, telling her that we were airport VIPs. Her persistence paid off and she processed our refund. If he hadn't helped, what would we have done?