Terminal 1 at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) may be the airport’s worst terminal. There are strains all over the place, particularly when touring throughout the afternoon and night rush hour.
The airside meals choices are restricted, and the airline lounges aren’t nice. Clearing safety can take without end, and neglect about skipping strains with Clear or TSA PreCheck. The terminal does not have Clear, and there isn’t any devoted TSA PreCheck lane.
What if I instructed you there is a VIP service that permits you to fully skip the safety line? Read on to be taught extra about my expertise with VIP One, which is now free with an eligible Priority Pass membership.
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The VIP One expertise
After I checked in for a latest Brussels Airlines flight, I headed to the primary safety checkpoint at JFK’s Terminal 1 to look at what was happening.
Unsurprisingly, there have been strains all over the place. Security screeners have been loudly shouting at passengers to take away liquids and laptops from carry-on baggage.
I’d undoubtedly made the appropriate option to go for VIP One.
Instead of getting into the primary safety checkpoint, I went off to the southeast aspect of the primary safety space and located a nondescript entrance to VIP One’s safety lounge between check-in Rows E and F.
There was a gentleman guarding the doorway to the lounge, and he rapidly welcomed me after confirming that I’d certainly paid for the service. (VIP One now accepts Priority Pass, so presumably your card can be scanned right here earlier than getting into.)
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There have been a couple of seats within the lounge, however the primary characteristic was the 2 credenzas within the heart of the room.
Once inside, the agent positioned some safety bins atop the credenzas and requested me to take away the objects in my pockets, in addition to my laptop computer and jacket.
I rapidly obliged, after which magic occurred.
The agent took the bins and my carry-on and opened a aspect door, the place I discovered myself proper on the entrance of the safety line. There was a Transportation Security Administration agent ready there to verify my passport, and inside seconds I used to be whisked proper to the entrance of the X-ray machine.
The VIP One agent positioned my belongings into the machine after which wished me a protected flight after I walked by way of the metallic detector.
What would’ve been a 30-minute wait (if not longer) for safety was a painless 60-second course of.
VIP One with Priority Pass
Perhaps one of the best information is that VIP One now accepts Priority Pass memberships. This implies that you probably have an eligible bank card that features a Priority Pass, you can use this presecurity lounge and devoted TSA lane earlier than your flight.
All you might want to do is flash your Priority Pass membership card alongside together with your boarding move with confirmed same-day journey for entry to this house.
Buying VIP One packages
If you do not have a Priority Pass membership, VIP One gives three packages: Silver, Gold and Platinum. I bought the Silver package deal, which solely consists of VIP fast-track safety. The service price $45 earlier than tax and coded as skilled providers on my bank card. Children beneath the age of 12 are included in a single service price.
Purchasing the service was fairly easy. After navigating to the VIP One web site, I merely selected my desired package deal and entered my title and bank card data. Moments after finishing my buy, an worker referred to as me with particulars about the place to go as soon as I received to Terminal 1.
If you are flying in top quality on Air France, Japan Airlines, Korean Air or Lufthansa, you will get entry to the Silver package deal without cost.
VIP One additionally gives a Gold ($100) and Platinum service ($200) that features VIP fast-track safety, plus a private escort from arrival on the airport all the best way to the gate.
This particular person greets you at your automobile, takes you to check-in, clears you thru safety, walks you to the lounge (you probably have entry) and at last helps you preboard your flight.
VIP One additionally gives a membership mannequin out there for buy on the airport at an undisclosed worth.
Overall impression
I’ve at all times dreaded the bottom expertise for flights departing from JFK’s Terminal 1. In basic, the terminal is overcrowded. Not to say, safety can take without end.
However, with VIP One’s choices, the safety course of is a breeze, particularly contemplating that it is now free for Priority Pass members.
Even if you do not have a Priority Pass, airways sometimes promote precedence boarding and fast-track safety packages for $15 or extra, so $45 appears affordable for a VIP safety expertise that is higher than each TSA PreCheck and Clear. Perhaps it should even make you look ahead to clearing safety at Terminal 1.
Source: thepointsguy.com”