Beat the crowds and pesky paparazzi at the luxurious LAX PS terminal (private suite)

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Do you remember the crowds and the traffic at airports? They are back! But if you want a relaxing and comfortable place to arrive or depart Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in style, PS at LAX is your place. Among other things, it offers gourmet cuisine, its own TSA checkpoint, and a BMW ride along the tarmac straight to your plane.

Whether you are a celebrity or an ordinary traveler, PS promises to improve your life as a traveler. The rich and famous who want to avoid the photographers and the hustle and bustle can afford personalized service at PS. Meanwhile, travelers at the main terminals won’t be bothered by the pesky paparazzi and the disruption they create. PS says they can’t chat about famous clients (although there are a few blunt clichés on Instagram) but says he works with the US Olympic Committee and the NFL.

Originally established in 2017 as The Private Suite, the property was renamed PS in January 2020. The property has both private suites and a new high-end shared facility known as of Salon. But you can also think of the PS as a private “terminal” right across from the LAX runway, where you can check in, eat something, go through security, and be driven to your jet, all the while avoiding the crazy crowd.

Of course, like the rest of the aviation industry, the PS currently only hits two of the four cylinders. Domestic and leisure travel is hectic, business and international travel less. Before the pandemic, up to 60% of PS customers were business travelers.

Yet Josh Gausman, co-CEO of PS says, “People are spending more on travel now because they haven’t spent anything in a year and a half.” He adds: “In the fourth quarter, we will have a recovery in vacation travel; Looks like London and Paris are the main international destinations. Sydney, a popular destination for PS customers, could be further away.

A spokesperson for the PS said the company had “thousands of members”. PS has treated up to 100 clients per day with its suites. With the addition of the Salon, which can accommodate over 30 people, they expect the number of customers to quadruple.

A secret to PS’s success, for those hoping to avoid traffic jams and crowds, is its “Imperial Terminal” location on the south side of LAX. Imperial Highway is about 5 miles and a world of traffic away from Century Boulevard, the driver in the muffled horseshoe of World Way where the LAX passenger terminals are located. The Imperial Terminal area is mainly used for cargo and charter operations; the current old terminal is now the Museum of flight paths.

But the founders of PS rented a neighboring building in 2016 to build a terminal for commercial flights that would be “a private respite from the hustle and bustle of LAX.” Easy security checks would combine with luxury hospitality, for a price.

Comfortable suites stocked with drinks and snacks that can accommodate up to four travelers up to four hours before (or after) domestic or international flights are $ 3,250. An annual membership is $ 4,500 and adds free services such as in-suite meals, beauty and grooming services like manicures and haircuts, children’s toys, use of the spa shower. member and preferential rates with partners like BMW.

There are even such perks as the automotive aesthetic for the personal car, the use of the members’ conference room and the video conferencing studio. The suites, redesigned in 2020 by renowned design consultant Cliff Fong, feature an art installation curated by Creative Art Partners with more than 40 works on display.

This month, PS introduced a new class of service called “Salon”. You can wait in a cozy open living room with bar, chef-prepared dinner, wash it down with a few drinks, even take a shower in a beautifully appointed bathroom. When completely relaxed, you can walk through the private TSA PS and passport facility, then quickly get to your flight, driven onto the LAX tarmac by one of 20 BMW vehicles.

The Lounge is available for member and non-member reservations at $ 695 per use, per person. Members receive free perks like valet parking, on-site vehicle details and checked baggage handling.

According to PS, perhaps 15 overseas airports have similar services. But PS at LAX is the first of its kind in the United States, inspired by successful VIP services at major airports like Heathrow in London and airports in Munich, Frankfurt and Dubai.

What about the competition from high-end airline lounges aimed at the avid frequent flyer? At PS, Hollywood Food and Beverage will feature gourmet chefs and food, available 24/7. And a spokesperson for the PS points out that unlike most airline lounges, the PS offers well-heeled passengers a place to relax and unwind not only before departure, but upon arrival.

“Every airline has lounges — we’re low-volume, all about providing service and making the customer happy,” says Gausman. “We have a great partnership with the airlines because we work closely with them and deliver satisfied customers to them.” American Airlines, for example, sent representatives from its VIP team to greet PS customers.

PS says 50% of its clients are based in Los Angeles, with clients based in New York and London also being significantly represented. A spokesperson said that a PS lounge at JFK is “coming”, while one in the near future at Miami International is “a maybe”.

The lounge remained open during the height of the pandemic, although it was forced to put some employees on leave and obtain rent forfeiture from its owner, LAX. But staying open in March and April 2020 allowed PS employees to work to bring international customers, stranded during the pandemic, back to their home countries. “We never closed the door,” says Gausman.



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