I spent years in private aviation, and here’s what I learned: once people taste private jet travel, they’re hooked. It’s addictive. Imagine driving your own car every day and then suddenly being told you have to take the bus. Sure, the bus gets you there — but it’s crowded, noisy, and on someone else’s schedule.

Private jets are one of life’s true luxuries, but they’re not the only way to make travel feel seamless and elevated. There are hacks, airport services, and insider travel tips that can make your trip feel VIP without chartering an entire jet.

And this is where we go very in-depth for our clients — helping them sort through the maze of options to find the most savvy fit for each and every journey. Sometimes it’s as simple as stacking TSA PreCheck with Global Entry. Other times, it’s a private terminal at LAX or even a semi-private hop to Maui. The point is: there’s no one-size-fits-all.

I’m not a gatekeeper. This guide shares my favorite ways to upgrade your airport experience — from budget-friendly programs to splurge-worthy indulgences. Because your vacation should start the second you lock your front door.

Mother & child – photo credit: @aero

✨ Budget Basics: Affordable Ways to Travel Like a VIP

Before we get into the splurges, let’s start with the foundation:

1. TSA PreCheck: Shorter security lines, shoes stay on, laptops stay in your bag.
2. CLEAR: Use biometrics (your eyes or face) to skip the ID check. Pair it with PreCheck for maximum efficiency.
3. Global Entry: The fastest way through U.S. customs when returning from international trips.

These don’t make travel glamorous, but they make it tolerable — and that’s the first step.

CLEAR eGates – photo credit: @clear

🍷 Airport Lounges: Your First Real Upgrade

Lounges deserve their own category because they’re often misunderstood. People think “free snacks and a chair,” but the best lounges today are closer to boutique hotels: chef-prepared meals, craft cocktails, showers, nap pods, kids’ spaces, even spas.

If you’re flying long-haul, this can completely change how you arrive. A proper meal and a shower before boarding means you start the trip refreshed instead of frazzled. It’s one of the easiest ways to make travel feel civilized again.

That said — not all lounges are created equal. Some are fabulous, some are downright atrocious. I could go on and on, but here’s the truth: the AMEX Centurion Lounge at LAX? Woof. Woof woof. Woof. Did I mention, woooooof. Crowded, noisy, and the opposite of what you’re hoping for when you’ve splurged on a lounge. On the other hand, certain airline-run lounges are genuinely worth arriving early for. Lufthansa, gold star. Delta as well. American, just yuck. 

And then there’s Delta One. If you’re already paying Delta One prices, that’s a conversation we need to have. Because at that spend level, there may be smarter, more comfortable ways to travel than just picking a lie-flat seat and hoping for the best. But that’s a whole other story for another post… 😉

Delta One Lounge – photo credit: @delta

✈️ Airline VIP Services: The Quiet Insider’s Secret

Before we get to PS, let’s talk about the “secret menu” the airlines don’t advertise. Delta VIP Select, American Five Star Service, and United Signature Service are all programs that quietly smooth the chaos:

1. Private check-in and fast-track security
2. Discreet escorts through the airport
3. Golf carts for those endless terminal sprints

It’s not flashy, but it works. Think of it as quiet luxury: you’re not skipping the airport entirely, but you’re protected from the worst of it.

United VIP transfer – photo credit: Business Traveler USA

💼 PS: The Private Terminal Experience

This one’s a family favorite of ours, so I can really speak to it. PS at LAX (formerly “The Private Suite”) has completely redefined what an airport experience can be.

Instead of fighting through crowds and announcements, you drive up to a private terminal, hand off your bags, and glide through private security in minutes. Then you settle into a space that feels more like a boutique hotel than an airport: champagne, caviar potato chips, spa treatments, even family suites where kids can play while adults actually relax.

When it’s time to board, you’re chauffeured across the tarmac in a luxury car straight to your plane. No lines, no gate drama, no “boarding group three.” Just calm.

PS isn’t just for one-off splurges — they also offer memberships that make pricing far more approachable for frequent travelers. I’ve done both the one-time visits and the membership, and let me tell you: if you fly often, membership makes all the difference. It takes the sting out of every airport day.

It’s truly a game changer. Once you experience it, you’ll wonder why you ever accepted the traditional airport shuffle.

Soak up some beautiful sunshine while you wait to board, in PS’s gorgeous LAX patio. – photo credit: @reserveps

👋 VIP Meet-and-Assist Abroad

The final piece of the “not-quite-private” puzzle is how you land. In major European hubs like Paris, Rome, and Frankfurt, you can pre-arrange meet-and-assist services.

Instead of stumbling into a customs hall with hundreds of people, you’re met at the aircraft door, whisked through fast-track immigration, your luggage collected while you sip an espresso, and delivered directly to your driver. It’s the smoothest possible welcome to Europe. I highly recommend. 

VIP Arrival Paris – photo credit: VIP Concierge Paris 

🛩 Semi-Private Flights: The Sweet Spot Before Full Private

This is the top tier of VIP travel short of chartering your own jet.

At last night’s AERO Jet × Four Seasons Maui event, I previewed their new weekly Van Nuys → Maui service launching this November. Guests arrive just 20 minutes before departure, step into a calm private terminal, and board a sleek GIV. Outbound catering? Erewhon. Return? Spago. (Yes, I ate far too many tuna cones and regret nothing.)

And this isn’t the AERO of old. The Maui program is more elevated, with a dedicated aircraft just for the route. It’s essentially private-jet style without the full charter pricing — ideal for couples, families, or small groups who want to start vacation the second they leave LA.

For Angelenos, this isn’t just Maui — semi-private covers all the hot spots we love: Cabo, Aspen, Napa, Sun Valley, Vegas, New York. These are the places where the journey matters just as much as the destination.

Now, if you’re not LA-based, I’m sorry — but don’t worry. Semi-private isn’t only an LA thing. While AERO is still a newer player in the U.S. market, other boutique carriers and jet-share models are popping up in cities like Dallas, Miami, New York, and Denver. It’s not yet as widespread as commercial first class, but the concept is growing.

Me, at the AERO x Four Seasons Maui launch party in Van Nuys

Pretending I just left Four Seasons Maui savoring these caviar blinis en route back to LA

✨ Closing Thoughts

If you managed to keep reading this entire blog, I’m genuinely proud of you. If you’re anything like me, you’re already tempted to open a spreadsheet, slice and dice, and mix and match these options to your heart’s desire. Honestly, that’s one of my favorite parts of the job — helping clients figure out what’s worth it and building the perfect combo. It’s ridiculously satisfying.

If you want more insider tips like this, sign up for our newsletter [HERE]— and always feel free to reach out at [email protected] to see how we might be a good fit for helping you transform into that VIP I already know you are.

Pre-flight champagne, coffee & snacks at PS – photo credit: @reserveps