Terminal 1 at New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) may be the airport’s worst terminal. There are traces all over the place, particularly when touring through 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 overlook about skipping traces with Clear or TSA PreCheck. The terminal does not have Clear, and there is not any devoted TSA PreCheck lane.
What if I informed you there is a VIP service that allows you to fully skip the safety line? Learn on to be taught extra about my expertise with VIP One, which is now free with an eligible Precedence Go membership.
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The VIP One expertise
After I checked in for a current Brussels Airways flight, I headed to the primary safety checkpoint at JFK’s Terminal 1 to look at what was happening.
Unsurprisingly, there have been traces all over the place. Safety screeners have been loudly shouting at passengers to take away liquids and laptops from carry-on baggage.
I might positively made the fitting option to go for VIP One.
As a substitute of coming into the primary safety checkpoint, I went off to the southeast facet 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 shortly welcomed me after confirming that I might certainly paid for the service. (VIP One now accepts Precedence Go, so presumably your card can be scanned right here earlier than coming into.)
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There have been a number of seats within the lounge, however the primary characteristic was the 2 credenzas within the heart of the room.
As soon as 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 shortly obliged, after which magic occurred.
The agent took the bins and my carry-on and opened a facet door, the place I discovered myself proper on the entrance of the safety line. There was a Transportation Safety Administration agent ready there to examine 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 secure flight after I walked by way of the steel detector.
What would’ve been a 30-minute wait (if not longer) for safety was a painless 60-second course of.
VIP One with Precedence Go
Maybe the very best information is that VIP One now accepts Precedence Go memberships. Because of this in case you have an eligible bank card that features a Precedence Go, you’ll use this presecurity lounge and devoted TSA lane earlier than your flight.
All it is advisable do is flash your Precedence Go membership card alongside along with your boarding go with confirmed same-day journey for entry to this area.
Shopping for VIP One packages
If you do not have a Precedence Go membership, VIP One presents three packages: Silver, Gold and Platinum. I bought the Silver package deal, which solely contains VIP fast-track safety. The service price $45 earlier than tax and coded as skilled providers on my bank card. Youngsters beneath the age of 12 are included in a single service price.
Buying the service was fairly easy. After navigating to the VIP One web site, I merely selected my desired package deal and entered my identify and bank card data. Moments after finishing my buy, an worker known as me with particulars about the place to go as soon as I received to Terminal 1.
In case you’re flying in firstclass on Air France, Japan Airways, Korean Air or Lufthansa, you will get entry to the Silver package deal free of charge.
VIP One additionally presents a Gold ($100) and Platinum service ($200) that features VIP fast-track safety, plus a private escort from arrival on the airport all the way in which 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 (in case you have entry) and eventually helps you preboard your flight.
VIP One additionally presents a membership mannequin obtainable for buy on the airport at an undisclosed value.
Total impression
I’ve all the time dreaded the bottom expertise for flights departing from JFK’s Terminal 1. Generally, the terminal is overcrowded. To not point out, safety can take without end.
Nonetheless, with VIP One’s choices, the safety course of is a breeze, particularly contemplating that it is now free for Precedence Go members.
Even when you do not have a Precedence Go, airways usually promote precedence boarding and fast-track safety packages for $15 or extra, so $45 appears cheap for a VIP safety expertise that is higher than each TSA PreCheck and Clear. Maybe it is going to even make you sit up for clearing safety at Terminal 1.
