American Airlines Launching Private Suite and Helicopter to Airport Service

American Airlines is accommodating customers seeking privacy and speed with some hefty new luxury options. Passengers traveling through Los Angeles (LAX) and New York (JFK) can opt for off-terminal airport entrance,  private TSA screening, private lounge benefits and a new and effortless travel experience to the airport in a helicopter with Blade, a digitally powered aviation company.

American Airlines Five Star Service is a premium and personal airport experience available for departures, connections or arrivals in select markets. Customers purchasing a Five Star Service experience can customize their experience to fit their interests. The services provided by Blade and The Private Suite will soon be available as add-ons for customers purchasing Five Star Service or Five Star Select — an elevated Five Star Service experience with access to Flagship Lounge and Flagship First Dining.

“A little more luxury, fine dining in the airport or getting to the gate quickly, we have them covered,” said Janelle Anderson, Vice President of Global Marketing at American Airlines. “This gives our customers a range of choices when traveling.”

Customers in the Los Angeles or the New York areas can skip the traffic and get to the airport faster with a private helicopter transfer from Blade. When traveling with Blade, customers will be picked up in the city at a destination of their choice and flown to LAX or JFK where they’ll be greeted by an airline team member and escorted via Cadillac to Flagship First Check-In. After clearing security, customers can spend their extra time relaxing or working in the Admirals Club, Flagship Lounge or Flagship First Dining before their flight. Blade

“The No. 1 pain point of traveling from New York City and Los Angeles to the airports is traffic. The Blade airport transfer product turns an hour-and-a-half drive into a helicopter flight that’s five to seven minutes,” said Rob Wiesenthal, founder and CEO of Blade.

Premium cabin customers who value efficiency, luxury and privacy when traveling through LAX can choose to access The Private Suite’s private entrance to LAX, away from crowds and traffic. The exclusive terminal offering allows customers with departing flights to have a private, expedited security screening on site with Cadillac escort across the tarmac directly to their gate or to the Flagship Lounge and Flagship First Dining. Similarly, arriving customers can clear international customs in fewer than five minutes at The Private Suite’s own dedicated international arrivals hall.

Blade transfer service will be available to customers who book a private transfer through the Blade app. The Private Suite service will be available for customers traveling in

premium cabins and can be booked by calling the Five Star Service team. Pricing information is available through aa.com.