Forget Ubers and fast food! America’s most LAVISH airport experiences revealed – from a private helicopter transfer to a heated rooftop POOL and James Beard-nominated restaurant
- Helicopter firm Blade runs an airport transfer service at JFK and Newark
- Highly-acclaimed One Flew South offers upscale cuisine at Atlanta Airport
- The upscale Fairmont hotel at Vancouver Airport has a $555 spa package
If you’re looking to elevate your next trip to the airport, look no further.
DailyMail.com has hopped around the US in search of the most luxe pre and post-flight offerings, with everything from one of the world’s most revered jewelry stores to a heated rooftop swimming pool on the menu.
While airport lounges – accessible via premium plane tickets, credit cards, or Priority Pass memberships – offer maximum comfort while waiting for a flight, these luxury trimmings certainly cater to those with cash to splash.
Journey down to see how you can add a little sparkle to your next airport sojourn.
Need for speed! A $195 five-minute helicopter transfer
So you can make the most of your time in the Big Apple, helicopter firm Blade runs an airport transfer service with the flight taking around five minutes
The journey from JFK to New York City can take up to an hour during rush hour, with lanes of traffic grinding to a standstill.
So you can make the most of your time in the Big Apple, helicopter firm Blade runs an airport transfer service with the flight taking around five minutes.
A concierge will be waiting at arrivals to greet you before shuttling you to a private terminal for your scheduled flight.
One way trips come in at $195 with an alcoholic beverage included at the Blade bar in Manhattan when you land.
Along with being very convenient, the Blade flight serves up top notch views of the metropolis. The flights take passengers around the tip of Manhattan as the helicopter landing pad is located on the west side.
If bags don’t fit in the chopper, they can be couriered by car directly to your destination. The service also runs from Newark Liberty International Airport and other select locations.
Top taste! Fine dining at a James Beard-nominated restaurant
One Flew South at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport has a 4.5 out of 5 rating on Tripadvisor
One Flew South opened in Concourse E at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport in 2009 and it has since been nominated twice by the James Beard Foundation for ‘outstanding service.’
The eatery, which has a 4.5 out of 5 rating on Tripadvisor, prides itself on being the ‘first upscale dining experience at the world’s busiest airport.’ Reservations are not accepted and it is first come, first serve.
Some of the specialties include ‘fresh sushi, Southern-inspired fare and an impeccable wine and spirits list.’
Prices range from $10 for a serving of shishito peppers to $49 for the ‘roasted NY strip’ served with mushroom ragout and smoky white beans.
On the drinks front, cocktails come in at $15, with the house special being the OFS Old Fashioned featuring a warming blend of Four Roses bourbon, demerara sugar, and angostura bitters.
The eatery says on receiving multiple accolades: ‘Our goal is to provide an unforgettable airport fine dining experience and service and your positivity keeps in that top spot.’
Dress to impress: Seven designer stores, from Hermes to Gucci, to pick from
Los Angeles International Airport’s Tom Bradley International Terminal is home to seven high-end designer stores
If luxury labels are your thing you will be in your element at Los Angeles International Airport’s Tom Bradley International Terminal.
This transportation hub is home to seven high-end designer stores, with the spread including Bvlgari, Burberry, Hermes, Gucci and Porsche Design.
Many of the stores are duty free, meaning you can make considerable savings when stocking up on clothing, fragrances or jewelry.
Most of the stores are located in Terminal B of the Great Hall, which feels more like a shopping mall than an airport with high ceilings and plenty of natural light.
According to the Discover LA website, the ‘state-of-the-art’ Tom Bradley International Terminal was ‘inspired by the exclusive shops of Rodeo Drive and trendsetting Melrose Avenue.’
It also notes that a hoard of other high-end products can be found at the DFS Duty Free Boutique including watches by the likes of Hublot, Chopard, MontBlanc, and Longines.
Taking flight: Wine tastings and a $45 red by the glass
SF Uncork’d at San Francisco International Airport features high tables and bar stools, catering to solo travelers and groups
Wine connoisseurs can get their fix at San Francisco International Airport, as Terminal 3 is home to a highly-acclaimed bar-cum-store called SF Uncork’d.
The small outlet – which has a 4 out of 5 rating on Tripadvisor – features high tables and bar stools, catering to solo travelers and groups.
To kick off your trip in style, there’s a glass of Nicolas Feuillatte champagne on the menu for $18.
Otherwise, there are more than 50 red and white wines by the glass to pick from, with the most expensive being a 6oz pour of 2015 Nickel & Nickel Quicksilver Cabinet Sauvignon on at $45.
If you can’t plump for one, there are various wine flight combinations offering a taste of three tipples.
On the food side of things, there is everything from pizza to ‘organic olive oil popcorn’ on the board, or there’s the option of pairing your favorite wine with the bar’s ‘Wine Lovers’ chocolate.
Soaking it in: Nap and take a dip in a heated rooftop pool for $149
TWA Hotel at New York’s JFK International Airport boasts a heated rooftop infinity pool overlooking the runway
Soak up magnificent views of the runway at the TWA Hotel, which is located just a short walk from Terminal 5 at New York’s JFK International Airport.
The retro-style hotel complex, which inhabits an airport terminal that was left abandoned for many years before a $265 million renovation project, serves up chic rooms with prime views of the plane-strewn tarmac.
There is also a heated rooftop infinity pool overlooking the action.
The bathing spot is open to non-hotel guests with a $50 cover charge applied during the summer months and a $25 fee for a spring or winter dip.
For travelers who fancy a power nap, the hotel offers a ‘daytripper’ package, with a four-hour stay costing $149.
This also grants pool access depending on what time of year it is.
Knot a bad idea: A $555 spa treatment
The upscale Fairmont hotel at Vancouver Airport has a full-service fitness club and a Fit on the Fly Suite with rooms decked out with workout gear
For weary travelers, the upscale Fairmont hotel at Vancouver Airport serves as a restorative complex.
The hotel offers an in-terminal pool, a mechanized resistance pool, a whirlpool and saunas, while there is a state-of-the-art fitness club.
Helping to sooth aching muscles, there is a spa offering facials, aromatherapy treatments, massages, body scrubs, manicures, pedicures and more.
The spa’s ‘signature package’ costs $555 and features 4.5 hours of its ‘most-loved treatments’ including a 60-minute massage, an aromatherapy facial, and a hot paraffin treatment for hands and feet.
The spa can be accessed by hotel and non-hotel guests with prior bookings, while gym and pool access costs $30 for non-hotel guests for a three-hour visit.
The Fairmont located was voted the best airport hotel in north America in the much-anticipated Skytrax World Airport Awards 2023, aka ‘the Oscars of the airport industry.’
Overall, it came third place on the global list behind Hyatt Regency Shenzhen Airport and the winner, Crowne Plaza Changi Airport. Its Fit on the Fly Suite package is another option for active travelers, with rooms kitted out with Peloton bikes, workout benches, lululemon yoga mats and balance balls.
Hot wheels: A Porsche pick-up from the plane
The fleet of Air Canada-branded Porsche vehicles features electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles
For travelers who have bumped up to Air Canada’s premium Signature Class, not only will the ticket bag you superior seats and food but it will also grant you access to the airline’s unique chauffer service.
Air Canada announced its partnership with Porsche in April 2022, sending car mad travelers into a spin.
At Toronto Pearson and Vancouver International airports, eligible connecting Air Canada Signature Class customers arriving from within Canada and connecting to Asia, Europe, or South America, will be met by a member of staff before being whisked across the tarmac in one of the airline’s exclusive Porsche vehicles to visit the Air Canada Signature Suite lounge.
The fleet of Air Canada-branded Porsche vehicles features electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles with the models including the Taycan, Panamera and Cayenne.
The vehicles were picked to align with Air Canada’s bid to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions throughout its global operations by 2050.
On the right track: A business class train transfer to Hollywood
Travelers can upgrade their train ride to business class on the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner
The Hollywood Burbank Airport train station is located steps from the terminal building, allowing for quick and easy transfers to spots along the California coast.
Popular stops on the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner route include San Diego, Los Angeles and Ventura.
Travelers can upgrade their train ride to business class with this premium ticket bringing various perks, from extra legroom to priority boarding.
There are also complimentary snacks and drinks on offer. Each morning, there is coffee, tea, water, and juice, as well as pastries from a local bakery.
While in the afternoon, riders receive a snack pack as well as a soft drink, glass of wine, or hard seltzer.
In terms of fares, travelling in business class is just over double an economy fare.
For example, a journey from the airport to Los Angeles costs $9 in coach and $19 in business.
Source: Read Full Article