Inside PS: The Private Airport Lounge Redefining Luxury Travel in 2025

What Is PS Airport Lounge

In May 2017 Los Angeles International Airport opened something no US airport had offered before: a private terminal for people flying commercial. It was called The Private Suite. Fortune reported that members got a suite with a two-person daybed, a stocked pantry and their own bathroom, and that a BMW sedan then drove them across the tarmac to the aircraft¹. Membership cost $7,500 a year at launch, plus $2,700 per domestic flight for up to four people¹.

Quick Summary

PS, originally called The Private Suite, opened at Los Angeles International Airport in May 2017 as a private terminal for passengers on commercial flights¹. Guests wait in a private suite or a shared lounge called the Salon, go through their own TSA screening and are driven across the airfield to the plane⁷. As of August 2025 PS operated at LAX and Atlanta, with Dallas Fort Worth and Miami due in 2026⁶, and in August 2024 TPG agreed to sell the company to Groupe ADP, the operator of the Paris airports¹⁶.

The idea came out of Gavin de Becker & Associates, the security consulting firm that protects well-known clients¹. Joshua Gausman, the firm's chief operating officer and a cofounder of The Private Suite, explained the origin to Worth in 2018. "A huge part of that work involves getting clients into and out of places safely and efficiently, and as you might expect, U.S. airports are one of the most challenging places to navigate," he said². The firm studied how airports in Europe, Asia and the Middle East handled high-profile travelers on commercial flights and built a similar model in Los Angeles².

The pitch was privacy and fewer steps. The company claimed it cut the walk from car seat to plane seat from 2,200 footsteps to 70, and a spokesperson told Fortune more than 1,200 memberships had been sold by the time it opened¹. The Points Guy, which toured it that summer, described a $22 million complex tucked between airline catering and cargo buildings on the south side of LAX, with an unmarked entrance³.

In early 2020 the company shortened its name to PS and announced new interiors by designer Cliff Fong and a chef-driven menu⁴. Afar later described PS as a separate terminal outside the LAX terminal complex, with private TSA and customs screening and the kind of food, drink and service found in a first-class lounge⁵. PS's own FAQ calls the service a "back door" to the airport⁶. Guests never enter the public terminal at all.

How a visit works

Barbara Peterson of Afar used PS in Atlanta in both directions in November 2023⁷. On arrival, a greeter with her name on a sign met her on the jet bridge, took her down a staircase to the apron and put her in a white BMW that drove around the parked Delta jets and reached the PS building ten minutes later⁷.

On departure the order reversed. PS staff had already checked her in with the airline, a TSA officer screened her in a private area with its own bag scanner, and a car drove her to the aircraft, where she boarded by stairs straight to the door⁷. Checked bags are taken by PS staff and handed to the airline⁷.

Reservations are required, and PS limits how many guests are inside at once, with members getting priority when they book⁷. The CEO, Amina Belouizdad Porter, told Robb Report in 2025: "We do hit capacity at peak times, especially around the holidays."⁸

Signature Amenities and Features

The core of PS has stayed the same since 2017: a private building, a private security checkpoint, a room to wait in and a car to the plane. What changed over eight years is the menu around it. In summer 2025 PS described three products: the Salon, a shared lounge; the Private Suite, a room for one party; and PS Direct, a car from the aircraft door to a local address⁶.

According to PS's FAQ, every Private Suite has an entertainment center, a stocked snack and beverage bar and an ensuite bathroom, and hosts up to six people comfortably⁶. Spa showers are available on request, and each party is assigned a team of agents⁶. The Salon is a communal lounge aimed at individual travelers, with complimentary cocktails and bites in a social setting⁶,⁹.

A 2024 amenities page listed what members could add on: complimentary valet parking, a waterless car wash, electric vehicle charging, a 30-minute chair massage or a 45-minute table massage at LAX, manicures, haircuts, a shower spa, periodicals ordered in advance and a toy menu for children¹⁰. PS could also arrange a concierge doctor visit to the suite, billed at its direct cost¹⁰.

Location Strategy and Accessibility

PS builds on the edge of the airfield instead of inside terminals. At LAX the building sits at 6875 W. Imperial Highway and can only be reached from Imperial Highway; in Atlanta it is at 1210 Toffie Terrace, off N Inner Loop Road⁶. Ben Schlappig of One Mile at a Time, who used LAX in 2017, placed it just south of runway 25L near the cargo ramp and noted that the facility lets guests skip the congested LAX terminal loop¹¹.

Porter told Afar in 2023 that she wanted PS in every major US city within five years, and named New York, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco as next on the list after Atlanta, Dallas and Miami⁵. The company has also looked beyond airports. In 2017 The Points Guy reported that The Private Suite planned to open at Westfield's renovated Century City shopping mall in Los Angeles, with a private entrance, VIP suites and private escorts through the mall³. In 2018 Worth reported plans for a New York JFK location, with Miami and Washington, D.C., also in the works². By August 2025 none of the New York, Washington or San Francisco sites had opened⁶.

Exclusive Services and VIP Amenities

PS Direct is the newest product. PS describes it as a chauffeured car from the door of the commercial aircraft straight to a home or hotel, best suited to travelers with little or no checked luggage⁶. In 2025 it covered trips within 35 miles of LAX or ATL, with extra mileage charged, a cap of 100 miles, no crossing of state lines, up to four travelers and up to four standard pieces of luggage⁶. PS Direct guests get light fare in the car and cannot order from the menu⁶. The pricing page said PS Direct reservations for domestic flights started on June 17, 2025, at LAX and ATL¹².

Boarding can be timed to suit the guest. Worth reported in 2018 that clients could choose to board first, while the crew was still preparing the plane, or last, which it said more high-profile travelers prefer so they can slip in unnoticed². The service could also be bought through packages with hotels such as the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills and the Four Seasons' Hawaii collection².

PS also sells connections. Guests with a layover of two to six hours can book both an arrival and a departure service in one day, charged per leg with a 25% discount, and travelers flying between two PS airports get the same 25% discount on what PS calls "Dual-Service" reservations⁶.

Membership Benefits and Access Levels

PS does not require a membership. Its FAQ recommends one for people who travel through its airports more than twice a year¹³. In 2025 there were two annual memberships. The All Access Membership cost $4,850 a year and included reduced rates for suites, the Salon and PS Direct, complimentary spa services with a suite, and up to 30 nights of free valet parking on Private Suite departures¹². The Salon Membership cost $1,250 a year and covered reduced Salon rates and priority reservations for the Salon and PS Direct¹².

A spouse or partner and children under 18 are included in All Access; the Salon Membership includes a spouse or partner, and no one under 21 is allowed in the Salon⁶. Frequent members can prepay packages starting at 10 flights, and corporate memberships are available on request⁶.

Some members come through partners. In early 2024, a PS card member benefit page told Centurion Members they received a complimentary PS membership with full benefits and preferred rates¹⁴. A separate PS page offered Qantas passengers a complimentary companion when they added the Salon to a Qantas flight, at $1,095 for up to two travelers each way¹⁵.

Technology and Innovation

The technology that matters at PS sits behind the scenes. PS says its Control Room coordinates with government, security and airline officials for each visit¹⁶. It also says it holds the only private partnership with both TSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which it says lets guests move through arrivals and departures without delay¹⁶.

Much of the booking runs through an online account. PS asks for flight confirmation numbers for every traveler, passport details for international trips and a card for incidentals, and a travel arranger or assistant can make the reservation for someone else⁶. PS checks guests in for their flights and prints their boarding passes⁶. Worth noticed that the reservation form's list of people who could access a booking included "Agent," "Manager," "Chief of Staff" and "Embassy"².

Reviewers have found the in-suite Wi-Fi fast. The Points Guy's 2017 reviewer livestreamed from his suite without problems, and Schlappig called the connection fast³,¹¹.

Dining and Culinary Experiences

In April 2022 PS opened a kitchen at LAX and hired executive chef Matt Roman, a 2004 Le Cordon Bleu graduate who had worked at Southern California restaurants including The Napa Rose and The Cellar¹⁷. "Different cultures and locations around the globe inspire me, and I like to explore connecting themes from different cuisines and then push those ideas through a filter of Californian seasonality with a personal touch," Roman said in the announcement¹⁷.

The launch menu included pan-roasted salmon, herb-marinated hanger steak and a beet salad with pistachio and blackberries, all available to take onto the plane¹⁷. PS also listed complimentary caviar flown in from Italy, Alfred's coffee, and warm cookies and milk for families with children¹⁷.

In December 2024 PS opened a kitchen in Atlanta run by Roman and chef de cuisine Morgan Heller¹⁸. The menu kept the PS Burger and added Georgia dishes such as wings in a peach and habanero buffalo sauce, with coffee from Brash Coffee Roasters, crackers from Georgia Sourdough Co. and almond butter from Georgia Grinders¹⁸. "Part of the PS magic is being able to immerse yourself into the local culture through the vendors and flavors we showcase," Porter said¹⁸.

Wellness and Relaxation Services

Spa services at PS are tied to the Private Suite. Its 2025 pricing page said massage, haircuts and manicures are available only with suite reservations, complimentary for All Access members and charged separately for everyone else¹². For guests without a membership the FAQ listed a manicure at $120, a chair or table massage at $150 and a haircut at $100¹³.

Afar's reviewer booked a 30-minute chair massage in her Atlanta suite in 2023, and the Atlanta suites have bathrooms with showers, robes and toiletries⁷. At LAX in 2017 the original suites had no showers; Schlappig reported a separate shower spa for members, and The Points Guy reported a shower area under construction¹¹,³. Robb Report reported in 2025 that suites at DFW and Miami will have their own showers⁸.

Business and Work Facilities

PS does not market meeting rooms, but its FAQ lists ample space for business meetings and calls among the reasons guests arrive early⁶. Private Suite guests may bring non-traveling visitors into the suite, which Salon and PS Direct guests may not⁶. Corporate memberships are sold on request⁶.

Gausman told Worth in 2018 that the team takes on logistics so clients can "spend time with family, watch a football game, take a conference call or walk their dog"².

Family and Group Accommodations

PS leans toward families in the suites and away from them in the Salon. Children of all ages are welcome in Private Suites and PS Direct, children under two travel free, and PS offers a toy menu, children's meals, a private outdoor play space and bassinets on request⁶. No one under 21 is permitted in the Salon⁶.

Pets can use the Private Suite, where PS provides pet accessories and a pet-friendly garden, but they are not allowed in the Salon or PS Direct⁶. PS asks that animals be on the reservation with the airline's paperwork⁶. The Points Guy's 2017 visit found a changing table and bottle warmer for parents with infants, and prayer mats, a Quran and medjool dates for Muslim guests³.

Security and Privacy Features

Privacy is where PS's security roots show most. At LAX in 2017 Schlappig passed a guard who checked his ID at a double gate, and was told the facility had a strict no-photography policy outside the suite and the car, in part because of its arrangement with LAX¹¹. In his words, "I've never in my life been anywhere with security and privacy as strict as The Private Suite."¹¹

The checkpoint itself surprised him. He counted four TSA officers screening him alone: one for his ID, one at the metal detector, one at the X-ray and one for a possible bag search¹¹. A One Mile at a Time contributor who used LAX in 2018 wrote that he understood PS schedules parties through TSA so that different guests do not see each other unless they are traveling together¹⁹.

International arrivals clear customs at the PS building. Gausman told Worth in 2018: "We are the first and only service in the United States that offers our own dedicated TSA screening checkpoint and our own private Customs & Border Protection immigration facility."² He said international travelers could clear customs there in under five minutes².

Location and Accessibility

In August 2025, PS's FAQ said the company operated at LAX and ATL, with DFW and Miami to be added in 2026⁶. That line had moved: the same FAQ in February 2024 said DFW and Miami would be added in 2024¹³.

Los Angeles (LAX), since 2017

The first location is on the south side of the airfield. Robb Report describes guests arriving at a separate facility about two miles from the congested LAX entrance, and puts the number of individual suites at 12⁸. The Points Guy counted 13 private suites in 2017, one with its own terrace, plus a communal lounge made from two connected suites³. The site had a fleet of 16 cars, mostly BMW 7 Series sedans, and served all of the more than 70 airlines at LAX³.

At LAX PS offered three services when Afar wrote about it in June 2023: the Salon, a shared space where guests are taken to the flight in a shared vehicle; the Private Suite, a room reserved for one party with extras such as a daybed, chef-prepared meals and spa treatments; and PS Direct, an arrivals service to a destination in the Los Angeles area⁵. In 2024 PS listed LAX as open 24 hours a day, every day of the year⁹.

Atlanta (ATL), since 2023

Atlanta came through a deal with Signature Aviation, which described itself as the world's largest private aviation terminal operator, serving over 1 million customers a year, with more than 200 locations in 27 countries²⁰. In June 2022 Signature announced that one of its two buildings at Hartsfield-Jackson would become PS's second terminal under a long-term lease, next to Signature's own private aviation terminal, which opened in January 2020²⁰. "Our members often fly private and choose Signature, so creating ways to make commercial flight connections faster and easier makes sense," Gausman, then co-CEO, said²⁰.

PS opened at Atlanta on September 6, 2023²¹. "The Atlanta Department of Aviation played a pivotal role in bringing this vision to life and we hope other airports will follow suit," Porter said²¹. One Mile at a Time reported on-site TSA screening, private customs clearance for international arrivals, and a drive to any of the airport's gates²². The building shows work by Black artists and antique and vintage furniture sourced from local collectors²².

Robb Report gives the Atlanta building as 8,575 square feet, with three private suites and a shared Salon⁸. Afar found it next door to a facility run by Signature Aviation⁷. In the suite, guests are greeted with champagne and caviar⁷.

Dallas Fort Worth and Miami, under development

PS signed a 10-year contract with DFW Airport on March 2, 2023, and originally planned to open there in spring 2024²³. In November 2024 CandysDirt.com found a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing for $4 million of work on a 15,517-square-foot space, and noted that the reason for the delay was unclear²⁴. PS then held a groundbreaking on May 19, 2025, for a 12,200-square-foot facility in the Corporate Aviation area north of the terminals, at 1816 N. 24th Ave.²³. A spokesperson told Community Impact the site would open in early 2026²³.

In Miami, PS announced in May 2023 that it would turn the former Pan American Airways regional headquarters at Miami International Airport into the airport's first private terminal, with a Salon, private suites with balconies and a landscaped courtyard²⁵. "As the nation's busiest airport for international passengers, with more flights to Latin America and the Caribbean than any other, MIA is an intuitive location for our expansion," Porter said²⁵. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said: "We look forward to welcoming PS MIA and seeing the transformation of this historic building."²⁵

The restoration is led by preservation architect Richard Heisenbottle under Miami-Dade County's historic preservation ordinance²⁵. That announcement targeted 2025. In June 2025 Robb Report reported the Miami groundbreaking was set for that month and both new sites were scheduled to open by spring 2026, with five private suites, two salons, a courtyard and a day spa planned for Miami⁸. In a July 2025 Instagram post shown on its homepage, PS said it had broken ground on PS MIA, coming spring 2026, and its Miami page gave the address as 4900 NW 36th St.²⁶,²⁷.

Terminal and Gate Proximity

A PS guest boards from the apron. On departure an agent takes guests from the building to a private car, which crosses the airfield to the aircraft; the agent then walks them up the jet bridge stairs or elevator to the aircraft door⁶. On arrival an agent meets guests at the aircraft door, takes them down to the airfield and into a waiting car⁶.

Distances vary by gate. From the south side of LAX, Schlappig's car drove around runways 25L and 25R to reach the Tom Bradley International Terminal¹¹. The Points Guy's ride from Terminal 7 took about 10 minutes³. Schlappig also learned that PS has a different arrangement with each airline, so some guests climb stairs to the jet bridge and others use an elevator¹¹. International arrivals follow their own route. The Points Guy's 2017 reviewer reported that arriving international passengers are taken to a private customs and immigration lounge, where they wait for checked bags, and that Global Entry and Mobile Passport kiosks are available there³. PS warns wheelchair users that an elevator request at the main terminal can mean a longer detour, since not every gate has one nearby⁶.

Access Requirements and Eligibility

Anyone with a confirmed flight can book. PS works with nearly all major airlines, and any traveler can use it whatever their seat⁶. It is also open to people connecting to or from a private flight⁶. The flight ticket is bought separately, and PS asks for at least 24 hours' notice, charging a 45% service fee on requests made inside that window when it can accommodate them⁶. Reservations open six months ahead⁶.

For timing, PS asks guests with checked bags to arrive 90 minutes before a domestic flight and two hours before an international one⁶. Guests can arrive up to three hours before departure, stay up to two hours after landing, and stay up to six hours if a departing flight is delayed; overnight stays are not possible⁶.

Premium Amenities and Features

PS keeps its offer simple. There are two ways to wait: a private suite for one party, or the Salon, a shared lounge that suits solo travelers and small groups¹⁶. The details inside each have grown more elaborate since 2017.

Dining Options and Bar Service

Porter told Robb Report that every PS location serves a menu of cocktails and chef-prepared meals at no extra charge⁸. In summer 2025 the menu was available to Salon and Private Suite guests between 5am and 11:30pm⁶. In Atlanta's Salon, Afar ordered from a menu of appetizers, salads, sandwiches and desserts⁷. The most popular item is less formal than the setting. "Of course, we offer white-glove everything," Porter said. "But the burger gets the most rave reviews. It's become a thing."⁸

The early LAX suites leaned on stocked pantries. Schlappig found coffee and hot water waiting, espresso drinks on request, red wine, liquor minis, Laurent-Perrier champagne in the fridge and a bowl of fresh fruit¹¹. A One Mile at a Time contributor in 2018 found Stag's Leap red wine, half-bottles of Pommery champagne, Bulleit bourbon, Tito's vodka and Casamigos tequila, but no substantial meal, and wrote that food and drink were not the point of the visit¹⁹.

Seating Areas and Comfort Features

The LAX suites Schlappig used had four chairs around a table, a daybed by the window with pillows and blankets underneath, a TV and a view of the PS car fleet and a cargo taxiway¹¹. The table held a map book opened to his destination and a card with his departure time and the weather in Seoul¹¹.

Everything in the suite was for the taking, including eyeshades, headphones, power converters, snacks and a duffel bag to carry them¹¹. The Points Guy's reviewer found a wardrobe of spare raincoats, dress shirts and suits available on request³. The 2018 contributor compared the decor to a Summerfield Suites hotel: pleasant, comfortable and neutral¹⁹.

Business Facilities and WiFi

Wi-Fi at LAX was fast for both The Points Guy and One Mile at a Time in 2017³,¹¹. Each suite has a TV and entertainment devices, and PS's FAQ lists space for meetings and calls among the reasons guests arrive early⁶. For longer layovers beyond six hours, PS arranges transport to a hotel at extra cost⁶.

High-End Design and Atmosphere

Design has been part of the pitch since the 2020 rebrand, when PS brought in Cliff Fong to redo the LAX interiors⁴. At Atlanta, the Salon has floor-to-ceiling windows facing the airfield and a bar⁷. PS's comparison page describes the Salon as reminiscent of a private members club, a design-forward lounge for conversation, work or rest²⁸.

Interior Design and Layout

At LAX, Schlappig described an exterior hallway by the entrance lined with about a dozen suites, and counted 17 steps from his car to suite number 10¹¹. Worth described "a collection of low-slung individual bungalows" behind an armed guard². The TSA checkpoint sits a short walk down a hallway past a reception desk¹¹.

The newer sites lean on local identity. In Atlanta, PS's opening release promised artworks and antique and vintage furniture from local collectors²¹. For Miami, PS promised a design that shows deference to the Pan Am building's past²⁵. Robb Report reported plans to restore its gold paneling and original reflecting pools, alongside terrazzo, marble and smoked glass⁸. At DFW, designer Jean Liu placed a bar at the center of the space with lounge seating facing the runways⁸. PS told the Dallas Business Journal, as quoted by CandysDirt.com, that the DFW lounge would blend western heritage with modern, cosmopolitan sensibilities²⁴.

Privacy and Quieter Zones

The quiet can be the main product. Schlappig wrote that service at PS felt like the opposite of a first-class lounge: staff called the suite phone to say a coffee was waiting outside instead of knocking, and he exchanged perhaps 100 words with staff in total¹¹. "Being in a suite like this feels lonely," he wrote, adding that the target audience values peace and privacy¹¹.

The Salon is the deliberate exception, a shared room for guests who want a social setting⁶. It is also more restricted: no one under 21, no pets and no non-traveling visitors⁶.

Service Quality and Staff Experience

Most of what a PS guest pays for is coordination. Behind each visit is what the company calls the PS Control Room, which works with government, security and airline officials to move guests through the airport¹⁶.

The company started as a security business and grew into hospitality. "When we started PS, we were initially in the security and logistics business, but over time, the demand for our services has evolved and expanded to deliver that same experience with the added convenience and luxury that has become synonymous with the PS brand," Porter said when the Groupe ADP sale was announced¹⁶. By August 2024, PS said it had served nearly 250,000 passengers since 2017¹⁶.

Professional Service Standards

From the start PS assigned a team to each booking. The Points Guy reported in 2017 that each guest had a team of eight people with different roles, and Worth described the same eight-person team in 2018, some of whom a guest never sees³,². Robb Report reported in 2025 that the LAX facility runs with a team of no fewer than eight people⁸.

The founders hired from outside aviation. The Points Guy reported that de Becker's firm worked with former leaders of VIP services at London Heathrow's Windsor Suite and at Four Seasons hotels³. "Blending the worlds of hospitality, security and aviation has worked out quite nicely," Gausman told Worth².

Creating Atmosphere Through Human Touch

Reviewers remember small choices. Schlappig was told on arrival: "if you need anything, just pick up your phone and give us a call. We'll get you when it's time to board."¹¹ At 11:10am, exactly as planned, his phone rang to say a team leader was outside to take him to security¹¹. The Points Guy's reviewer asked for a box of Legos from the children's toy menu³.

De Becker framed delays as part of the service. "If you are in a suite and your flight is delayed, it's good news because it extends your comfort rather than make you suffer in the main terminal," he told The Points Guy in 2017³.

Service Quality Metrics and Performance

PS publishes few operating numbers. The ones on record come from the company and reviewers: 70 steps from car seat to plane seat, as claimed in 2017¹; customs in under five minutes, as Gausman claimed in 2018²; and nearly 250,000 passengers from 2017 to August 2024¹⁶. Porter also told Robb Report in 2025 that business was strong and growing, often by word of mouth, and that PS hits capacity at peak times⁸.

Independent measures are thinner. Schlappig's 2017 review notes that PS hosted his visit for free¹¹. The 2018 One Mile at a Time contributor paid a promotional rate through United and was upgraded without asking¹⁹.

Specialized Service Roles

PS's FAQ describes the roles involved in a visit: agents who choreograph each step, luggage porters who move bags to and from the aircraft, drivers trained on the airfield and a Control Room coordinating with officials⁶. Schlappig met a driver, a team leader and then a separate escort who handed him to an Asiana manager at the gate¹¹. In the kitchens, PS names an executive chef, Matt Roman, and in Atlanta a chef de cuisine, Morgan Heller¹⁸.

Pricing Structure and Value Proposition

PS is expensive, and the published rates have changed often, so every figure below is a snapshot from its source date.

Membership Options

At launch in 2017, membership cost $7,500 a year¹. By 2018 Worth and Afar reported a $4,500 annual fee, with member rates of $2,700 for a domestic visit and $3,000 international²,²⁹. In February 2020 PS moved members to a flat $3,150 per visit, domestic or international⁴.

By 2024 the structure had split in two. The All Access Membership cost $4,850 a year and the Salon Membership $1,250¹³. As of June 2025, All Access members paid $3,650 for a Private Suite for up to four, $895 per person for the Salon and $1,125 per person for PS Direct; Salon members paid $995 for the Salon, $4,950 for a suite and $1,275 for PS Direct¹².

Day Pass Rates

PS has no day pass; guests without a membership pay per visit. In 2017 the shared lounge cost $2,000 per person domestic and $2,500 international, and a private suite $3,500 domestic or $4,000 international for up to three travelers³. When Atlanta opened in 2023, non-members paid $1,095 per person for the Salon and $4,850 for a suite⁷.

In early June 2025 Robb Report still quoted $1,095 for the Salon and $4,850 for a suite⁸. By June 20, 2025, PS's pricing page listed non-member rates of $1,295 per person for the Salon, $4,950 for a suite for up to four and $1,650 per person for PS Direct¹². Non-members also paid $90 a night for valet parking¹².

Who pays that? "We get typecast as a service for public figures, but the truth is that they represent only a small portion of our business," Porter told Afar in 2023, describing frequent business travelers and families among the typical customers⁵. She also said some guests are celebrating and want a splurge⁵. Paul Tumpowsky, CEO of the New York travel agency Skylark Travel, made the case for it to Afar: "If you think about how much a last-minute business-class ticket is on a long international flight, adding a thousand dollars onto the ticket price is not that much."⁷

The case against

Not everyone thinks the model travels well beyond Los Angeles. When Atlanta opened, Schlappig wrote that the biggest challenge for PS is that it targets wealthy people who don't fly private, and questioned how many will pay over $1,000 each when programs such as TSA PreCheck, CLEAR and Global Entry already take much of the hassle out of airports²². In 2019 another One Mile at a Time writer said he would not pay United's $1,250 per-person rate, and wondered how much overlap there is between people who can easily afford a PS membership and people who can afford to fly private¹⁹. The year-long delay at Dallas also shows how slowly new private terminals move through airport contracts and construction⁸.

How PS Airport Lounge Compares to Competitors

Robb Report places PS between the first-class airline lounge and the private-jet terminals known as FBOs (fixed-base operators)⁸. "We sit in a space that, until now, didn't really exist," Porter said. "[It's] the white space between commercial and private air travel."⁸ Traditional FBOs serve private aircraft; PS runs the same kind of set-apart facility, with its own security and airside access, for passengers on commercial flights⁸.

Airlines have built their own versions. In 2018 Afar noted that at LAX, Delta's Delta One service and American's Five Star Service already offered a personalized experience through the terminals, without private suites or the car ride²⁹. Afar reported in 2023 that, as travel rebounded in 2022, some airport clubs had overcrowding and long lines, especially those tied to credit cards or lounge networks such as Priority Pass⁵. Travel analyst Henry Harteveldt of Atmosphere Research told Afar: "We have entered a gilded age of airline lounges."⁵ Lounges inside US terminals have become more elaborate, but Robb Report notes that even a Delta One Lounge or Chase's newest Sapphire lounge is less tailored and less private than a PS facility⁸.

Abroad, Afar pointed in 2023 to services that come close: the Windsor Suite at London Heathrow, with private rooms and individual security screening; Lufthansa's First Class Terminal in Frankfurt, where guests are driven to the aircraft; and the Emirates first-class lounge in Dubai, which takes up an entire floor of its terminal⁵.

Airlines have also partnered with PS. In May 2018 United became the only airline allowed to sell The Private Suite as part of a ticket, at $1,250 per person on domestic flights and $1,495 international for paid first and business class passengers on selected routes from LAX, with one suite carrying United branding³⁰. Schlappig was skeptical of the choice of airline, noting that United ranked a distant third at LAX by traffic behind American and Delta and lacked Hollywood traffic³⁰. By December 2018 United had opened its shared suite to all its passengers and offered first-time users $375 one-way for up to four people on domestic trips¹⁹.

In August 2024 TPG agreed to sell PS to Groupe ADP, which runs 26 airports including Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly and Paris-Le Bourget¹⁶. Porter said the partnership would help PS "offer more locations and experiences to our members" as it builds an international brand¹⁶. By August 2025 PS's homepage listed Paris among its cities and said the Extime Exclusive private terminal at Paris-Charles de Gaulle was open for reservations, while the company worked to bring it into the PS network and formally launch PS Paris by 2026²⁶.

Best Times to Visit and Booking Tips

Book ahead. PS takes guests by reservation only and limits numbers, and members get priority⁷. Porter's own warning is that the facilities hit capacity at peak times, especially around the holidays⁸.

Match the service to the party. A private suite is priced for a group of up to four, while the Salon is priced per person, which is why solo travelers often pick the Salon⁷.

Count your trips. PS suggests a membership for travelers who use it more than twice a year¹³. For occasional use, Porter told Afar the one-time rate is the better choice⁷.

Check the airport first. As of August 2025 PS served departures and arrivals at LAX and ATL only; Dallas Fort Worth and Miami were listed for 2026⁶. The official site, reserveps.com, lists the current locations and rates.

Booking Process and Requirements

A PS booking needs a confirmed airline reservation, the confirmation number for each traveler, passport details on international trips, a credit card and the number of checked bags⁶. PS recommends booking at least 48 hours ahead⁶. A 2018 guest described the flow: a confirmation email, then a "booking promise" with arrival details and a request for a copy of each passenger's ID so PS could check them in¹⁹.

Cancellation terms depend on membership. In August 2025 annual members who cancelled less than 48 hours before travel received 80% of the cost as credit, while guests without a membership received no refund or credit for a late cancellation⁶. PS offered full credit when an airline cancelled or changed the flight⁶.

Membership versus Day Pass Strategies

PS recommends All Access for people who travel with a spouse, children or pets, since it cuts the suite rate and includes PS Direct, and the Salon Membership for individual travelers⁶. On the June 2025 price list, a Private Suite cost $3,650 for an All Access member and $4,950 for a non-member, and the Salon cost $995 for a Salon member and $1,295 for a non-member¹².

Families should note the age rule. Because no one under 21 can use the Salon, a parent traveling with a teenager has to book a suite⁶.

Seasonal and Peak Period Considerations

PS has not published occupancy figures, but Porter's comment about the holidays is the clearest guide⁸. A One Mile at a Time contributor used LAX on the Friday before Christmas 2018, one of the busiest days of the year, and reported no traffic on the way in along Imperial Highway¹⁹.

PS Direct Service Integration

PS Direct turns the arrival into a door-to-door service. As of summer 2025 it was available for domestic arrivals at LAX and ATL, covered 35 miles, allowed four travelers and four standard bags, and did not allow pets or non-traveling guests⁶,¹². In another July 2025 post shown on its homepage, PS said reservations for PS Direct were available for domestic arrivals in Los Angeles or Atlanta²⁶.

Technology Integration for Seamless Booking

Reservations run through a PS account, and travel arrangers can create one on a traveler's behalf; travel agents can request a PS handbook⁶. Member Services can be reached by phone or email⁶. PS handles airline check-in and prints boarding passes on departure⁶.

Conclusion

PS began inside a security firm as a way to move well-known travelers from a car to a commercial airplane seat away from the crowds¹. Eight years later it is a hospitality business with two operating terminals and two more under construction⁸, and it has agreed to a sale to the operator of the Paris airports¹⁶. It remains a niche service with a high and rising price, and critics question how large that niche is outside Los Angeles²². For travelers who can pay, it offers something no airline lounge does: a way to fly commercial without entering the public terminal at all. For more on how premium brands build that kind of positioning, see our work in luxury .