Universal Sky Services speeds its customers though airport lines, immigration, and baggage claims to ... [+]
Kourtney Kardashian. Megan Fox. Winnie Harlow. Sharon Stone. These are just a few of the boldface names who have experienced Universal Sky Services VIP treatment while navigating airport travel.
This company is known for custom-tailored airport escort services that range from the bypassing of lines and security to rich experiences otherwise unfathomable in an airport setting—think Michelin-starred menus while waiting to board in some airports. The two female founders behind this service, Anna Kunakkuzina and Elena Ermolenko, plan these fast and secure transfers for CEOs, diplomats, royals, and major fashion brands, such as Dolce and Gabbana who depend on them to execute flawless transits of VIP guests to their famed events such as the couture show.
While Universal Sky Services caters to rarified echelons of society they are equally used by travelers who value time and safety in their travels. With packages starting at about €300-350 for a VIP meet and greet service for 2 people in most European airports, the service is considerably accessible.
“Our professional team of VIP greeters personally escort passengers through every airport check points including immigration control, security checks and baggage claim,” explains co-founder Kunakkuzina. “Our job is to ensure our clients are always assisted with top priority and maximum time saved for exclusive VIP lounge amenities. The process can take 15 minutes from start to finish to max 45 minutes, depending on the time, day, airport and how soon the airline unloads the luggage.”
With the summer of 2022 set to be one of the biggest for travel since the onset of the pandemic, these services are becoming all the more coveted as congestion and lines in airports are expected to heave with travelers during the summer months. According to the AAA 2022 Memorial Day Holiday Travel Forecast, more than 39 million people traveled this past Memorial Day Weekend, the unofficial kickoff to the US summer season, with 3 million of those having traveled by air. On the Thursday and Friday before the long weekend, the TSA screened about 2.4 million passengers according to the popular travel blog, The Points Guy. This 8.9% percent increase exceeds more than just pandemic levels of travel, it’s the highest travel growth seen since 2010 and the numbers show volume comparable to the same time in 2017.
Aside from pandemic fatigue, the AAA report also addresses the role economics plays in this summer’s heightened travel. In the report they cite an increase of GDP by 2.9% as compared to a year ago while the unemployment rate is expected to fall to 3.6%. Even with inflation, rising prices, and wavering consumer sentiment this means more people will have extra expendable income which will result in increased consumer spending.
With all this congestion, these specialized airport services also provide much-needed protection from exposure to Covid-19. In spite of a rise in Covid cases in the US this past week to 109,643 per day as of the Thursday before Memorial Day–which, according to our own article published here is almost 5x higher than reported cases from the same time last year–people are still undeterred from getting on a plane. This is why so many of Universal Sky Services’s clients also use them as a Covid precaution by bypassing long, crowded lines.
This becomes especially important around busy calendar events when airport traffic is further heightened due to happenings such as Art Basel, The Oscars, Paris Fashion Week and The Grammys. The founders have already seen huge surge in demand surrounding the Monaco Grand Prix, which took place this past weekend, and expect increased demand around upcoming Paris Haute Couture and Milan Fashion Week.
“Our most popular package is a combination of VIP Arrival and Departure. However, many clients also choose separate services such as VIP Arrival, VIP Connection, VIP Departure or VVIP Terminal Service,” says Ermolenko, who describes the last as the ultimate in luxury airport service. The VVIP Terminal Service provides exclusive access to a private terminal from where the plane is accessed via a luxury car transfer across the tarmac. Clients never have to even enter the airport.
Universal Sky Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with a customer service model built on knowing each and every passenger’s personal travel preferences with the help of a dedicated customer service team. It has earned them loyal repeat customers such as some of the biggest luxury brands in the world. They are also using technology to make the experience even more seamless with the release of their app later this year which will make it easier to book and contact their greeter as well as book other details such as a car service.
Packages are fully-customizable, although the founders say they have a few favorites. “We always get extra excited planning a VVIP Terminal experience. It a very unique, truly bespoke and top luxury service on its own with features varying from terminal to terminal,” explains Ermolenko. “Our most favorite service to plan is at VVIP Terminal at Heathrow Airport London with its luxury amenities and seasonal British Michelin starred chef’s menu, and VVIP Terminal at Charles de Gaulle Airport Paris with a luxury limousine service to a private VIP lounge. And of course the Private Suite at LAX Airport, a truly Head-of-State style experience with its own separate terminal, individual luxury suites and then straight to the plane via private car on the tarmac.”
