NOT PICTURE PERFECT Los Angeles to build paparazzi free terminal for celebs

Posted on 11/24/2015 | About Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles International Airport is to build a dedicated 'ultra VIP' terminal for apparent A-list celebrities away from the prying eyes of paparazzi. For a fee of up to US $1,800 per flight, celebrities and diplomats will be able to use their own terminal complete with its own security screening, passport control, and executive lounges.

They will be driven to the plane when it's time to board. Airport commissioners have grant approval to redevelop a cargo hanger into a VIP terminal for high net worth flyers. Most US airlines offer a range of fast track services and priority boarding for celebrities, but this is the first US airport to completely separate the paparazzi-prone from the hoi polloi.

A temporary facility at LAX will open by the middle of next year while a permanent terminal is constructed. It will be operated by private celebrity security firm Gavin de Becker and Associates and has targeted revenue of about $34 million during the first 10 years of operation. LAX officials say the design is modeled on the Windsor Suite at London Heathrow Airport which was originally used exclusively for the royal family and visiting diplomats but is now open for anyone with $3,000 to spare.

If successful, the concept may be rolled out at other major airport hubs such as New York. The interesting part of all this is to see how many self-anointed celebrities will make use of the new facility. After all, isn’t fending off the paparazzi part of the experience?