Courtesy of Michelle Stansbury
I usually dread flying out of the chaotic Los Angeles airport. So when I heard about a hack to fly through LAX without ever setting foot in the airport itself, I knew I had to try it. I watched in stunned silence as my Uber pulled into a quiet side entrance of LAX, a private terminal frequented by A-listers and the ultra-wealthy called PS. A security guard checked my name against a list, the gate swung open, and within minutes, I was stepping into a private suite with a chilled glass of champagne, feeling more than a little out of place.
PS is a magnet for boldface names. The company launched in 2017 as The Private Suite and rebranded in 2020. Their signature offering? Luxe private suites ($4,950 for up to four people) outfitted with everything needed to make the entire pre-flight experience serene. In 2021 PS launched The Salon, a shared lounge-like space, access to which costs $1,295 per person and comes with all of the signature PS services—except complete privacy. Due to strict nondisclosure agreements, PS staff are not able to even hint at who uses the service, but celebrities post on social media from inside, giving us a glimpse of the clientele. (I’ve personally spotted PS on the handles of Gigi Hadid, Hailey Bieber, and Kourtney Kardashian.) People has reported visits from Jessica Alba, Rachel Zoe, and Gabrielle Union, among others. While I had assumed these celebrities flew in private jets, my PS attendant revealed that stars frequently fly commercial with the rest of us; PS (which has a second location in Atlanta and planned outposts coming to Miami and Dallas this spring and Paris in 2027) lets them slip in and out unseen, which means you could be sharing recycled plane air with someone wildly famous and never realize it.
The VIP Experience
A couple of miles away at the main terminal, thousands of people were dragging roller bags through fluorescent-lit crowds. Meanwhile, I was turning down caviar service. “It’s our signature,” my attendant insisted. I caved and leaned into the extraordinary luxury that was set before me, topping a blini with crème fraîche and custom-branded caviar.
Courtesy of Michelle Stansbury
My private suite far from the LAX crowds
My suite was designed like a high-end living room with armchairs, a TV, a wet bar, and an ensuite bathroom. When I arrived, I was informed candidly that anything not nailed down was mine to take. So I did exactly what you’d expect: I started shopping.
The minibar was stocked with premium snacks and drinks, and attendants even bring around a to-go box for customers to fill with bougie bites, including organic pistachios, Hu dark chocolate bars, and Ashapops popped water lily seeds. By the settee, there are charger cables and international adapters, as well as eye masks, neck pillows, and ear plugs. In the bathroom, I discovered a treasure trove of goodies: Touchland hand sanitizer, a Tide pen, even high-end Lelo condoms.
If you’re traveling with small children, like Kate Upton did with her daughter Vivi, per an Instagram post, there is also a toy menu that the tiny VIPs can select from. Kids aren’t allowed in the shared salon (nor are fur babies), but they’re treated like miniature moguls in the private suites and outdoor courtyard.
Courtesy of Michelle Stansbury
PS’s signature is their caviar service
Security Without Stress
The strangest part for me wasn’t the caviar or condoms; it was having someone else check in for my flight on my behalf. I handed over my ID, and PS undertook the entire process. The company has established relationships with airlines, so attendants tag and deliver your checked bags, print boarding passes, and handle the logistics behind the scenes.
I’m normally glued to gate information, counting backwards from boarding time. At PS, the timing is handled with precision. The staff doesn’t just monitor the airline app; they’re in direct communication with the flight crew for real-time updates on exactly when you need to leave. When my moment came, an attendant collected me from the suite and escorted me to security.
Instead of trekking through regular TSA or customs lines, PS has its own private checkpoint inside its facility. Having a full security team waiting for me, rather than the other way around, felt surreal. My favorite surprise was that just on the other side of security, there was a fridge stocked with full-sized drinks for taking onto the plane. I grabbed an electrolyte water before stepping into a waiting BMW.
Courtesy of Michelle Stansbury
When it was time for me to board, I was driven across the tarmac in a BMW
Driving across the tarmac right up to the airplane felt cinematic, like the opening shot in a heist movie or the grand gesture in a rom-com. I kept thinking: How is this even legal? Turns out the staff have special licenses. I walked up the stairs to where the jet bridge meets the airplane and slipped into my seat as the flight attendant closed the passenger door behind me. My driver waited by the plane until it took off. If there was any delay and the plane needed to de-board, I would be taken right back to PS. While the staff there can’t prevent a flight from being disrupted, they can take care of nearly everything else.
…But It Might Cost More Than Your Flight
For the ultra-rich, using PS for a commercial flight might feel like a bargain compared to flying private. For celebrities, it may be a necessity for staying incognito. For the rest of us, it’s perhaps a splurge for a very special occasion, or left for wishful thinking.
The Salon is the least expensive option, though it’s still three or four times the average price of a domestic flight. For most people, that just isn’t financially feasible. But for those weighing this against flying private for a milestone celebration, PS offers a more environmentally conscious way to achieve privacy and comfort. For context, private jets are five to 14 times more polluting per passenger. While, for a normie like me, PS feels like the pinnacle of privilege, for the wealthiest of wealthy, it may alleviate both commercial chaos and the guilt of a private jet.
Is It Worth It?
Over the years, PS has built a clientele that goes far beyond Hollywood stars. Professional athletes, global CEOs, and political figures are among the regulars.
Courtesy of Michelle Stansbury
The suite was filled with amenities, including a copy of InStyle Germany!
The draw is not just luxury; it is privacy and security. Since I had no paparazzi or mega-fans to dodge, my “security concerns” only involved remembering to grab my laptop when it was time to go. But even I could feel the pull of a place designed to allow famous people to let their guard down and board a plane without the whole world watching.
I got the chance to fly like a celebrity and realized the real luxury wasn’t the food or drinks, or even the high-end amenities tucked into every corner. For me, a busy single mom, the true privilege was surrendering the mental labor of navigating the airport, tracking time, and managing the endless logistics of travel. It was, unquestionably, the best airport experience of my life.
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