LAX Board of Airport Commissioners approved the proposed private lounge project for high-profile passengers and Hollywood celebrities on Nov. 19, Thursday.
Gavin de Becker & Associates, the recognized security firm for business magnates, government officials and movie stars, brought up the idea of creating a private lounge at LAX. However, the original idea came from other famous major terminal airports which also offer private lounge services for high-profile passengers, such as London's Heathrow Airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, and Bahrain International Airport. The Gavin de Becker firm will invest, construct and manage the lounge in Los Angeles.
According to Market Watch, the special lounge will be made from a converted cargo office and is set to open in the next six to eight months.
The private lounge service will be offered for passengers for a corresponding additional fee, which could be around $1,500-1,800 per trip. The special service though will not be exclusive for famous Hollywood stars or well-known politicians. Regular private citizens who can afford the facility can also enjoy the privacy and convenience that LAX private lounge will provide.
In a report from Seattle Times, LAX Board of Airport Commissioners president Sean Burton explained the advantages of the airport's future service. He said that regular passengers will also benefit from the service through relieving the crowd from airport paparazzi and unwanted incidents.
"We've had incidents where paparazzi have knocked people over. We had one incident last year when someone in a wheelchair was knocked down," Burton said.
He explained that having the first private lounge in the home of Hollywood stars was appropriate. "With all the celebrities that come in and out of the airport, we really do think it will benefit all passengers at LAX," he said.
Burton also mentioned the future expansion of the business to build the same high-class lounges in other states in the country including Miami and New York.