Before Boarding for SDQ Departures

[MariaRubia]

I am confused and hope someone on here can enlighten me. Before Boarding offers a service where they take you through their own immigration and security lines at SDQ. Reading about this, I think the way it works is that you prebook, you check in as normal with your airline, you then go to their desk, they put you on a bus to their lounge, and then just before your flight departs they then take you back to their immigration and security lines, and then walk with you to your gate. Have I got this right?

And what I don't understand is that their website says they operate the SKY lounge, which is the one that you get access to if you fly on Iberia. So if you have lounge access for this lounge, can you use their fast-track immigration and security lines? Or is it a different lounge?

 

[Big]

yes, you must book 24 hours in advance, before your flight. Download the app. There are different levels of service. The premium lounge is what you are after. They have their own immigration agents or escort you through a different line. They meet you when you get off the plane. I am not so much enamored with the lounge as I am the fast-track immigration service. They will get you a car however it is extra.

 

[CG]

My experience, (twice) departing from SDQ with Before Boarding was quite good. I didn't enter the main terminal, was dropped at Before Boarding off to the right of the main terminal. They then do everything, your check in, your baggage, and immigration. You wait in a semi chic lounge with mediocre quality food offerings then are escorted straight to the gate for boarding. The return service isn't bad either if you're coming in with a ton of luggage and a long flight, they do everything while you wait, it's quite efficient. If you're traveling with zero luggage, carry on only I personally wouldn't bother.

 

[El Hijo de Manolo]

yes, you must book 24 hours in advance, before your flight. Download the app. There are different levels of service. The premium lounge is what you are after. They have their own immigration agents or escort you through a different line. They meet you when you get off the plane. I am not so much enamored with the lounge as I am the fast-track immigration service. They will get you a car however it is extra.

So I was intrigued when I saw your last post about this service, so basically it's only in and out of SDQ?

 

[Big]

My experience, (twice) departing from SDQ with Before Boarding was quite good. I didn't enter the main terminal, was dropped at Before Boarding off to the right of the main terminal. They then do everything, your check in, your baggage, and immigration. You wait in a semi chic lounge with mediocre quality food offerings then are escorted straight to the gate for boarding. The return service isn't bad either if you're coming in with a ton of luggage and a long flight, they do everything while you wait, it's quite efficient. If you're traveling with zero luggage, carry on only I personally wouldn't bother.

pretty accurate. I agree with the food as well. The main thing for me is skipping the long immigration lines.

 

[Big]

So I was intrigued when I saw your last post about this service, so basically it's only in and out of SDQ?

the other airports have it,, POP and Santiago. It's definitely a luxury item. It keeps you away from the sweaty masses hacking up a lung while they carry duty free Smirnoff vodka

 

[irishpaddy]

would it be as smooth if you arrive with a service animal ?

 

[El Hijo de Manolo]

the other airports have it,, POP and Santiago. It's definitely a luxury item. It keeps you away from the sweaty masses hacking up a lung while they carry duty free Smirnoff vodka

Lol Smirnoff, the stuff redneck AI vacations are made of!

 

[MariaRubia]

would it be as smooth if you arrive with a service animal ?

yes, you must book 24 hours in advance, before your flight. Download the app. There are different levels of service. The premium lounge is what you are after. They have their own immigration agents or escort you through a different line. They meet you when you get off the plane. I am not so much enamored with the lounge as I am the fast-track immigration service. They will get you a car however it is extra.

Specifically regarding the departing service, I am guessing there are two lounges. There is SKY the Lounge which is airside, but is there another lounge which is landside which has the premium immigration and security service? I have status which gets me into the SKY lounge, but I can't see how to get the fast-track immigration and security service.

Second question is that I understand that if you use the premium service for departures, you sit in a landside lounge until just before your flight goes, and then they escort you through immigration and security to the gate. So what happens if there is an issue with either immigration and/or security? For example if there's an issue with your carry-on or with your passport? No time to sort things out if it's just when your flight is boarding and no way the airline is going to wait for one passenger.

 

[NALs]

the other airports have it,, POP and Santiago. It's definitely a luxury item. It keeps you away from the sweaty masses hacking up a lung while they carry duty free Smirnoff vodka

In this day and age of new Covid strands appearing every few months, for some folks staying away from most people is desirable. Plus, it isn’t as if you’re having conversations with most people around you in an airport. From your point of view hoping to not get Covid, they are there to infect you with all types of respiratory diseases.

Achoo while “forgetting” to cover their mouths because simply moving their face to the opposite direction will prevent you from getting infected of whatever.

Of course, then there is the issue of being in the airplane (unless it’s a private jet.)

 

[NanSanPedro]

In this day and age of new Covid strands appearing every few months, for some folks staying away from most people is desirable. Plus, it isn’t as if you’re having conversations with most people around you in an airport. From your point of view hoping to not get Covid, they are there to infect you with all types of respiratory diseases.

Achoo while “forgetting” to cover their mouths because simply moving their face to the opposite direction will prevent you from getting infected of whatever.

Of course, then there is the issue of being in the airplane (unless it’s a private jet.)

I'd be shocked if more than 5% of the flying public give a rat's ass about the Wuhan Flu. It's just bad history.

 

[Sol09]

Specifically regarding the departing service, I am guessing there are two lounges. There is SKY the Lounge which is airside, but is there another lounge which is landside which has the premium immigration and security service? I have status which gets me into the SKY lounge, but I can't see how to get the fast-track immigration and security service.

Second question is that I understand that if you use the premium service for departures, you sit in a landside lounge until just before your flight goes, and then they escort you through immigration and security to the gate. So what happens if there is an issue with either immigration and/or security? For example if there's an issue with your carry-on or with your passport? No time to sort things out if it's just when your flight is boarding and no way the airline is going to wait for one passenger.

It's not like they escort you one minute before the door closes. They have a system and it's timed so that you arrive at your gate at the appropriate moment.
When I've used the service, they take the passport to customs once you arrive to the lounge so when it's time to go to the gate, it's already been processed by immigration. So I guess if there were any passport issues there is sufficient time to resolve then
Not sure about carry on issues but I'm sure they would be handled in the same manner as if you were going through the regular security checkpoint.
It's really not that complicated of a process.

 

[MariaRubia]

It's not like they escort you one minute before the door closes. They have a system and it's timed so that you arrive at your gate at the appropriate moment.
When I've used the service, they take the passport to customs once you arrive to the lounge so when it's time to go to the gate, it's already been processed by immigration. So I guess if there were any passport issues there is sufficient time to resolve then
Not sure about carry on issues but I'm sure they would be handled in the same manner as if you were going through the regular security checkpoint.
It's really not that complicated of a process.

Many thanks. Can you please answer my question - if you have access to the airside SKY lounge, can you just pay something extra for the fast-track immigration and security service for departures? Or is that lounge completely separate from the VIP lounge?

 

[Sol09]

Many thanks. Can you please answer my question - if you have access to the airside SKY lounge, can you just pay something extra for the fast-track immigration and security service for departures? Or is that lounge completely separate from the VIP lounge?

I'm not sure about that as I have only used the Before boarding service. I believe the services/lounges are separate. As far as I know before boarding does not have la carte options. It's one fee and includes the VIP service and before boarding lounge.
Before boarding not only offers personal immigration and lounge services for departure but also for return which is nice.

 

[irishpaddy]

In this day and age of new Covid strands appearing every few months, for some folks staying away from most people is desirable. Plus, it isn’t as if you’re having conversations with most people around you in an airport. From your point of view hoping to not get Covid, they are there to infect you with all types of respiratory diseases.

Achoo while “forgetting” to cover their mouths because simply moving their face to the opposite direction will prevent you from getting infected of whatever.

Of course, then there is the issue of being in the airplane (unless it’s a private jet.)

I thought we were done with the Covid bull shit .......are you related to Fauci ?

 

[Big]

Many thanks. Can you please answer my question - if you have access to the airside SKY lounge, can you just pay something extra for the fast-track immigration and security service for departures? Or is that lounge completely separate from the VIP lounge?

You must pay for the premium service. They have a very comprehensive web site

 

[MariaRubia]

You must pay for the premium service. They have a very comprehensive web site

Thanks Big, I have been all over their website and it is confusing. I eventually got onto Live Chat, and it seems unfair. If you want the Migracion and Security fast-track you have to go to their Premium lounge and it's a bundle price of US$ 115. They say that they can also walk you through to the Sky lounge if you already have access to it, but it's the same price. I've asked the guy I chatted with to suggest to management that they have a separate service which only covers the fast-track migracion and security for us peeps who already have lounge access passes or tickets and he said he would escalate it. Let's see.

I'm not prepared to pay US$ 115 per passenger just to avoid the lines at security and migracion, but if they charged something reasonable like maybe US$ 30 per passenger then I'd do it.

 

[Sol09]

Thanks Big, I have been all over their website and it is confusing. I eventually got onto Live Chat, and it seems unfair. If you want the Migracion and Security fast-track you have to go to their Premium lounge and it's a bundle price of US$ 115. They say that they can also walk you through to the Sky lounge if you already have access to it, but it's the same price. I've asked the guy I chatted with to suggest to management that they have a separate service which only covers the fast-track migracion and security for us peeps who already have lounge access passes or tickets and he said he would escalate it. Let's see.

I'm not prepared to pay US$ 115 per passenger just to avoid the lines at security and migracion, but if they charged something reasonable like maybe US$ 30 per passenger then I'd do it.

There are insurance plans and credit cards that include a certain number of access to before boarding each year which could be a work around to paying the fee.

 

[MiamiDRGuy]

I checked the website, they increased the price, screenshot shown below, two different packages:

Be honest, I would pay $100 if you wanna to hang around. But if people who have money, can spend $195 and it gives you unlimited drinks and menu even showers... Pretty jiffy.

if you have credit card or insurance, go with the first package above, you would pay wayy less....

Hope this helps

 

[irishpaddy]

Thanks Big, I have been all over their website and it is confusing. I eventually got onto Live Chat, and it seems unfair. If you want the Migracion and Security fast-track you have to go to their Premium lounge and it's a bundle price of US$ 115. They say that they can also walk you through to the Sky lounge if you already have access to it, but it's the same price. I've asked the guy I chatted with to suggest to management that they have a separate service which only covers the fast-track migracion and security for us peeps who already have lounge access passes or tickets and he said he would escalate it. Let's see.

I'm not prepared to pay US$ 115 per passenger just to avoid the lines at security and migracion, but if they charged something reasonable like maybe US$ 30 per passenger then I'd do it.

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