First hosts - on arrival

[Quickstatus]

Which airports have first hosts on arrival to assist with speedy immigration and customs clearance?

 

[Flying mermaid]

Which airports have first hosts on arrival to assist with speedy immigration and customs clearance?

Good luck with that - I have never seen a First Host, except in Sydney and Melbourne. I have heard of them in Lax and LHR but it was a CL type talking about them. Presumably if you feel the need to have assistance on arrival you could request it before hand or when one phones you the day before you depart.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Good luck with that - I have never seen a First Host, except in Sydney and Melbourne. I have heard of them in Lax and LHR but it was a CL type talking about them. Presumably if you feel the need to have assistance on arrival you could request it before hand or when one phones you the day before you depart.

Was just about to post the same thing
I have seen them and had service plenty of times pre-departure but not once on arrival.
Well strictly speaking I have seen them on arrival but they have been very busy escorting passengers other than me.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

OP could also mean arrival, as in arrival at airport by car/bus/limo/etc.

 

[Princess Fiona]

OP could also mean arrival, as in arrival at airport by car/bus/limo/etc.

Except the OP is asking about Immigration and Customs. These tend to happen after you arrive at an airport on an international flight.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Ah, I now see the error of my way.
Noted.

 

[get me outta here]

I had one in LAX some years ago coming from J to F transcon with a tight connection. That was a bit of a shock to be called whilst waiting for the baggage. I'd never had one before and was quite worried for a moment.

Which airports have first hosts on arrival to assist with speedy immigration and customs clearance?

 

[MelUser]

If you know what you are doing and tear around at a million miles an hour they generally won't do anything - I have seen them floating in LAX near baggage area but I think they'll help anyone in need.

 

[helenaparis]

i flew to heathrow in september on qantas in first, i was met by a host in dubai. he was waiting for me as i alighted from the plane. he took me speedily through to the emirates first class international lounge. he said he would meet me back there to take me through to the gate for my connecting flight, but he didnt show up. it was ok, i knew where to go as the gate is right next to the first lounge. he had some good stories to tell..

 

[Flying mermaid]

By the way has anyone had a first host contact them prior to a flight when overseas - it has always happened in Australia apart from when travelling F- (i.e codeshare), but I have never been contacted overseas?

 

[kermatu]

By the way has anyone had a first host contact them prior to a flight when overseas - it has always happened in Australia apart from when travelling F- (i.e codeshare), but I have never been contacted overseas?

Is contact from a F Host in Australia always the case? I have my first QF F flight ex-Australia next week. Wondering if I should call lounge early or will I definitely receive a call? Will be checking-in in Canberra so no first check-in etc.

On topic, I had a points upgrade to first LHR-DXB the other day. (Have posted separately about a mishap related to the upgrade). I saw a first host escort a passenger onto the plane in first. Coincidentally she helped me earlier find an amenity kit in the BA lounge, but I had no particular first experience. Best I could tell there were no hosts in Dubai. I seemed to be one of only 3 F pax exiting in Dubai. Was all so quick and smooth that a host would have been a waste in any event.

 

[helenaparis]

i received a call the day prior to departure from the qantas first host in melbourne. she fussed over me beautifully. dont forget to book your chaffeur pickup and dropoff!

 

[kermatu]

Am travelling to the US, so guess what happened to chauffeur drive...! Zero compensation too as I foolishly (in hindsight) didn't book CD at the time I booked the flight. I made sure my European legs were booked straight away after that debacle.

Thanks, will await the call and expect plenty of fussing.

 

[phily]

Which airports have first hosts on arrival to assist with speedy immigration and customs clearance?

Whilst not a response to the OP's specific question, there are various commercial Concierge services at a number of international airports around the world, including SYD & LHR. IIRC, they charge about $150 or more and will meet you, assist with luggage, and accompany you through all stages as required. Whilst most people don't require anything like this, it could be useful for a frail or older person travelling alone with checked luggage and/or transiting at a large airport.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Is contact from a F Host in Australia always the case? I have my first QF F flight ex-Australia next week. Wondering if I should call lounge early or will I definitely receive a call? Will be checking-in in Canberra so no first check-in etc.

On topic, I had a points upgrade to first LHR-DXB the other day. (Have posted separately about a mishap related to the upgrade). I saw a first host escort a passenger onto the plane in first. Coincidentally she helped me earlier find an amenity kit in the BA lounge, but I had no particular first experience. Best I could tell there were no hosts in Dubai. I seemed to be one of only 3 F pax exiting in Dubai. Was all so quick and smooth that a host would have been a waste in any event.

I have always been contacted by a first host the day before - if you need assistance in Sydney for some reason you can arrange it then, otherwise the First Host will be there at the lounge to take you in and call you when the flight boards. All very warm and fuzzy. We generally check in in Canberra as well, although sometimes overnight in Sydney. They will give you a fast track pass etc in Canberra. keep your mobile handy the day before - if they miss you, then they will leave a number to call back. The First Host is no big deal, although allows you to prebook the spa treatment, I am still cranky about booking F with Qantas, choosing Emirate (Q codeshare) for the leg to Dubai because it allowed a better connection for Nairobi and then finding that meant no First Host in Sydney. Would probably have not bothered me except when we turned up to the lounge in Sydney I was made to produce my platinum card before they would let me in the lounge! (In spite of the fact that I was a revenue first customer and my platinum number was printed on the boarding pass grr!)

 

[helenaparis]

just fyi - the onboard degustation menu takes a while to get through, so if you want to sleep i suggest eating before boarding.

 

[kermatu]

The transfer in Sydney is painful but have done it so often that assistance in Sydney is not required (even though I have mobility issues it's a short bus trip and only a few stairs to negotiate. The escalator never seems to work). Checking in in Canberra is easy and never needs to be anything more than a few minutes before boarding, which is a plus.

Main benefit will be booking spa treatment as my preferred window (pre-lunch in F lounge) is not large.

And I intend eating in lounge and also on board! Though from recent posts I'm not assuming the degustation menu is anything that much better than J meals (which have been very good lately) anyway.

 

[get me outta here]

I had one both ways on TG F in BKK recently. A person could get used to being mollycoddled being driven all ways on the electric cart, carrying my bag and on when necessary, all the way to the transport out in the car park.

By the way has anyone had a first host contact them prior to a flight when overseas - it has always happened in Australia apart from when travelling F- (i.e codeshare), but I have never been contacted overseas?

 

[amaroo]

Apart from SYD I've never seen or heard from them.

I've had plenty of hosts from hotels that meet you at the air-bridge, deliver you (golf buggy) to the Immigration counter ... wait for you on the other side, collect your luggage and then do a handover to the hotel limo driver - it's a beautiful thing!

 

[Flying Fox]

Slightly off topic but I had a great experience with a host when arrived into SYD from LHR in F.

I found her as I got off the A380 and asked if she could get me onto an earlier flight to ADL and rebook my CD pick-up at ADL airport. She looked me up on her listing and got onto the case. Escorted through to immigration and she helped with bag pick-up and customs. I also noted luggage damage and she took me to the counted and got my claim form completed without question. She then informed me that I had a new earlier flight.

Got across to the domestic J lounge and then within a minute of sitting down in my seat on my ADL flight she called my mobile to confirm that the CD was changed to pick me up from ADL upon arrival of my earlier flight!

She was terrific and made everything very smooth.