Visa Infinite Privilege cardholders have access to special perks at YVR, but some say the program is unfair because of its expensive price tag.
Visa Infinite Privilege cards cost about $400 a year in annual fees and are available through RBC, CIBC and TD. They provide users with special perks at various airports, including YVR.
Visa Infinite Privilege cardholders can get into the “FasTrack” lane at international, domestic and transborder checkpoints. Cardholders can also jump the queue at the taxi stand, get preferred spots in the parking garage and a 20 per cent discount on valet parking.
Glenn McCoy, Vice-President of Strategy and CFO of YVR, says Visa came to the airport with the partnership proposal, and Visa pays the airport to be on-site.
“In the air travel business, it’s fairly common to have priority access for people who are willing to pay for that privilege,” he said. “So if you think about when you get on a plane, the business class passengers, they’re getting on the plane first, they’re getting their baggage first. They’ve paid more for that. So it’s very common in the industry.”
McCoy also says that YVR creates these kinds of partnerships in order to increase what it calls its “non-aeronautical revenue” which helps keep other costs down like airport improvement fees and airline charges.
“We’re open to ideas and approaches but we look at each one and make sure it realizes our objectives around increasing non-aeronautical revenue and providing a benefit to the airport,” said McCoy.
YVR also emphasizes that Visa Infinite cardholders do not have access to expedited security screening through the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), just a shorter line.
In a statement to CTV News, YVR said “Visa Infinite Privilege cardholders have access to an expedited line for security; however, they still have to go through the same screening procedures as non-cardholders.”
CATSA says it’s up to the airport to decide who queues where, and everyone is treated the same way when going through security screening, except if you’ve been pre-screened and are a Nexus or Global Entry member.
Bruce Cran, President of the Consumers Association of Canada, doesn’t have a problem with partnerships like these, and many other airports have similar deals, including Edmonton International Airport, which has partnered with Lexus. Lexus owners get preferred parking at the airport.
“Whatever it takes to get to the front of the line buying a credit card, buying a particular brand of car, well, good luck to them,” said Cran. “I don’t think we’ve got any particular problem with that at all.”
However, the reaction to the program among travellers is mixed.
“I don’t think that’s fair,” said Satnam Singh Pawar. “It’s 400 bucks. It’s a lot of money.”
Other travellers agree with the program as long as the money is going back to the airport.
“It just depends on where the money’s being used,” said Travis Gall. “As long as the money's being spent by the airport to help the airport, then it's acceptable."
