First come no longer first served? Airlines mull priority landings for VIPs

The next time you’re circling endlessly above an airport while waiting for traffic to clear, you might be able to direct the blame toward your flight's first-class passengers for not being famous or important enough.

Airlines are continuing to hunt for ways to increase the value of the V in VIP — offering extras like cushy airport lounges, private cars to the airport, and even fully private cabins with personal butlers and chefs. Now, a new perk has been proposed by Richard Deakin, head of Britain’s National Air Traffic Service, that would eliminate equality even for landings.

Planes with a high proportion of VIPs,  “high value,” or "premium" fliers could be given the green light to land ahead of more plebeian-laden flights arriving at the same time, albeit only if said flights are operated by the same airline. In other words, a British Airways flight with Jay-Z and Beyoncé would not be given preference over a Delta flight with Carrot Top.

In a bone thrown to economy level, Deakin also points out that the same system could also be applied to flights with a high number of passengers trying to make connecting flights, especially if they arrive late owing to delays.

However, for all the uproar such a proposal has generated, none of it is possible until airplane fleets receive more technologically advanced transponders that collect and funnel more data to air traffic controllers (who clearly don't already have enough on their hands), including exact location, number of passengers on board, and their connecting flights. Until then, VIPs will have to suffer somewhat deflated Vs.