Why I'm Secretly Hoping Our Next Flight Gets Delayed

You know that feeling.

That feeling when you unexpectedly discover something so completely delightful that it shifts your perspective almost seismically?

If this occurs in a negative manner, it can be legitimately catastrophic. But, if the end result is positive, the benefits accrue long after the moment itself has passed.

Such a shockingly positive experience is exactly what happened when my wife Dio and I stumbled upon what might be Atlanta's best-kept wine secret — as far as wine and food pairings go, that is. And, get this: It’s located at the world's busiest airport.

Yep. You read that right. Airports, just where you’d expect to find stellar food and drink. Hah!

Here’s how this all went down.

In November of 2024, we were heading to the UK. The occasion? Our tenth wedding anniversary. We’d already made plans to visit museums and private wine clubs while in London, as well as to attend wine pairing dinners at Michelin-rated establishments. Plus, we were to take a trip to the Cotswolds, and stay in the countryside at Cliveden House. I was already excited about all of the blog-worthy wine and food experiences awaiting us across the pond.

What I never expected was that one of the most remarkable meals we'd have during the entire trip would take place before we’d even left Atlanta.

Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson is the world's busiest airport. No, seriously. Stop and think about that for a moment. It’s legit crazy in there. As a result, many travelers actively despise the place. My stepdad, who was born and raised in Savannah, Ga. and travelled a good bit in his life, had a quote that I felt perfectly captures most people's relationship with this airport: "When I die, I don't know if I'm going to heaven or hell, but I know that I'm connecting through Atlanta to get there!"

Good friends of ours that live out in L.A. had raved to us about PS Los Angeles, so we decided we’d give PS Atlanta a try. Now, I'll be honest. I was intrigued by the idea of escaping Hartsfield-Jackson's notorious chaos, but skeptical about the reality of this culinary choice. Decades of suffering through mediocre (at best) airport food worldwide, plus my general wariness of all-inclusive dining scenarios where the terms "free" or “included” is usually code for “forgettable,” meant that I wasn't expecting to receive much in the way of benefit from this experience other than pure convenience.

Boy, was I wrong.

ENTERING ATLANTA'S SECRET, HIDDEN LOUNGE

The moment our car pulled up to PS (which stands for “Private Suites”), I could not help but notice that everything was far different than I had presupposed. This wasn't just a way to avoid airport hassles – this was more like stepping into a world-class hospitality experience that would rival anything you'd find in tony areas like Buckhead, Chastain, etc…

The facility itself stopped us in our tracks. It was modern, spacious, and designed with the kind of attention to detail you'd expect in a luxury hotel, not an airport service. The atmosphere that had been created put us both at ease immediately, and looking back at the photos we took that day, the surprise and delight that’s evident on our faces is clearly genuine.

What really caught my attention? Learning that James Beard Award winner Linton Hopkins was behind their cuisine. Suddenly, the exceptional quality on display made perfect sense. Hopkins isn't just creating "airport food that doesn't suck" (an admirable goal in and of itself!). He's crafting cuisine that —if placed up against plenty of Atlanta's finest dining establishments— easily holds its own

ALL-INCLUSIVE? TRY ALL-EXCEPTIONAL…

Here's the kicker: All of this exceptional food and wine is automatically included in the PS experience, with no additional cost incurred.

After settling into the comfortable couches of The Salon, the main lounge area where guests wait for their flights, we started with the NV Lanson Champagne Père et Fils Brut, which I scored 90 points. This was medium gold with nutty characteristics and good bubbles, although I must admit it ended with a slightly bitter finish. Dio paired hers with caviar – because why not start an anniversary celebration properly?

After finishing our champagne in the lounge, we then shifted to the quite inviting bar area, where we’d enjoy our made-to-order main courses.

The jerk chicken I ordered was revelatory.

Perfectly spiced with just enough heat on hand to excite the palate without overwhelming the senses, it paired beautifully with the 2022 Bodegas Forjas del Salnes Rías Baixas Leirana that earned 91 points from me. This Spanish white showed lovely balance and proved that PS takes their wine pairings as seriously as the rest of the elements that make up this hidden gem of a spot.

Dio's steak frites entree was equally impressive, boasting the kind of execution you'd expect from a serious kitchen rather than a pre-flight lounge meal. When she offered me a bite, I was struck by how this dish completely defied pretty much every airport dining experience I'd ever had up until that moment.

Just look at this simple, beautiful plating of delectable food.

We finished up at the bar with our final selection, the 2022 Domaine Damien Martin Pinot Noir Bourgogne. I scored this one a most impressive 93 points. As this wine was young, the fact it had been previously opened likely improved our experience of it. Again, that understanding of proper wine service (and attention to such detail) is not something you’re likely to find in most any other airport experience — even one that takes place in a “VIP Lounge.” This Burgundy demonstrated exactly the caliber of wine program that clearly sets PS apart from every other airport lounge I’ve ever had the pleasure to decompress in.

WHAT IF YOUR VACATION BEGAN AT THE AIRPORT?

Sitting there, savoring exceptional food and wine while watching private jets taxi outside the window, I could not help but be struck by the realization that our anniversary trip had —unexpectedly— already begun! This wasn't just a convenient pit stop. Rather, we were engaged in seriously luxurious travel, and that luxury had engulfed us the moment we walked through the doors.

The staff of PS treated us like valued guests, not liked rushed passengers. They took time to explain dishes, make wine recommendations, and create an atmosphere where lingering was actually encouraged rather than discouraged. When they offered us a quick tour of one of their Private Suites – exclusive rooms with the same type of comfortable seating for friends and families traveling together (especially those traveling with children) – I could already envision returning for an even more intimate experience.

Then came the surreal part. Security took 30 seconds.

Literally.

We were the only passengers in our own private TSA screening area?!

No lines, no stress, no removing shoes or opening laptops, and we never even had to set foot in the airport terminal. After our screening, we were ushered into a BMW SUV and then driven directly to our plane, where we walked straight up the steps and boarded ahead of everyone else (with PS-provided gourmet snack boxes in our hands).

Here’s a shot of our private transport.

SOMETIMES IGNORANCE IS BLISS

Now, this is where I must share with you all what I'm now calling the "curse of knowledge" – that unfortunate phenomenon wherein learning about something amazing winds up makes everything else seem almost hopelessly inadequate in comparison. I am sure you have had the same feeling at one time or another in your own life.

So, while I’m incredibly glad we tried PS (because it's fantastic), at the same time, I’m genuinely sad we discovered it (because it's completely ruined any standard or “normal” airport experiences for us). After receiving a glimpse of “what could be,” we don't want to fly any other way.

What we initially thought would be an occasional luxury splurge has transformed into what feels like a sort of travel necessity. Now, every time we book a flight, we find ourselves automatically checking to see if PS is available. Here's the moment that perfectly illustrates this entire paradigm shift: PS has made me actually hope, no, make that wish for flight delays – and that’s a sentence I never in a million years thought I'd live to see myself write!

When you find yourself delayed at a typical airport, you're inevitably stuck alongside unhappy strangers in uncomfortable surroundings and offered overpriced, underwhelming food. But when you're delayed at PS, you get to continue enjoying exceptional cuisine and wine in a luxurious lounge setting.

Of course, this scenario only makes sense for direct flights without connections, but the psychological shift provided by such an dichotomy is nothing short of remarkable.

We've returned to PS since this first visit and did wind up experiencing a flight delay. Instead of frustration, I felt grateful for a bit of extra time to kick back and indulge in what has inexplicably become one of our very favorite Atlanta experiences!

EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT NOW

PS has completely transformed our travel routine. Instead of grabbing something to eat before heading to the airport and trying to time our arrival in hopes of minimizing the time we’d have to deal with crowds, we now arrive at PS as early as possible, so as to maximize our time there. What was once the most stressful part of traveling has become something we genuinely look forward to.

It’s a complete 180-degree turn.

For Atlanta-based wine enthusiasts and food lovers, PS isn't just a way to avoid airport hassles – it's a rare opportunity to discover that you can stumble upon exceptional hospitality whenever and wherever you may be.

All that’s required to make this kind of magic happen is the right group of people. Those who who care enough to make that level of creativity and customer service happen.

THE PS WINE LIST — STRENGTH IN DIVERSITY

For those curious about the wine selection at PS, they maintain a list that genuinely surprised me. It features respected producers across multiple price points and regions – from accessible favorites like Cakebread Cellars Sauvignon Blanc to premium selections like Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Champagne and Château Gigognan Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

The geographic diversity is impressive as well, with strong French representation (Champagne, Burgundy, Loire, Rhône, Provence), a solid California presence (Napa, Alexander Valley, Santa Maria Valley), and thoughtful selections from Italy, Spain, Germany, and Australia. What struck me most was the variety of legitimate quality bottles on offer, rather than the typical “house wines” you'd rightly expect to find in this type of all-inclusive setting.

I’ll mention this again to further emphasize how unusual this situation is. ALL wines are included in the PS experience!