Viewing Fashion Week from the not-so-cheap seats

New York Fashion Week insiders may get invitations to runway shows for free, but folks who are willing to pay definitely have a more posh experience.

When Mercedes-Benz's twice-a-year fashion-palooza begins Thursday, style reporters, newspaper and magazine editors, specialty store buyers, and models will elbow their way through crowds of celebrity bottlenecks to their seats. Paying invitation-holders will be escorted to primo vantage points, handed cocktails, and allowed to chat with designers.

Here is where Eagles quarterback Michael Vick - who is reportedly on the lookout for NYFW invites - should start taking notes.

Five years ago, American Express began offering its Gold, Platinum, and Centurion cardholders access to the American Express Skybox. The 10-row skybox sits perched above Lincoln Center's two major runways and has its own entry and exits. That means watchers there don't have to wait in the winding lines.

Once seated in comfy chairs under a sparkling chandelier, skyboxers get an unobstructed view of the runway. They don't have to crane their necks to see shoes.

And after the presentations, experts - think celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe and Neiman Marcus' fashion director, Ken Downing - chat with the audience about coming trends. That's got to be better than chasing experts down with notebook in hand.

"It's a really great way for us to offer our customers a complete New York Fashion Week experience," said Caitlin Lowie, director of corporate affairs and communications at American Express.

Amex also offers tickets to emerging-designer shows in the Meatpacking District's Milk Studios. And all Amex members - even your basic greenies - can buy tickets to a special cardmembers-only Tommy Hilfiger show. This year Amex has approximately 700 runway packages ranging from $50 to $250.

Paying for exclusive access to industry-insider-only events is catching on.

One tour company, Novel Experiences, offers packages to the Grammy Awards, the Cannes Film Festival, star-studded movie premieres, and, of course, New York Fashion Week. The company is so exclusive, it doesn't talk to the media. It isn't trying to attract a general audience, the company says.

But most of these businesses want a general audience - after all, those are the B- and C-listers who have to pay for the experience. But here is the rub: The tour companies are not paying for the invitations because they are free.