Manchester United paid for Louis van Gaal and wife Truus to be taken by private jet to Portugal last Monday.
The Daily Star Sunday says it was a final gesture to the sacked boss from the club's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.
He told LVG he didn't want him subjected to a media scrum in the public areas of Manchester Airport.
Instead, the Dutchman travelled to his holiday home in Portugal from a private terminal.
United also arranged for Van Gaal's bags and cases to be transferred from his home in Bowdon, Cheshire, and the club's Carrington training HQ to the private plane.
It was a gesture appreciated by Van Gaal, even though he was stunned by the decision to dismiss him after winning the FA Cup and with a year left on his deal.