Gatwick North: prepare for lift-off!

Preparations for the big move tomorrow seem well in hand. There's no trace left of VS landside in the South Terminal while over in North the self check-in area looks ready to be unveiled first thing. They're doing a pretty good job of keeping it all under wraps though!

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Exciting times! Is this your picture?

What's left in South now, have BA rebranded Zone A?

It is.

Yes, BA have taken over Zones A & C (where VS used to be for those who don't know) and it's almost all open apart from what I presume is the First Class check-in area which is still behind hoardings.

Lots to do overnight as BA still occupy Zone A in North until the last flight this evening.

8pm update: still BA branding but those colours look familiar ...

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Well that seems sloppy from BA!

I've just seen on flyer talk that the BA lounge is not ready for occupation other than the First area for to electrical certification issues.

Other passengers will be using (drum roll) the space formerly known as the VS CH!

I hope the VS branding is still up there!

I've just seen on flyer talk that the BA lounge is not ready for occupation other than the First area for to electrical certification issues.

Other passengers will be using (drum roll) the space formerly known as the VS CH!

I hope the VS branding is still up there!

I just read that too and had a little chuckle.

Well I'm delighted to say the new Clubhouse is very much open and most excellent it is too! Pictures to come but I have more pressing needs (ie a Bramble)!

Well I'm delighted to say the new Clubhouse is very much open and most excellent it is too! Pictures to come but I have more pressing needs (ie a Bramble)!

Waiting on the edge of my seat here gumshoe ... surely you've been able to inhale enough bramble to power the shutter finger

How is the new check-in experience?

Haha I've just posted lots of pics in a new thread.

Check-in was fine - very empty as it was early and the printer at the desk I used wasn't working but engineers appeared instantly to fix it. LOTS of senior staff around to make sure all runs smoothly!

LOTS of senior staff around to make sure all runs smoothly!

And where are they the rest of the year

In fairness, I don't recall the last time I had an issue with VS check-in that wasn't resolved very quickly. BA on the other hand... "oh, the printer's broken".. **stares at it hoping it will fix itself**

I've just seen on flyer talk that the BA lounge is not ready for occupation other than the First area for to electrical certification issues.

Other passengers will be using (drum roll) the space formerly known as the VS CH!

I hope the VS branding is still up there!

Just had a look at the FT thread. It looks like they are using the old CH pretty much as it was with just a BA sign up. They've laid out a simple breakfast buffet. Certainly no cooked breakfasts for them...

Nor champagne!

To be fair to BA they've done well to get that up and running less than 18 hours after VS left. But there's really no excuse for the new BA lounges not to be ready - they've had almost a year, including a 2-month extension.

So it seems BA are using two temporary lounges until their own facilities are ready in the south terminal.

The old VS Clubhouse has been rebranded overnight as the "Speedbird Lounge" and is now the temporary business class lounge. I've been told it's being operated on behalf of BA by the No.1 Lounge.

Meanwhile the existing No.1 Clubrooms are being used for First/Gold passengers (and for Business Class on the JFK, BDA & JER flights, presumably to manage the numbers).

There are various rumours about when BA's new lounges might open, ranging from "a few days" to May. It seems the problem involves fire safety certification - let's hope it's not another Berlin Brandenburg situation!

In the meantime I think those temporary lounges will be stretched. The Clubhouse used to be a squeeze with 6 or 7 VS flights with small UC cabins. BA have dozens of flights a day and lots of premium/status pax.