UC questions

Hi,

Sorry if this has been asked before, new member directed here from the Facebook group!

We have managed to use our FC miles and booked our first UC flight in August (Gatwick-Orlando, Return Sept Orlando-Manchester)

Just wondering what we can expect - rather hear it from people that hae done it than corporate websites.

Ian

If you do a quick search using the search function at the top right hand side of the page, you'll be able to find many threads including previous trip reports in Upper.

Have a great flight.

Hi Ian, welcome to V-Flyer.

As Tinkerbelle has suggested there are loads of TRs for you to go through which will give you tips and ideas and help you get the most out of your flight.

Its also true that once you have turned left, turning right becomes so much more difficult y)

Have a great trip.

Ian,

You'll have a fabulous trip! And yes it is very difficult to contemplate turning right again...
Flew LHR-IAD IAD-LHR Jan 2008 Upper class and had a fantastic flight.

Thanks folks
I did try the search, there were hundreds of pages and the first few seemed to highlight the words Upper and Class and trawled through quite a few = all talking about it but didn't see anything explaining UC.

We have been flying PE for a few years so this just might be our step up!

Go to The Forum
Then choose the Virgin Atlantic Trip Reports section.
You will be able to read many reports on previous UC experiences
Enjoy your trip

Thanks again!

I'll go look at the reports now.

A fellow LFC fan? Or is it Celtic?

[Pete]

Ian,

Even quicker than going via the forums, under the "Toolbox" menu at the top of the page, select "Trip Report Index" and you'll be able to quickly see all trip reports relating to the particular flight / cabin class you're interested in; and as others have suggested, the trip reports really will give you a feel for what to expect from the whole experience.

Pete

[Neil]

Firstly, welcome to the site y)

As the others have said, reading TR's is a really great way to understand what sort of service etc you should receive on your site.

If you have any specific questions though, just ask away. There are a number of us who fly UC to MCO on a fairly regular basis, so one of us should be able to help you out.

Enjoy the site.
Neil

A fellow LFC fan? Or is it Celtic?

A fellow frustrated LFC fan - well spotted

Have a tribal leaning to Celtic over their neighbours but would much prefer any other Scottish team to prevail than either of the Glasgow monsters

Good advice from Pete BTW - but then he should know

Well done on making the move up the front! My advice would be to take advantage of everything that UC offers. Make sure you plan in lots of time to really enjoy the Clubhouse (2 hours before boarding is a good enough time at LGW), make sure you use premium boarding, sit at the bar and meet some new friends........I'd even say use some more miles to get a VA Limo if you can so that you can enjoy Drive Thru Check-In (if it's still going at LGW? It's beyond awesome at LHR). I first travelled UC 15 years ago, and I found it an inspirational experience, and am now fortunate enough to be able to do it regularly. Enjoy the moment! The thrill has never faded for me. And it's true what everyone else says, once you've flown at the front, you never want to turn right again! Enjoy, enjoy enjoy!

And don't forget to take any pets you have along for the ride...

I agree with davidct, if you can afford the VA Limo service you will love the express check in. But if not once you have checked in at Heathrow ask them for directions to the secret door

to the right of the upper class check in desks there is a glass door you swipe your boarding pass and it will let you into the VA express route to VA security and the Clubhouse

[Neil]

Just to clarify, you need to first go up in the lift, which is right next to the UC desks and then go through the glass doors to the UC security wing. As others have said, it is a great facility and makes the airport experience so much better.

Neil

Hello everyone.

Thanks for all the replies - been a bit busy so not been online for a while - finally get two minutes to myself.

We are considering the Limo service, I'll be travelling from Liverpool-London the day before the flight, and staying in the Bromley area so within the allotted distance for the Limo to Gatwick. I'll just call someone to pick me up at Manchester

Does Gatwick have a drive-through check-in?
Our flight is at 11.15, and we usually arrive about 8am (Twilight check in normally to save time)but were thinking arriving a bit later as the UC check-in would seem to be pretty fast (and hopefully we would get the fast-track security too)

But now I'm thinking about getting the Limo and arriving about 8am as usual.

I'm hoping that the menu I've seen for UC isn't still active as I'm very allergic to mushrooms and so will be a long journey on just snacks or a huge packed lunch. :/

You will love UC, and find it really hard to turn right ever again!....

have a great flight!

There is DTCI at Gatwick but according to this page this page it is limited to J&D fares but you can double check when you order it.

You can still use OLCI to select your seats but get the nice purple boarding pass printed at the desk.

I think the summer menu starts in June so check back here as someone (usually Tinkerbelle) posts it.

If you are allergic to muchrooms and they are still in the dishes then you can contact VS about a special meal.

I'm just hoping I'm off at Orlando as quickly as I was in December! Getting to Immigration with no-one ahead of you is great! (and no third degree questioning about travelling alone etc)

[Neil]

CDC's are available on R,D or J fare codes, or if you have used miles to fly on a G, you can then use 18,000 miles to book a CDC.

Neil

Thanks again everyone for the responses.
We are going to go with the Limo to get us to the airport - ordering it next week when we can come to a decision on what time we want to arrive at the airport.

I'm all for getting there early, doing a bit of browsing in the shops then going to the clubhouse, unless you can go in and out of the clubhouse, then I'll go there for a bit, then a browse, then a relax until the flight is called.

I'm all for getting there early, doing a bit of browsing in the shops then going to the clubhouse, unless you can go in and out of the clubhouse, then I'll go there for a bit, then a browse, then a relax until the flight is called.

You can go in and out of the CH as your heart desires.

Paul