Drive through check-in question?

Hi

Another poster suggested that all UC passengers may be able to use LHR drive through check-in. Assuming this is correct (and we get confirmation of this before our flight next week...).

Can we "drive through" check-in, THEN husband drop off the car? We are using the BAA official valet parking. I appreciate that conventional UC check-in would not be a huge chore with the valet parking, but - with a toddler and a fair bit of luggage - "drive through check-in" is somewhat appealing....

Any way of making this work?

Thanks
Boo

Hi

Another poster suggested that all UC passengers may be able to use LHR drive through check-in. Assuming this is correct (and we get confirmation of this before our flight next week...).

Can we "drive through" check-in, THEN husband drop off the car? We are using the BAA official valet parking. I appreciate that conventional UC check-in would not be a huge chore with the valet parking, but - with a toddler and a fair bit of luggage - "drive through check-in" is somewhat appealing....

Any way of making this work?

Thanks
Boo

I cant see why not - you and child go to the club house and your husband meet you there later (as he would have to re-enter at ground level and not first floor where CDC checks in)

I cant see why not - you and child go to the club house and your husband meet you there later (as he would have to re-enter at ground level and not first floor where CDC checks in)

The only problem I forsee is that would involve your wife and toddler checking-in seperately from you and she then has to make her own way through fast-track security with tod in tow.

IIRC there are some comfy chairs in the DTCI area, so I would drop them off there and have them seated for a very few mins, then take the car back to the front of T3 for pickup (2 mins). When you go back through on the ground floor, see the assistant who is always standing by the UC desk, explain and she will send you up in the lift. I have been through the controlled door without my BP before. There is an intercom where you can speak to the DTCI agents. They will have your wife and tod already ... "Plus Daddy makes three ", so they will let you through.

Simples

I cant see why not - you and child go to the club house and your husband meet you there later (as he would have to re-enter at ground level and not first floor where CDC checks in)

The only problem I forsee is that would involve your wife and toddler checking-in seperately from you and she then has to make her own way through fast-track security with tod in tow.

Simples

Not so.

There is nothing to stop the whole party checking in together - Papa collect your BP then park the car. I dont think the chairs are there as a waiting area for pax go go and park up which may well take half an hour. Also I dont seem recall a foot path to the CDC area just a drive way (but I couuld be wrong) - not sure the Virgin staff would want to see their premium checkin area be used along those lines as it might seriously pee off high spending J pax.

The lift next to the UC desks is an ordinary BAA lift. It is not a special VS only lift. The couple or so times I have used it it has been a tad (well very) grubby and there is no VS branding on it nor any VS staff acting as gate keeper at either ground or 1st floor levels. Though the last time I used it was a year ago so that could have changed but I doubt it.

DTCI is (for the car) strictly in and out with no waiting (well other than unloading obviously) allowed so hubby would be expected to drive off pretty smartish once the bags have been unloaded. It is not possible for the valet parking driver to meet you at DTCI either (due to security) but there is nothing stopping you trying to arrange with them for you to collect the vallet somewhere before you use DTCI and for him to drive off once you have unloaded at DTCI.

Which ever way you do it...don't forget to register the car license number with DTCI before hand.

[honey lamb]

It is not possible for the valet parking driver to meet you at DTCI either (due to security) but there is nothing stopping you trying to arrange with them for you to collect the valet somewhere before you use DTCI and for him to drive off once you have unloaded at DTCI.

Didn't someone do this (or something similar) recently in a trip report?

It is not possible for the valet parking driver to meet you at DTCI either (due to security) but there is nothing stopping you trying to arrange with them for you to collect the valet somewhere before you use DTCI and for him to drive off once you have unloaded at DTCI.

Didn't someone do this (or something similar) recently in a trip report?

Thats what I was thinking. I knew I had seen a TR with it on but couldn't remember who's it was or the vallet company involved.

Thank you very much for all of the replies y)

Yes, I believe that the "meet and greet"/DTCI combo was done with "Purple Parking" (as opposed to the BAA official valet parking). From what I remember, it was "up to the driver on the day of departure". I would personally probably prefer a more concrete plan (because of the toddler).

Will definitely provide DTCI with licence plate number (assuming we do get the go ahead to use it).

So how does DTCI work? At what stage do you get the boarding passes? Would/could my husband get his there and then - before he drives off to hand the car over the BAA valet parking people? If this is the case, then toddler and I could go through security and meet him "on the other side" or at the Clubhouse.

Boo

Didn't someone do this (or something similar) recently in a trip report?

Thats what I was thinking. I knew I had seen a TR with it on but couldn't remember who's it was or the vallet company involved.

I did it last year I used purple parking and arranged with them to pick the valet driver up kerbside outside T3 drive round the roundabout into DTCI and he drovethe car off to their parking

All worked smoothly ( VS were aware of what I was doing and agreed to It beforehand)

So how does DTCI work? At what stage do you get the boarding passes? Would/could my husband get his there and then - before he drives off to hand the car over the BAA valet parking people? If this is the case, then toddler and I could go through security and meet him "on the other side" or at the Clubhouse.

Boo

There is a little graphic and description here:
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/us/wh ... /index.jsp

... and sorry for mixing you and Mr Boo Boo up in my earlier post :#

Will definitely provide DTCI with licence plate number (assuming we do get the go ahead to use it).

So how does DTCI work? At what stage do you get the boarding passes? Would/could my husband get his there and then - before he drives off to hand the car over the BAA valet parking people? If this is the case, then toddler and I could go through security and meet him "on the other side" or at the Clubhouse.

Boo

There is more to it than just providing your reg plate and driving up.

If you do get the invite then you have to phone and book an estimated arrival slot of 30 minutes e.g. 11.00 - 11.30. VS will require the make, model, colour and registration number at least 30 minutes before this slot.

When you arrive at DTCI you will be met by VS staff. You still have to hand over your passport for checking and be asked and answer the usual security questions i.e. no different to 'normal' check-in

This is what may cause any difficulties as VS will expect your car to be driven off more or less as soon as pax and luggage have been removed with no hanging about. I think this is a security rule imposed on VS by the Department of Transport.

We used the DTCI at the end of March, our family members who were dropping off did get out the car to say goodbye and wanted to have a look around (curiousity and all that) but were told they would have to go - now I'm not sure if this would be different for actual passengers.

However, the CI is very quick and I could imagine the whole process taking less than 5-7 minutes so perhaps possible.

[Darren Wheeler]

Didn't someone do this (or something similar) recently in a trip report?

Thats what I was thinking. I knew I had seen a TR with it on but couldn't remember who's it was or the vallet company involved.

I did it last year I used purple parking and arranged with them to pick the valet driver up kerbside outside T3 drive round the roundabout into DTCI and he drovethe car off to their parking

All worked smoothly ( VS were aware of what I was doing and agreed to It beforehand)

Same here last month. Purple wouldn't say yes on the phone and put it down to the driver on the day. Luckily he agreed and I was sorted. Of course, a little piece of paper helped it along. :w

Thank you very much for all of your replies - really helps to have people's experiences. y)

To be honest, it makes perfect sense that they wouldn't want any cars "parked" (no matter how temporarily) at DTCI: I completely understand the perceived security risk (especially non-official cars).

I think that I was under the impression that check-in was pretty much handled as you get out of the car (i.e. luggage taken away, passports checked and boarding passes handed over). For some reason, that was my impression of DTCI (possibly an old video - maybe it did work like that with an official Virgin limo?). However, thinking about it, it does make sense that they need to ask all of the security questions etc...

We had a delightful experience with United coming back from skiing.... I was dumped at check-in, with all the luggage and on crutches (8 stitches in my knee from a skiing accident) whilst husband and toddler returned the hire car. I didn't ask for it, but the United check-in agent happily checked all three of us and our luggage in for the flights (with two of the party absent). I have a feeling that was against the rules and that Virgin could not check my husband in whilst he drop the car off at BAA Valet Parking... If they could check all three of us in, then I could take the lift down and meet him near the main check-in area and we could go through security together...

Somehow I reckon that BAA (official valet parking) will be less accomodating that Purple Parking (you tend to hand your keys over at their "hut" and don't always deal with the driver directly). Otherwise maybe £20 would work quite well?

Hhhhmmm, have a feeling this isn't going to work. Isn't massive, but would be a "nice to do"....

(no worries about mistaking me for "Mr Boo Boo" - I wouldn't be mistaken for him in real life, I hope.... :w ).

(Mrs) Boo Boo

[honey lamb]

I could take the lift down and meet him near the main check-in area and we could go through security together...


(Mrs) Boo Boo

If you take the lift down to meet him in the main check-in area, you will still have to go back up in the lift to go through security as it's on the same floor as DTCI. It's just down the corridor

I could take the lift down and meet him near the main check-in area and we could go through security together...


(Mrs) Boo Boo

If you take the lift down to meet him in the main check-in area, you will still have to go back up in the lift to go through security as it's on the same floor as DTCI. It's just down the corridor

True, but - from what previous poster/s have said - there is no suitable waiting area in DTCI for us to wait for my husband? Would have more chance of keeping toddler distracted in the main terminal than in a (from memory) featureless, empty corridor.

That would be a moot point if we couldn't check husband in via DTCI, though.

Boo

[honey lamb]

There's seating immediately after the security screening area before you go into the main departure area where you could probably wait

There's seating immediately after the security screening area before you go into the main departure area where you could probably wait

Thanks

Would depend if/how we could check husband in (i.e. whether he would have a boarding pass).

Doesn't look likely

There are some comfy chairs in the DTCI area as I sat in one to arrange my things when I used it but essentially its supposed to be a transition area and people not encouraged to linger - remember the CH calls !

When I was there there was a pax sat sorting through her handbag as her travel companion sorted something out at the desk.