DTCI and CH queries

Morning, all. I have some potentially daft questions for you We're flying UC for the first time and I'm trying to figure everything out... we're close to being able to select seats for the outbound leg so pretty excited! Hearing everyone say how great DTCI is has been making me want to try it, but I'm a little wary as it means we'll have to leave our two travelling companions (travelling in Y) to their own devices making their way from the Hilton T5 to check-in at T3 (they're not frequent flyers and it's the first long haul flight for one of them)

1) Our flight is at 11:30am. If we're flying UC, can we check-in earlier than 3 hours before? I notice a few people saying they get to the CH very early so I'm wondering if this is something you can do if you check in the regular way (at the desk), or if it's only with DTCI. If it is possible to get there early, what time do you recommend?

2) Obviously as our guests are booked in Y I'm assuming they can't check in earlier, but I've read that we can leave their names with reception at the CH so they can be let in (space dependent) when they arrive a little while later. Is this the case?

3) How busy is the CH generally on a weekday morning? I'm guessing pretty packed with business travellers. We're travelling on December 4th (a Thursday) outside of school holidays and am wondering what the chances are that our guests might not be granted access. I'm aware this is a bit of a "how long is a piece of string" question, but your experiences are appreciated

4) Where is the Virgin Clubhouse located? I've looked at the Heathrow map and the map on the VS website but still feel a little confused despite feeling like we know T3 fairly well. Is it easy to find?

I think that's everything, for now! Thanks in advance.

[buns]

To try and allay some of your concerns, if your travelling companions are on the same flight as you and you are all staying at the Hilton then you can all check in together at the UC Check In at the same time.

The same applies to DTCI and I have taken guests through there who are travelling in Y on the same flight as me.

Obviously, if they are making their own way to the Airport, then you can either meet them at the UC check in and go through or meet them at the Clubhouse.

buns

The Clubhouse does get very busy in the mornings but if your guests are there as your Plus Ones they're entitled to be let in so won't be turned away.

To get there follow signs to Lounge H. It's close to the start of the pier that leads to gates 13-22. It's upstairs, above the American Airlines lounge.

You can check in as early as you like - VS recommend 3 hours but you're free to arrive earlier if you want. Many V-Flyers will happily spend 4 or 5 hours in the Clubhouse, such is its allure!

buns and gumshoe, you have both made my day! Thank you so much I had no idea we could take our guests (my sister and her boyfriend) through DTCI with us! This makes a huge difference. We're all staying at the Hilton together the night before so travelling in together will be perfect. I think DTCI will be an extra bit of unexpected excitement for them.

The clubhouse is 'Airline Lounge H' on the Heathrow map near gates 13-22

Interactive map here

PDF Map Here (scroll down to departures)

CHill710, thank you! I looked at the regular PDF, but hadn't bothered with the interactive map which was actually extremely helpful. Thank you very much. I know exactly where it is, now.

[buns]

And just to reiterate the point - you can get there as early as you like

I send greetings from the Clubhouse, 5 hours before departure

BTW do make sure you log your guests with DTCI prior to your departure day

buns

Thanks so much! I'll definitely make sure to log them (and us) with VS well before the departure date. I'm now looking up private cars big enough for the four of us with luggage! Found a couple of good links courtesy of a search through the forum.

Thank you again, and enjoy your time in the CH!

[buns]

Thanks so much! I'll definitely make sure to log them (and us) with VS well before the departure date. I'm now looking up private cars big enough for the four of us with luggage! Found a couple of good links courtesy of a search through the forum.

Thank you again, and enjoy your time in the CH!

Thank you, you and your friends will enjoy the Clubhouse, so book your slot and get there as early as you can and make the most of the experience

Whether your friends travelling in Economy will want to leave is a different matter

buns

I'm now looking up private cars big enough for the four of us with luggage!

Don't be tempted to book a limo- the distance between the security bollards is not enough to take an ultra long- wheel base vehicle .
You could book two vehicles with one UC passenger in each if the four of you and luggage won't fit in estate/ people carrrier sized vehicle .
DL

This does beg the question SpaceDog - How much luggage are the four of you taking??
Are we talking MiniBus quantities?? LOL

[buns]

This does beg the question SpaceDog - How much luggage are the four of you taking??
Are we talking MiniBus quantities?? LOL

As is mentioned above, it is a very tight turn from the road into the entrance for DTCI. I am sure I would have problems with my 4X4 in doing the turn before you enter the clean area before before being allowed to proceed

buns

Whether your friends travelling in Economy will want to leave is a different matter

Haha! Might have to peel them off the seats They're very excited about the trip in general, so hopefully they won't be TOO sad to go.

DragonLady and buns, as always thank you for the excellent advice, it is duly noted! Definitely no limos; I was looking at an executive people carrier as most of the regular cars say three people with three suitcases maximum. We'll be four people with four suitcases! Do you think an executive people carrier will fit? I was looking at the ones available on this site (the example listed was a Merc Viano): https://www.airporttaxis-uk.co.uk

This does beg the question SpaceDog - How much luggage are the four of you taking??
Are we talking MiniBus quantities?? LOL

Only one bag each outbound, but on the way back as we're travelling alone (my sister and her OH depart a couple of days before us), we intend to buy some extra bags and make use of that extra baggage allowance

Uh, scratch all that. The estate car option on that website also takes 4 people with 4 suitcases--crisis averted. I need to learn to read properly. More haste, less speed

[honey lamb]

To get back to the question of how long one can stay in the CH, I've arrived there at 9am from a connecting flight for a 4pm onward flight and on that occasion there was a gentleman there who had arrived much earlier and was still there when I left. I believe he had arrived from JFK and was scheduled to fly out to JNB later that night.

I've just booked my DTCI slot for my flight in a couple of weeks. I was looking at http://www.airporttaxis-uk.co.uk as they had come recommended by another v-flyer. Anyway, I contacted them today and asked if they can take me to VS's Upper Class Wing and got the response "I'm not sure you can drive there". So I told them you can and that I'd need to have the car reg in advance to go through security. I was told flatly "no, we wouldn't do that".

So bang goes the idea of doing DTCI a little cheaper, and knowing my OH's blasé idea of "it's only money" I called and booked via VS. I got a super agent on the phone, really chatty and helpful, apologetic because the IT system wasn't playing. I made a comment about Virgin's IT system being legendary and she asked if I'd been told about it before and I just said something about it being quite well known!

Anyway she said the latest pick up time from the Radisson was 14:55 but I could go anytime, spend as long as I want in the lounge. So I asked for 12 and she accidentally booked me an 11am pickup! Ho hum, don't know what I'm gonna do for nearly 6 hours... but I know it involves champoo

So we're all booked, and then I asked her to price up a transfer at my destination to my hotel, and booked that too.

Purple parking happy to drive you round in your own car with their meet and greet service, 500 miles as well.
Done it many times before and works a dream.

To get back to the question of how long one can stay in the CH, I've arrived there at 9am from a connecting flight for a 4pm onward flight and on that occasion there was a gentleman there who had arrived much earlier and was still there when I left. I believe he had arrived from JFK and was scheduled to fly out to JNB later that night.

I guess a testament to the addictive nature of the CH

Bretty, ah, that's the company I was looking at having seen your earlier thread on the subject! May I ask why you didn't go with Tristar? Their £60 hourly rate certainly isn't cheap, but for four of us seems like it might be worth it. If not, I'll contact VS and see what's on offer on their end.

mswadley, sadly we've already booked our parking at the hotel! Otherwise that would have worked a treat. Good to know for future bookings, however. Thank you!

May I ask why you didn't go with Tristar? Their £60 hourly rate certainly isn't cheap, but for four of us seems like it might be worth it. If not, I'll contact VS and see what's on offer on their end.

VS use Tristar .


DL

Ah! Glad I warned you all about the possibility of silly questions Thanks very much, DL. I will call VS to arrange.

Yes, just to confirm I'm booked with Tristar for both LHR and BOS CDC. Although I haven't booked a return CDC to BOS, by then I'll have need to get rid of some dollars and take a cab!