Heathrow DTCI advice please.

Hi, over the years I have read numerous posts relating to the brilliant DTCI but Ive never used it before. Because we are travelling on 'G' fares we do not qualify for the UC chauffuer service

We are currently booked into the Premier Inn Bath Road for an overnight before our VS7 to Los Angeles. I saw a trip report about arranging the Tristar car service. So I did an online quote using the Premier Inn Bath Road as our start point - £69.49 seriously Does that sound right for a 2mile trip.

I woulod be grateful is any v-flyers could give advice on any other taxi companies who they've used to transfer from closeby hotel into DTCI. However I would have thought that giving the advance info of the car and driver is difficult if using a taxi firm?

My travel partner says we'll miss the DTCI option and go via the terminal if its going to cost that much

Just Uber/Kabbee/Hailo/whatever-it and get the best price.

The last two times I've used DTCI, I just drove up on the day, and didn't bother to pre-register. It was all fine.

I thought the requirement to call in with your car registration in advance had been lifted?

I thought you still had to book a time slot but the other requirements - providing car make etc etc beforehand - had gone.

I thought you still had to book a time slot but the other requirements - providing car make etc etc beforehand - had gone.

You don't even have to do that anymore (well I haven't, anyway). I don't have a copy to hand, but the wording on the check-in reminder doesn't mention it either.

I too have never used the DTCI, but when I called Virgin a couple of weeks ago they quoted me £86 from my home address which is SE London and apparently is 37miles away. Call them and see what they say, please come back though and advise of the outcome as I am seriously considering staying at the Premier Inn myself but won't bother if that's what they will charge for the 2 mile trip.

Enjoy.

If you use Kabbee or any of the myriad other apps out there, you'll be able to do it for under £15 from pretty much any of the local hotels.

Cheapest I've done it for was £8 from the Premier Inn in fact. Whatever the cost is, I tip a little more than usual for the hassle of driving up to DTCI (for the driver it's not as quick a drop-off as a standard T3 drop-off).

If you really want an executive car for the journey, then it'll be around £30-£50. That said, the £8 ride I had was in a Mercedes!

One example:

[honey lamb]

Erm, if you are on G fares you can use miles for the UC chauffeur service - 17,500 miles for within 75miles of LHR or LGW. It may not be the best use of them but it does give the experience. I used them when I brought my sister and nephew with me to JNB and I never regretted the spend of miles

[buns]

Erm, if you are on G fares you can use miles for the UC chauffeur service - 17,500 miles for within 75miles of LHR or LGW. It may not be the best use of them but it does give the experience. I used them when I brought my sister and nephew with me to JNB and I never regretted the spend of miles

I have to agree - takes all the stress out of organising the journey

The only thing being you haver to bring forwar the suggeseted pick up time if you want to make best use of the Clubhouse

buns

If you have miles to burn, I think the UC chauffeur is a great option, but - just for a different perspective - if you were to buy 17.5k miles from VS, that would cost you around $500/£300.

If you use the fairly common valuation for VS miles of 1ppm, then 17.5k miles is worth £175.

I used DTCI on a recent flight to MIA as I just wanted the experience.

A pre booked cab cost £37 excluding tip for a distance of 26 miles which I thought was very reasonable. I gave the driver a good tip as it does take a few minutes longer due to barrier, careful manoeuvering up the ramp, unloading etc. It was worth every penny. The driver was really interested in the whole process as he'd not previously been asked to use it.

Good luck finding a good deal.

Roxy-popsy

Morning, thanks for your comments.
We've decided to just book a taxi service from the Premier Inn on the morning of our flight. Quote was £7 to T3

As much as I'd like to experience the DTCI using 17k miles or a load of cash, is simply not a worth while option.

I phoned Virgin and was quoted £105.49 from my house on East London/essex border but that would be on the actual morning of our flight. Our cab to the Premier Inn + the room overnight is actually more than that but travelling in the London rush hour brings on the stress factor, which is why we stay overnight at the airportsii)

I have got a few weeks to go so all options are open. Good to learn that the driver/car info is not required for the DTCI now, although the Virgin agent I spoke to said "oh really, I'll have to look up that policy change" !!!

We usually use our own car. Book DTCI with VS. Then book meet and greet with Purple Parking (500 miles via VS website).

Ask PP in advance if they will drive you round in your own car to DTCI. Then when you check in with PP on top level of the multi story at T3 leave your luggage in car and they take you round.

We've done it 4-5 times now and up tip now PP parking have always been happy to oblige.

[mitchja]

From the VS website:

Minimise your time at the airport by pre-registering your car before arriving. You can then arrive as late as 40 minutes before departure. If you'd prefer not to register, you will need to arrive at least 90 minutes before departure.

To pre-register your car, please call us on +441293 493600.

So pre-registering to use DTCI is now optional.

As much as I'd like to experience the DTCI using 17k miles or a load of cash, is simply not a worth while option.

You never know: your £7 minicab might be exactly the same as DTCI with the VS Chauffeur Service!

As I mentioned above, on one occasion a fully-uniformed driver picked me up from the hotel in her swanky black Merc. I was so convinced there'd been a mistake, I had to verify the price (£8) with her as I got in the car.

She was perfectly happy to drive up to DTCI (her first time doing it; no pre-registering, we just turned up unannounced), rather than the normal T3 drop-off. It is a little bit of extra hassle & time for the driver, so a solid tip is in order, I think.

Enjoy!

What time does decide open I will be arriving at lhr about 0630am for the vs003 in August

Sorry predictive text what time does dtci open