Would you bother......

paying for a UC ticket if you didn't have use of the Clubhouse? I was thinking about this last night, say you had a flight that left before 8:30am, so you only at most 1 hour in the CH, I know to most buisness pax it doesn't really matter, but those of us who are going on our hols, and want to get everything we can out of our hard earned money(yes, that means acquiring a ninja as well, even on a day flight[:I]). I don't think I would even use UC if I was using miles, I just don't think the product is good enough to stand on it's own.

[honey lamb]

Funny you should ask this question as I was thinking the same thing this morning. I was tracking the early morning flight from here to LHR which landed 30 minutes early. Even so by the time you have collected your bags in T1 and hoofed it to T3, checked in and negotiated security it gives you an hour at the most before the SFO flight. With a bit of luck and forward planning you might be able to get a treatment and something to eat - and of course a glass of champagne but after that the value is to be away from the throngs in the departure lounge.

The last time I flew to SFO I only had 30 minutes in the Clubhouse. Was it worth it? I had left home before 5am expecting to grab some breakfast in ORK. The crowds there for check-in and security were humungous and I only managed to get into the departure area as they were calling the flight with nary a bite to eat. Between that and the yomp over to T3 it was a pretty frazzled and hungry honey lamb that arrived in the Clubhouse. Those 30 minutes were enough to enable me to get my breath and begin to relax as well as to grab a bite to eat. OK, so I didn't get the full works but, yes, it was worth it. [y]

After that the added value of UC was to be able to stretch out and catch up on some [|)] following the early morning start

Incidentally I am booked to go to SFO in July and already I have decided to fly to LHR the night before because there is only a two hour difference in my incoming flight which leaves little margin for error. Oh, and to have more Clubhouse time

I would seriously look at the other options, as the main reason for flying UC certainly bakc into the UK is not the clubhouse (at MCO there isn't one) but the fact to get some sleep at all (if the people at the bar don't keep talking in loud voices) for the drive back from LGW to the Midlands. But without the Clubhouse, other airlines sleep seats start to make sense.

Would I feel like I was getting my money's worth? NO.

Would I still book UC? Yes (particularly on a night flight) - nothing else I've seen compares to the UCS in bed mode which for me is v. important as is the IFE.

VS.

AUs of course get CH access without necessarily buying an UC ticket. They also stand a better chance than most of getting an op up, albeit the chance is still very limited. Nevertheless, many AUs still buy an UC ticket. Would I? Yes if it were a night flight. On a day flight probably PE would do the job.

[HighFlyer]

Depends on the purpose of the trip but most likely yes! I have gone out of my way to have half an hour in a lounge before, just to get a cold drink and sit in relative peace and quiet before a flight.

I adore the time in the CH before the flight, a chance to have a cooked breakfast, get a treatment and read the papers, but my buying an UC ticket is also about the onboard experience of having a bed and better service than PE/EC for the 8-12 hours I am onboard. The CH is only a small part of the whole trip.

Thanks,
Sarah

For me I wouldn't bother paying for a UCS ticket if it meant I had little to no Clubhouse time (or equivalent lounges at places like MCO).

But then again I would be paying for a UCS ticket so I can relax and have a decent nights sleep on a flight like MCO-MAN (I've done it in Ecomony 3 times in the days of the 747-200s and I did not sleep at all).

Otherwise if it is a day flight then personally I think PE is the better investment compared to UCS (unless I know its gonna be a long flight or will most porbably be tired etc).

Anyway getting back to the original question it is a nice touch to use the Clubhouse but the least that they could do is allow you to spend a reasonable amount of time in there.

I certainly would, like Sarah said, the CH is just part of the whole experience of flying UC, it is a very good part, but the service, and the whole bed/seat and stretching out, and having the bar and treatment on board too. So in an answer it is a big fat YES! [y]

Also I am too use to going left when I get on the plane, I can't go down the back now, it is turn left or nothing for me! [}:)]

Dominic

[fozzyo]

I'm off to ORD in May and travelling in Economy so no CH for me.

I would still do it, particularly on longer flights - West Coast USA, HKG, Tokyo etc. The money is in the on-board experience - the CH is a bonus.