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Taking extra guests into the LHR clubhouse

Posted:
21 Jan 2008, 02:29
by Yellow Snow
Hi all,
I know it's been covered but I swear I can't find it on the search engine.
Taking the folks to NYC in March for their wedding anniversary. We're all in PE and with my Gold, I can get the missus in the clubhouse.
I seem to remember a thread on here about gold or upper being able to pay to take extra guests into the lounge. Is this true? Did I make it up? How, if I can, do I set this up in advance?
Would love to take the folks into the CH?
Ta very much,
YS

Posted:
21 Jan 2008, 08:22
by slinky09
Originally posted by Yellow Snow
Hi all,
I know it's been covered but I swear I can't find it on the search engine.
Taking the folks to NYC in March for their wedding anniversary. We're all in PE and with my Gold, I can get the missus in the clubhouse.
I seem to remember a thread on here about gold or upper being able to pay to take extra guests into the lounge. Is this true? Did I make it up? How, if I can, do I set this up in advance?
Would love to take the folks into the CH?
Ta very much,
YS
I'm sorry to say that you might find this difficult - CH staf have been having a crack down on access recently, asking to see all cards, checking expiry dates and checking the numbers of people entering. This is because, according to one of the door staff recently, a number of Golds have been abusing the system!
Of course, you can take one guest, but the only options I can see for taking three would be to follow the VH route and buy extra CH invites, or if you have a Flying Company account whereby you can purchase CH invites for 5k miles each.

Posted:
21 Jan 2008, 09:58
by PVGSLF
Or check itinerary's to see if another member is travelling the same day with a spare invite - which reminds me, I must update my next outbound flight to say I'm on my own, and able to take a guest in!

Posted:
21 Jan 2008, 10:09
by ukcobra
I've been a Gold member since Dec 06, and they have always asked to see my Gold Card, to prove it's still active.
You can take guests in, space allowing, in April 07 I paid £30 per child , with the normal price being £60 per adult.
Mark

Posted:
21 Jan 2008, 11:39
by mas66
Originally posted by Yellow Snow
Hi all,
I know it's been covered but I swear I can't find it on the search engine.
Taking the folks to NYC in March for their wedding anniversary. We're all in PE and with my Gold, I can get the missus in the clubhouse.
I seem to remember a thread on here about gold or upper being able to pay to take extra guests into the lounge. Is this true? Did I make it up? How, if I can, do I set this up in advance?
Would love to take the folks into the CH?
Ta very much,
YS
Likewise I can confirm that subject to space you are able to take guests in at £60 per adult.
What I actually did last time (Nov '07) was pre paid at the CH concierge desk on an earlier visit, they put the date/flight details in the diary and gave me a receipt (they even let me book treatments for them !) . I did this to avoid the fuss of paying in front of the guests (my parents). I would also think that doing it this way you are less likely to get bounced because of space as they have already taken your money !
As it happened I upgraded them to UC on the day and the CH even gave me my £120 back that I had prepaid.
Cheers
Mark [:D]

Posted:
21 Jan 2008, 11:59
by Yellow Snow
Thank you all,
in the space of 12 hours you've given me some great info.
Cheers for the fast and concise responses!
YS

Posted:
21 Jan 2008, 12:31
by DarkAuror
I know Yellow Snow's query has now been answered but...
Of course, you can take one guest, but the only options I can see for taking three would be to follow the VH route and buy extra CH invites
Unless I'm totally wrong (which I'm probably am!) I was under the impression you can only buy a CH invite unless you book a holiday through VH.[?]

Posted:
21 Jan 2008, 12:44
by jaguarpig
Unless I'm totally wrong (which I'm probably am!) I was under the impression you can only buy a CH invite unless you book a holiday through VH.
Au card holders are able to buy guest access to the CH

Posted:
21 Jan 2008, 12:52
by DarkAuror
Sorry! I was coming from the VH point of view as I was just having a look on the VH website as Slinky09 mentioned about it. As I'm a lowly Red, I was looking for options for a possible trip later on in the year and you could only book CH invites if you have booked the holiday through them.

Posted:
21 Jan 2008, 13:35
by slinky09
Originally posted by mas66
Likewise I can confirm that subject to space you are able to take guests in at £60 per adult.
Thanks for enlightening me!

Posted:
21 Jan 2008, 16:29
by Bean Counter
An alternative to paying as a gold member, which may or may not apply depending on whether you have a flying co account, would be to use Flying Co miles to buy passes.

Posted:
21 Jan 2008, 16:50
by Yellow Snow
Before I got to Gold, I always looked at the VH website when travelling to try to buy LHR CH access, it seemed whatever date I tried, there was no availability[n]
You don't have to have booked with VH, you just need to check the box, to lie and say you have booked through VH!!!!

Posted:
21 Jan 2008, 17:08
by DarkAuror
Ah, that's the way! [:w]
So they don't ask for a reference no or proof of purchase?

Posted:
21 Jan 2008, 17:49
by Bean Counter
While, as Mr Snow say, you only have to tick the box, if they pick up on the fact that you are not with VH after the event then you are in a precarious position. Having physically made the effort to tick you could be said to have misrepresented yourself, and as such I would not hold out too much hope of a refund.
While I have not hear of anyone being caught out, this doesn't mean it has not happened. And now the ruse is in the public domain VS/VH may start checking. So at the end of the day it is a gamble, and you should be prepared to loose!

Posted:
21 Jan 2008, 21:21
by mas66
Originally posted by Bean Counter
An alternative to paying as a gold member, which may or may not apply depending on whether you have a flying co account, would be to use Flying Co miles to buy passes.
Bean Counter .... not quite sure what you are saying here. Just to clarify ... Gold card holders are entitled to pay for guests (subject to space), this is not in any way related to a Flying Co account.
Cheers
Mark [:D]

Posted:
21 Jan 2008, 21:46
by Coakers
Originally posted by Yellow Snow
Before I got to Gold, I always looked at the VH website when travelling to try to buy LHR CH access, it seemed whatever date I tried, there was no availability[n]
You don't have to have booked with VH, you just need to check the box, to lie and say you have booked through VH!!!!
I got this as well, but if you e-mail then VH come back to you with availability. I guess this is due to VH systems not being able to keep a live feed of Clubhouse passes sold and therefore what entitlement they can sell.

Posted:
21 Jan 2008, 22:06
by Treelo
Originally posted by Coakers
Originally posted by Yellow Snow
Before I got to Gold, I always looked at the VH website when travelling to try to buy LHR CH access, it seemed whatever date I tried, there was no availability[n]
You don't have to have booked with VH, you just need to check the box, to lie and say you have booked through VH!!!!
I got this as well, but if you e-mail then VH come back to you with availability...............
Perhaps then this was the VH check that a flight had been booked through them thereby limiting the punters who had been economical with the truth [:w]

Posted:
22 Jan 2008, 01:56
by Yellow Snow
For anyone that thinks I may've let the cat out of the bag re 'just ticking the box regardless!! This was something that mentioned on these forums over a year ago, so VH haven't caught on yet.
I don't think they truly care, the wording of the T&C's is very wooly, and I know they don't check as I've used them for LGW CH access in the past
Coakers,
interesting what you say, when I booked LGW I did it on line there and then. I'm off to DXB solo in a couple of weeks, and if I can't prebook the folks then, I may try emailing VH, that or begging a fellow gold card holder or two from this forum who might be travelling the same day[:D]

Posted:
22 Jan 2008, 09:22
by Decker
VS are remarkably unresponsive to this sort of thing. It was pointed out to them over a year ago that as 'prebooking treatments' was a Gold benefit, allowing VH customers to advertise that they (or indeed anyone) could do the same somewhat diluted the benefit. They agreed and promptly did nothing.

Posted:
23 Jan 2008, 10:57
by flying low
Anyone know the rules for the LHR arrival lounge? Can I take a guest in if they did not fly in on VS?

Posted:
23 Jan 2008, 11:02
by mitchja
Revivals entry is very strict I'm afraid. No guests are allowed even with an AU card holder or with a J pax. You also cant buy or gain access to Revivals by any other means.
You have to be either a VS J pax flying on a VS prefixed flight or a VS AU card holder on a VS prefixed flight to enter.
Regards

Posted:
23 Jan 2008, 11:11
by jimbob247
I have seen them allow paid entry to arrivals, for someone accompanying a pax arrving from Nigeria and going on to the US. I think it was £35

Posted:
23 Jan 2008, 14:26
by zambandit
I am travelling in PE with my 2 kids (14 and 11), and i have a Gold Card - do you think they will let me bring the additional child in? / or maybe i will have to pay for the 11 yr old.........anyone been in this predicament before?
Cheers

Posted:
23 Jan 2008, 14:54
by Decker
Normally for the CH it's a £30 pay in for a child. For Revivals naturally you are SOL.

Posted:
23 Jan 2008, 15:02
by ukcobra
Originally posted by zambandit
I am travelling in PE with my 2 kids (14 and 11), and i have a Gold Card - do you think they will let me bring the additional child in? / or maybe i will have to pay for the 11 yr old.........anyone been in this predicament before?
Cheers
I was exempted from paying for my 1 year old and my 6 year old, but had to pay for my 10 year old. The Concierge cut me a break on the 6 year old.
I would suspect they will charge you for both of your children.
Mark