V-Flyer

Good afternoon all. First post here! Can I just say that I use all sorts of forums as a great place to find info, and this site is awesome!

In November my partner and I are getting married. We are then flying from Gatwick to Havana for our Honeymoon. First of all, I have booked Upper Class, as I suppose it is our honeymoon! Some good reviews on here so I'm really looking forward to it.

Just a couple of things that you may be able to help me with.

We booked our holiday through Kuoni, any idea how we select our seats for the flight? She is not a very good flyer, as such wants to at least be near me. I understand the aircraft will be a 747, with Upper Class at the front. Only 14 seats! Does not seem a lot!

I think we get picked up by car from the hotel on the morning of the flight, if so, is there 'drive through' facilities in Gatwick? Not sure what this is all about though.

How do we access the Clubhouse at Gatwick? Does something come through the post?

Also, I seem to think that there is not a menu on the Havana flight, anyone know if this is correct? I thought that you would be able to select snacks from the 'freedom' menu!

On our return to Gatwick, is there any sort of 'revivals' facility available for us to use? If so, does the driver just wait for us?!

Any other tips from getting the most out of our flight? I just want things to go well, the extra cost of Upper Class is a pretty big deal for us struggling first time homeowners!

One thing I have noticed, there are no upper class trip reports on the site that I can see for Gatwick to Havana. Either nobody uses this route, or its so poor, people can't bring themselves to write about it.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this rather rambling post!

Regards

Ross

Welcome to V-Flyer, Ross [:)]

For your seat assignments, you need to get your locator number for your booking from Kuoni so that you can look up your booking and choose your seats yourself.

There are indeed only 14 seats in the cabin. Take a look at the seat maps for more information. If you do not manage to pre-book your seats please note that a number of seats are not open to pre-allocation so you are still very likely to be sat together on the flight.

Regarding the car, is this supplied by Virgin, or a car from the hotel? Generally, only cars provided by Virgin can use the drive-thru check-in area, and yes, there is one at Gatwick though this is different to the facility at Heathrow (but none the less a nice experience). As you arrive at the terminal there is a seperate building and you'll be checked in for your flight there and given your boarding passes and invitations for the Clubhouse. Once you clear security you go straight to the Clubhouse, your boarding pass will be checked to confirm your elligibilty to enter.

There will be a freedom menu on your flight where you can choose from a variety of meal options and light bites.

There isnt an official Revivals facility at Gatwick, but you are entitled to use the UA Airways Arrivals lounge. You would give a time to your driver to pick you up from the airport, so factor in a few additional hours if you want to use this facility.

Currently, we only have trip reports for Havana in Economy or Premium, so if you fancy writing one, that would be great [:D]

Have a fantastic Honeymoon [:)]

Thanks,
Sarah

Hi Ross and welcome to the forum.

I can only answer some of your questions but others will come along and be able to answer the rest - or put me right if I am wrong.

First of all there are, as you rightly say, only 14 seats on the LGW fleet all at the pointy end of the plane so it is a very pleasant and intimate cabin. To select your seats you will have to get your VS reference from Kuoni but others will be able to advise you better on that.

The drive through facility is available if you are on a D or J ticket and if the car has been arranged through VS. Kuoni should be able to tell you if it is a J, D or Z fare as Z fares don't qualify.

When you check in you will be advised as to how to get to the Clubhouse and issued with an invitation.

The menu for the Havana flight is likely to be the same one as on the US flights. That will change between now and November as the UC menus change every 3 months. Freedom menu is as it says - the freedom to choose when you eat.

At LGW the revivals lounge belongs to US airways but Virgin passengers have access to it.

Havana is a new route and it is possible that none of our regular trip reporters have been there so don't worry about the lack of reports.

Finally have a great wedding and honeymoon

There isnt an official Revivals facility at Gatwick, but you are entitled to use the UA Airways Arrivals lounge. You would give a time to your driver to pick you up from the airport, so factor in a few additional hours if you want to use this facility.

Er, Sarah. it's US Airways, not UA. I don't think UA flies into Gatwick, does it?

Ah, typo.[:)] If you click on the link its US Air.

Thanks,
Sarah

Originally posted by honey lamb
At LGW the revivals lounge belongs to US airways but Virgin passengers have access to it.

Never knew this. May will be my third UC flight into Gatwick so something to look forward to on arrival. Seems VA keep this very quite can't find any reference to this on their website.

Yet another example why V-Flyer provides such excellent value[y][y]

-Steve

Welcome to the forums,

You sya you 'think' you have a car picking you up from the hotel and taking you to the airport.

I dont have experience with Kuoni, but am wondering if the car is supplied by them or if the car is a CDC that is included with UC bookings (J&D fare codes.)?

If the car is not supplied by Virgin as part of your ticket, then you will be unable to use the drive thru facility.

If the car is supplied by Virgin it will most certainly be available to you.

Have a great flight !!

Many thanks for all of the responses!

I have checked, and the car has been arranged through Virgin.

With regards to the trip, I will indeed write up a report on my return! Will take some pics and get them posted up!

I will also get some pics of the shared lounge in Havana! Im sure that will be an experience!

Just a quick one..Do I need to do anything to gain access to the Gatwick arrivals lounge or do you just show them the ticket?

Many thanks for your time!

All you need to do is show them the stub of your boarding pass.

Before you depart for Havana you and your good lady wife might like a treatment in the LGW clubhouse. This link shows you the treatments available and you can see that you are able to pre-book them six months in advance - so I would get cracking in May. You may well need a relaxing treatment after the rigours of the wedding [:D]

This denizen of the fora wishes you a lovely wedding and enjoyable honeymoon.

GJ

Cheers all!

Originally posted by HighFlyer
Welcome to V-Flyer, Ross [:)]

For your seat assignments, you need to get your locator number for your booking from Kuoni so that you can look up your booking and choose your seats yourself.

There are indeed only 14 seats in the cabin. Take a look at the seat maps for more information. If you do not manage to pre-book your seats please note that a number of seats are not open to pre-allocation so you are still very likely to be sat together on the flight.

Regarding the car, is this supplied by Virgin, or a car from the hotel? Generally, only cars provided by Virgin can use the drive-thru check-in area, and yes, there is one at Gatwick though this is different to the facility at Heathrow (but none the less a nice experience). As you arrive at the terminal there is a seperate building and you'll be checked in for your flight there and given your boarding passes and invitations for the Clubhouse. Once you clear security you go straight to the Clubhouse, your boarding pass will be checked to confirm your elligibilty to enter.

There will be a freedom menu on your flight where you can choose from a variety of meal options and light bites.

There isnt an official Revivals facility at Gatwick, but you are entitled to use the UA Airways Arrivals lounge. You would give a time to your driver to pick you up from the airport, so factor in a few additional hours if you want to use this facility.

Currently, we only have trip reports for Havana in Economy or Premium, so if you fancy writing one, that would be great [:D]

Have a fantastic Honeymoon [:)]

Thanks,
Sarah

With regards to pre booking our seats, how long after the booking is made do details appear on the 'update your booking' section on the virgin website?

I have the booking ref. off virgin, but I get the message 'sorry we are unable to find your booking'

Thanks

Ross

Originally posted by Urban Splash

With regards to pre booking our seats, how long after the booking is made do details appear on the 'update your booking' section on the virgin website?

I have the booking ref. off virgin, but I get the message 'sorry we are unable to find your booking'

Thanks

Ross

Ross - how far in advance are your flights? You can only select seats from 336 days from your return day, so this could be the reason.

If this isn't the case then if you have a reference from Virgin you should be able to see your flights now, maybe worth giving a quick them call to see what the problem is - they will also be able to book your seats over the phone for you if you want.

Neil

Thanks Neil,

My flight is on 5th November. Will give them a call

sometimes if the ticket has not been issued then you cannot view your booking.

Originally posted by declansmith
sometimes if the ticket has not been issued then you cannot view your booking.

How do I know if a ticket has been issued?