Some VS UC Questions

Hi folks.

Thinking of treating myself to a one way UC trip to Dubai on VS, but have a few questions before I make the decision to book. WIthout meaning to sound too tight, I want to get my money's worth.

Clubhouse (HR): I know you can't book treatments now, but is it strictly one treatment per person? The Dubai flight is a night flight but I was thinking about getting there in the morning and having a whole day enjoying the clubhouse (breakfast n all!) - can I several treatments spread throughout the day?

Also, if I were to book UC on the return leg only, and say PE on the outbound, can I use the clubhouse on the outbound, or can you only use the clubhouse on the leg you are UC?

Would it be possible to get there that early? Or is there a time limit?

Other than the unlimited free food and drink! are there any other perks which should tempt me to pay the extra 800 GBP?

Also, some general advice - is it worth the money? I'm currently silver status so the additional tier points to help me on the way to gold would help.

I'm not sure about the treatments but when I went to JFK I spent quite a while in the LHR CH sampling most of the menu!

quote:Originally posted by tomlock
Hi folks.
Also, if I were to book UC on the return leg only, and say PE on the outbound, can I use the clubhouse on the outbound, or can you only use the clubhouse on the leg you are UC?

Would it be possible to get there that early? Or is there a time limit?


I'll answer these two for you, no you cannot use the Clubhouse on the way out, you can only use it on the leg you are flying. Personally if I was flying to Dubai and only doing 1 sector in UC then I would choose outbound as you would get both the Clubhouse and a bed for the night flight. Coming back is a day flight and as it's an early departure there's not too much to offer at Dubai airport.

As for arrival time, there are some of us on here that have been know to arrive early AM for a late PM flight[:w]

-Steve

[Neil]

You are limited to one treatment, the cowshed will have all your details on their system so it will be logged once you have had your treatment.

You can arrive at anytime and go in to the CH, many V-Flyers have arrived long before their flight without any issue.

[buns]

To add to what others have already said, if this trip gets you up to Gold status, then it is worth the money as the following year will entitle you (and a companion) entry to the Clubhouse irrespective of class being travelled.

There are a few on this site that go to no end of trouble to retain their status[:w][:w] and gain full benefit as they tend to travel in either Economy or Premium and get all the benefits of Upper Class travel

buns

You would only get one treatment during your visit, though with no pre booking I suppose the earlier you get there the more chance there is of them fitting you in.

Yes there is free food and drink but there is only so much you can eat and drink. Personally three or so hours in the CH is enough for me even allowing for a treatment and having something to eat and drink. But other people would regard that as an appallingly short time ! Plus if I was getting a late flight like this one would be, I'd rather either spend the day pampering myself at home or at work and save the days holidat for another time.

THe return flight arrives after revivals has closed so you wont be able to use that. Not sure what the shared lounge is like at Dubai but its not the club house.

Have a look at the trip reports for both legs and see what others have said.

Only you can say if it is value for money though. You could put a strict money figure on everything but then you just end up feeling 'cheated' if it didn't add up to the difference between the PE and UC fare. Plus can you put a value on being in the CH rather than main deppartures, or in a quieter cabin on the plane etc?

[Nottingham Nick]

Agree with what has been said so far.

I enjoy the Clubhouse, but all day? I wonder if that is too much of a good thing.

The Clubhouse certainly hasn't been bypassed in the recent bout of draconian cuts that the powers that be at VS sold to us as 'service enhancements', but are have really been put in place because they believe that cutting back on what makes Virgin special is the way to keep the airline in business. [?]

Therefore, although the food and drink are unlimited, I wonder how else you would fill your time. The magazines and newspapers have been pared to the bone, you still have free wi-fi and the pool table, but that may not fill the day.

Each to their own, but I think 4 hours is as much time as anyone would want in the Clubhouse.

If you do spend the whole day there, please let us know if you think it was worth it.

Nick

I have only ever been offered one treatment in the Cowshed or haircut in B&B. They also offer shorter treatments and it may be worth asking them if you could have two of these spread over the day - I don't think it is policy but there is no harm in asking.

The good news is if you are planning on spending as much time as possible in the CH it should ensure you get a treatment even if they are very busy.

As a UC or Gold FC pax you are entitled to one free treatment - regardless of length. Given that plus the (limited selection) of food and other things Nick has pointed out; 2 hours is long enough for me in there before my flight. Any more than 3hrs and I would be climbing the walls with boredom.

Virgin use the Gulf Air lounge at Dubai but I'm not sure what it is like.

quote:Originally posted by GodAtum
Virgin use the Gulf Air lounge at Dubai but I'm not sure what it is like.


The Gulf Air Lounge is quite small compared to the Clubhouse. Sometimes difficult to get a seat. The kitchen/food area tiny with limited snacks. Depends what time you arrive really. On my two occasions, the first time there were a few muffins, biscuits and cheeses available. The second visit I think I spotted a few nuts and crisps and sandwiches. But this is at 9.30am, maybe more is on offer later? Drinks wise, the usual cans of lager and beer in small fridges and soft drinks, tea and coffee. Newspapers and magazines almost non existent.
Personally, I prefer to look around the Duty Free and the Gold Shops. Since the new terminal was finished, the whole place is massive now. One of the best airports (airside) I've seen. Yes, you do see people lounging/lying on the floor
waiting for flights, but it's only upstairs not on the shopping floors. There is a wonderful gold station where you can choose gold rings, earrings, chains, bracelets with or without diamonds which you pay by the weight.
I bought two sets of gold and diamond earrings 18ct, beautiful for less than 1 pair of 9ct over here!

Next time I fly to Dubai, I won't bother with the Gulf lounge at all.
Oh and by the way, I'm quite happy to spend 5/6 hours in the Clubhouse!!

Anna

An interesting read from someone who travelled on Gulf Air:

quote:Its 7.30 am and not yet dawn when I reach Heathrows Terminal 3 for my scheduled 9.30 am departure. The building has undergone a bit of a transformation since I was here last, or maybe its just the mood lighting making everything look more attractive than they actually are. At one end is a place looking like a trendy cocktail bar it turns out to be the check-in area for Virgin Atlantics Upper Class thats a sharp contrast to the fluorescent-lit utilitarian counters used by the other airlines. What a crafty ploy to win converts to the airline! Even hardened cynics traveling Gulf Air look over enviously from their First Class check-in desks and think to themselves: hmmm, maybe I should give VS a try next time


quote:On the way, I pass an enticing poster of the overly plush interiors of the Virgin Clubhouse that, in the brash style of its founder, shows me what Im missing out on by not choosing Virgin Atlantic.


http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/trip_reports/read.main/140235