V-Flyer

HI all.

First time in UC off to MCO in September (Super excited )!

Anywhoo, decided to burn some miles on the chauffeur service. Whilst I understand at LHR this means using the Upper Class entrance etc, what does this get you at Gatwick?

Any help much appreciated .

Bags dropped off and checked in at a remote location then driven to the bottom of the ramp entrance with everyone one else. Not worth spending miles or £ for it IMHO

hackneyguy wrote:Bags dropped off and checked in at a remote location then driven to the bottom of the ramp entrance with everyone one else. Not worth spending miles or £ for it IMHO

Doesn't sound all that bad. I guess it means you can go straight to security. With the VS flights all leaving early in the morning it means you probably get an extra 30mins to an hour in bed rather than worrying about checking in. I found the check in at LGW to be a real pain with surly staff (no apologies for the wait, having to be reminded to add priority security stickers etc).

Contary to what Hackneyguy has stated, the LGW CDC process has changed (quite some time ago) - ultimatly due to the changes on what vehicles can access the upper ramp at LGW.

The CDC will drop pax off in car park 3, level 1, where the driver hands over instructions of how to reach the VS check in area. However, dependent on staffing levels, there is usually a member of VS staff waiting to greet the car in the car park.

I wondered why the Virgin DTCI sign got ripped down at LGW about a year or so ago.

iGuyHD wrote:Contary to what Hackneyguy has stated, the LGW CDC process has changed (quite some time ago) - ultimatly due to the changes on what vehicles can access the upper ramp at LGW.

The CDC will drop pax off in car park 3, level 1, where the driver hands over instructions of how to reach the VS check in area. However, dependent on staffing levels, there is usually a member of VS staff waiting to greet the car in the car park.

I thought you be along to correct me - seems to be your norm on this forum ! Perhaps as an employee of Virgin you and Hamster have had different service or just quoting from a manual.

I answered honestly from my experience last used when I went to Vegas for business in Dec 10. If the process has changed by then I apologies but I still would not pay cash for this service.

I was only giving the up to date advice that the OP was after.

(As I don't travel on staff concessions, therefore I am always on full revenue tickets, staff at either LHR or LGW wouldn't have any idea that I was employed by Virgin. Therefore they could not offer any different service than as is offered to any other fee paying passenger.)

iGuyHD wrote:I was only giving the up to date advice that the OPwasaffecter.

(As I don't travel on staff concessions, therefore I am always on full revenue tickets, staff at either LHR or LGW wouldn't have any idea that I was employed by Virgin. Therefore they could not offer any different service than as is offered to any other fee paying passenger.)

Everyone has experienced things in different ways and the main reason I love this site is everyone tells of their different experiences!

Regardless of policy, things will vary.

iGuyHD - the problem with your post was that you didn't just quote policy, you implied that what HackneyGuy had stated was wrong.

I wasn't trying to be rude, however given that the information provided by previous member of this forum was wrong, then I felt it reasonable that I correct it.

The reason CDC at LGW has changed, as I explained previously, is that the upper ramp is now out of bounds to VS vehicles - and given that the CDC building closed sometime ago, the only option left is to drop passengers off in one of the car parks.

iGuyHD wrote:I wasn't trying to be rude, however given that the information provided by previous member of this forum was wrong, then I felt it reasonable that I correct it.

The reason CDC at LGW has changed, as I explained previously, is that the upper ramp is now out of bounds to VS vehicles - and given that the CDC building closed sometime ago, the only option left is to drop passengers off in one of the car parks.

If you time to re-read my post I never mentioned the CDC building as I am well aware it is closed - I said you are checked in remotely which you are. You or well I have always been driven to the underground part then deposited to walk up the ramp - as I said very clearly.

You might think the information I have posted and my experinces are "wrong" and feelthe need to "correct" me - well make of that what you will I dont really care, what I do care about is your approach to all my postings which are indeed both rude and often imply me to be not telling the truth. In short I do take exception to that unsqavoury practice so please back off.

I am being taken to Vegas for a weekend for a birthday treat in a few days so can report if indeed it has changed since my mid Dec flight. as siad by other posters, all our experiences are diferent - that doesnt make one right and one wrong.

Thanks for all the replies.

1st off, didn't like the fact that people start getting angry at eachother on a simple forum question. Think thats a shame considering I'm new and just asked a question.

Secondly, because of this have decided to leave the miles where they are and leave them for something else.

Sorry for bothering you all.

Oh, and if anyone is flyint on the 10th Sept Please msg me and say hi x

Cdflad wrote:Thanks for all the replies.

1st off, didn't like the fact that people start getting angry at eachother on a simple forum question. Think thats a shame considering I'm new and just asked a question.

Secondly, because of this have decided to leave the miles where they are and leave them for something else.

Sorry for bothering you all.

Oh, and if anyone is flyint on the 10th Sept Please msg me and say hi x

Firstly, I really would say that this is not representative of this forum. Everyone is here to help and since joining I have received some amazing help and advice from the experienced people on here. However, a bit of healthy discussion every now and then is expected!

Secondly, welcome to the forum! I missed this off before!

Lastly, use your miles how you see fit! It's your first time in UC, go all out i'd say!!

I'm off to MCO on 24th Sept, cannot wait! Have an amazing time and please take the time to write a trip report on your return, we love reading them here!

Luke

Personally, I don't think that the 17,500 miles for the CDC is worth it at any location.

IMO its just a taxi, and at LHR the DTCI, while it is an experience, is not something I would want to do again.

I would say, save your miles for your next reward flight.

OK, boys, let's play nicely. |:)

HG, with respect, your post was a tad unclear as to what happens with the CDC at LGW but I think your main message was that it wasn't worth the use of miles.

iGuyHD, again my view was that HG's information was unclear rather than wrong. He said a "remote location" which may or may not be a car park and his point was that it was nothing special

Right, that's sorted! No more squabbling, please

We are flying UC in July and having been following this post

The VS web site states this and seems quite clear in respect of Gatwick

If you arrive at Heathrow, Gatwick or Johannesburg by chauffeur driven car or LimoBike, your chauffeur will check you in at our unique Drive Thru Check In so you can bypass the terminal and head straight for the Clubhouse.

If you make your own way to the airport, we've got an efficient and friendly dedicated Upper Class check in area.

Express hand baggage check in is also available at a number of airports, as are Fast Track passport and immigration channels.

At Heathrow, if you'd prefer to minimise your time at the airport, you can arrive as late as 40 minutes before departure and go straight through our Private Security Channel to the boarding gate.

Unfortunately, and I'm assuming you've taken this off the VS website, you'll find that the text is now incorrect and is yet to be updated. The drive through check in facilities at LGW closed some time ago, resulting in alternative methods being sought, as outlined in my replies above.

markyl - As iGuyHD alludes to - the VS website shouldn't really be taken as the definitive source for info on Virgin Atlantic any longer. v(

For a long time now, it hasn't really been the airline's finest example of an information source in this fast moving digital age.


Nick

Nottingham Nick wrote:
For a long time now, it hasn't really been the airline's finest example of an information source in this fast moving digital age.

Nick

They seam quite happy to twitter, facebook and update other sources (which not everyone are members of) rather than their OWN website which should be the prime source of information.

I'm sure that the VS staff who post here will take this inaccurate info back and have it corrected.

One of my irritants is how the UC wing is still being described as 'new' ! and that there are no dates on pages so you cant tell how old the info is or when it was last updated.