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Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 12:32
by stuartk7
Hi all!!
First of all, as you can see I am new to the forum so please be gentle with me!!
Although being new to the forum, I have been an avid viewer of it for some time now, and must say how impressed I am with the information that's shared between everyone, so I have overcome my fears to ask for your advice!
I have flown with VS a few times now but only in EC or PE, so this is my first trip in UC. I'm sure many of you do this more than my good self but any tips or advice on this would be of great help, as someone always knows something that you don't!!
I know of some pitfalls like Nova IFE, which is out of my hands, but anything on the clubhouse and fastrack etc would be greatly appreciated.
Oh, and I fly next week on the VS15 to MCO, VS16 return.
Thanks again guys!
Re: Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 12:39
by Luke085
Hi Stuart,
I can't provide any advice on the points you have raised but just wanted to say welcome to the forum!
Someone will be a long shortly to give you all the info you need.
Luke

Re: Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 12:45
by stuartk7
Hi Luke,
Thanks for the welcome!
Stuart.
Re: Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 12:53
by flabound
fast track security is a lane just to the left of the normal channel. its a bit better at busy times.
once through security take the escalators upstairs and you will see the signs for the clubhouse.
there are lots of threads on treatments (book one as soon as you enter) and you can enjoy food and drink until the flight is called (its normally a 10-15 minute stroll to the gate)
on board you should be seated in the nose which is a great small private cabin. then just sit back and enjoy
if this is your first time in Florida then you are in luck -the weather is getting better here daily and next week should be a scorcher, which is typical as i head back to the Uk for a week on Saturday

what days do you fly ?
Re: Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 12:55
by Guest
Stuart
I would be very interested to hear of your experiences after your trip as we are making the same trip in a few weeks in UC and we have the same sort of questions that you have.
Kevin
Re: Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 13:00
by stuartk7
Hi flabound,
Thanks for the info, much appreciated.
Flying out next Saturday, back the following Sunday, not ideal but was hoping the lounge may be slightly quieter? That said, it's LGW so probably won't make a great deal of difference.
It's actually my 3rd time in Florida, my parents are out there for a month so thought I would escape for a week.
Stuart.
Re: Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 13:14
by flabound
next sat as in the 19th or the 26th ? i am flying back to MCO on the 26th on 27 the earlier flight !! all the flights recently have been pretty quiet and to be honest i think its rare for the lounge to get packed.
the reccs are always get there early and enjoy the experience
Re: Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 13:38
by stuartk7
Next Sat, the 26th.
I notice that your config has changed you lucky person, looks like V-BIG has been put on that route.
Annoying on my part as I took the 15 to give myself more lounge time!

!
Re: Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 13:54
by flabound
i always try and take the earlier flight as I have a 21/2 hour drive after. to be honest i would rather we had a LGW plane as i prefer PE in the bubble rather than downstairs.
if you really prefer the Vport you can always transfer flights... and still get the nose
Re: Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 14:06
by stuartk7
flabound,
Understand your reasoning behind your preference to LGW a/c for PE, my last flight was in PE and was fantastic upstairs, so agree with you totally.
Interesting comment on transferring flights - is there not a huge cost involved to change?? :0 It had crossed my mind but assumed I would need to remortgage in order to do that.

Re: Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 14:09
by flabound
well you can but try- a call to the UC number and maybe a sob story like your parents are picking you up and got the details mixed up blah blah. as you are flying UC, IF there are spaces i cant see why they would object. i think to change miles flights its 25 quid so hopefully you might be lucky
Re: Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 14:12
by flabound
well a dummy booking shows 15 is wide open and also bear in mind the much higher number of UC seats, you might have a good chance
Re: Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 14:39
by stuartk7
As you said worth a go, but alas... no joy.
It's a Z ticket that carries the usual restictions so they weren't having any of it unfortunately. They wanted £120 plus today's fare difference to change. :0
V-port isn't quite worth that kind of money methinks!
Kevin - I will submit my TR on my return, I'm sure it will be of some help to you also, hope you enjoy it.
Re: Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 14:48
by Neil
stuartk7 wrote:As you said worth a go, but alas... no joy.
It's a Z ticket that carries the usual restictions so they weren't having any of it unfortunately. They wanted £120 plus today's fare difference to change. :0
V-port isn't quite worth that kind of money methinks!
Kevin - I will submit my TR on my return, I'm sure it will be of some help to you also, hope you enjoy it.
You are lucky, the rules have changed on Z fares now, and the fare rules now state that they are totally none changeable, even for a fee.
TBH - I really like the LGW UC cabin, only 14 seats, so has a real private and exclusive feel about it, and I have always had much better service from the CC on the LGW fleet compared to the larger LHR UC cabin.
Re: Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 14:53
by David
Stuart
It's worth asking in the clubhouse if you arrive early enough - there's always a chance that it may make their life easier by moving you.
Have a look at the TR's for 027 and 15 in Upper, there should be a few.
FWIW, we've used that route and the clubhouse many times and its a great start to any trip to the sunshine state.
Hope its a little brighter than it was last week
enjoy
David
Re: Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 14:56
by stuartk7
Is that right Neil? Oh well, never mind , I'm sure I'll cope, even if it is Nova !
Seems to have gone off topic slightly, which is my fault. v(
Any other info on UC LGW greatly recieved!!
David, many thanks for that, I will probably be on the doorstep for opening so will give it a go!! Fingers crossed on the weather, but a few people tell me its on the up.... ^)
Re: Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 14:58
by David
Oh, forgort the most important tip - it's NEVER too early for a glass of champagne
David
Re: Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 15:08
by stuartk7
David wrote:Oh, forgort the most important tip - it's NEVER too early for a glass of champagne
David
Note to self... these people really know their stuff!!

Re: Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 15:20
by tontybear
David wrote:Stuart
It's worth asking in the clubhouse if you arrive early enough - there's always a chance that it may make their life easier by moving you.
Is that still possible? I thought I read on here that CH staff wern't allowed to do that sort of thing
Plus if you have any checked luggage that will make it even more complicated as someone would need to retrive your luggage from your original flight to re-tag it for the later one (or vice versa)
Surely the place to switch is at the check-in desk BEFORE any of the formalities have been done?
Re: Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 15:36
by flabound
the weather today is gorgeous, its already (9.30) well into the 70s and the forecast for the next 10 days is stonking. are you staying up in Orlando ?
Re: Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 15:39
by stuartk7
Yes, up in Kissimmee, Couple of rounds of golf, couple of days at universal and a general lounge around. Leave that weather there please!!
Re: Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 15:44
by flabound
well 'winter':-) has almost gone and with it we now are getting lovely sunny days and blue skies. you should be seeing temps between the high 70s and low 80s.
Re: Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 16:11
by stuartk7
Excellent! I've been to Florida in Dec and Jan before so this is nearer to 'summer' than previous trips.
Always been really lucky with the weather so let's hope it continues!

Re: Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 16:13
by David
tontybear wrote:David wrote:Stuart
It's worth asking in the clubhouse if you arrive early enough - there's always a chance that it may make their life easier by moving you.
Is that still possible? I thought I read on here that CH staff wern't allowed to do that sort of thing
Plus if you have any checked luggage that will make it even more complicated as someone would need to retrive your luggage from your original flight to re-tag it for the later one (or vice versa)
Surely the place to switch is at the check-in desk BEFORE any of the formalities have been done?
Either last year or the year before, we were asked if we could move to the earlier flight - think it suited them as the later flight was bursting whils tthere was still space on the earlier - turned out in the end, they didn't need to move us.
(Have to say, think we were in the clubhouse before 8.00am

)
David
Re: Any tips for UC ex LGW please?

Posted:
16 Feb 2011, 16:18
by flabound
stuartk7 wrote:Excellent! I've been to Florida in Dec and Jan before so this is nearer to 'summer' than previous trips.
Always been really lucky with the weather so let's hope it continues! 
December here was the coldest on record (they do love their stats) but even then it was a few cold days then a few warm ones . January was better but still got the odd chilly day. so far feb has improved with i think 3 or 4 days below 70 and by the 26th you will be unlucky to see it drop out of the 70s until dark.i think we are now into spring already
