V-Flyer

Hi,

Our first UC trip is almost in us, and just thinking thru the final details to maximise the experience.

Phoned CS today and got the DTCI booked. The chap said that the CH is open from 6am, and recommended we do the DTCI At 6:30.

I cant find any mention of the actual opening times of the CH, the only thing I can see is that they start breakfast from 7am...

so.. Can anyone confirm 6am is the opening time and if arriving between 6:30am - 7:00am should give us time to book treatments (we are on VS007).

Next a revivals question. just seeking confirmation that we are ok to rock up with loads of suitcases and there will be someone on the door to take them off us and store someplace until we are ready to leave ? We probably only have an hour or so in there, but enough time for a shower and a bite before heading back up north.

Lastly. If at Revivals, where is the best place to ask a pre-booked taci to pick us up from ?

Thanks in advance

V.

The CH opens at 7am.

Yes, there will be places to store your luggage in revivals.

You can only get someone to collect you from the pick up/drop off area outside T3, there isn't any other option really.

Thanks for the prompt response.

We will still aim to get there between 6:30 and 7:00.. Go for SEQ 1-4 in the CH, being first in should mean we get our pic of cowshed slots too

You have to deal with your own luggage when you arrive at Revivals, although there is a small area to store luggage whilst you are there.

I have had my taxi driver come and collect me from revivals and he then pushed by luggage trolley to the car park etc.

I have had other car drivers meet me inside. They usually specify a spot e.g. next to the Hertz desk or Smiths rather than the arrivals line up.

tontybear wrote:I have had my taxi driver come and collect me from revivals and he then pushed by luggage trolley to the car park etc.

I have had other car drivers meet me inside. They usually specify a spot e.g. next to the Hertz desk or Smiths rather than the arrivals line up.

Thanks. I shall ask him if he has a preferred pick up spot oo err , maybe a long shot, as he is a local (Preston) cabbie, so will be making a 4 hr journey to pick me up on the Sunday we get back.

We will have a procession of trolleys as we have 6 suitcases and 4 carry ons... We would have 12 cases if my wife had her way..

mitchja wrote:You have to deal with your own luggage when you arrive at Revivals, although there is a small area to store luggage whilst you are there.

When I was last in there a few weeks ago they we had to leave our bags on trolleys at the bottom of the entry corridor as the luggage area was overflowing.
As Neil says the only option is really the pick -up facility in the T3 short- term carpark (which is very close to Revivals). I would advise your cabbie not to enter the carpark until you ring and advise you are actually ready to leave -the charges are extortionate :0 even for the briefest period of time.
DL

Thanks. I shall ask him if he has a preferred pick up spot oo err , maybe a long shot, as he is a local (Preston) cabbie, so will be making a 4 hr journey to pick me up on the Sunday we get back.

We will have a procession of trolleys as we have 6 suitcases and 4 carry ons... We would have 12 cases if my wife had her way..

Crikey that's a heck of a cab ride fare...sorry but being a "cost conscious ex Yokshireman" (A.K.A Tight Git) surely the long haul back to Preston would be better done by a one way car rental or a booked well in advance Virgin train from Euston straight into Preston?,...don't know your circumstances though so just my 2 cents worth.
Cheers
Paul

Hmm.

DL -> When you say "bottom of the entry corridor" do you mean inside revivals our outside ? The paranoid side of me would not be able to "chill" knowing the bags were unwatched.

Trying to balance if eeking out the last bit of our first UC experience by using Revivals for 60 mins before it closes is worth it, or would we rather be one hour in on our 4 hr journey home.

VS008 arrives at 12:05, probably be past 12:30 before we get our bags and amble out of customs

I think you are being optimistic about 12:30 clearing customs, but maybe if the flight arrives a little early.

I know I would much rather be an hour closer to home, yes revivals is nice, but once back in the UK I just want to get back home.

Inside at the bottom of the entry corridor , but please bear in mind that the concierge desk may be unattended at times and they are not there to mind bags. You will not be able to see your bags, even if they are in the "proper" storage area.FWIW I've never had anything go astray, but there are lots of comings and goings due to the volume of passengers entering and departing.
DL

Co wrote:Crikey that's a heck of a cab ride fare...sorry but being a "cost conscious ex Yokshireman" (A.K.A Tight Git) surely the long haul back to Preston would be better done by a one way car rental or a booked well in advance Virgin train from Euston straight into Preston?,...don't know your circumstances though so just my 2 cents worth.
Cheers
Paul

I'm just as cost conscious It turned out to be the cheapest (and the least hassle) way to get 4 of us, with 10 bags door to door.

Car Rental - I would have to drive [hassle]
Flight to Manchester - Cost more (just for the damn bags)
Train - Cost more, then have to get said 10 bags from Euston to Heathrow.

Costing me just over £400 for the return cab journey.

Just showed the thread to the misses.

"lets not mess about with that then and just head home"...

decision made - thanks all for your advice. We have 4 days yet.. I am sure we will have more questions.

Well, they probably centre around what treatments the girls will want to choose, but they can sort that our for themselves. me and the lad - shaves. simple..

I'm with your missus. Arriving at 12 you will probably be awake pretty much from 7.30 or 8ish UK time and had breakfast on the plane. Arrivals is great if you have time to kill, London is your destination and/or you want to sleep as long as possible on the shorter flights like JFK.

If you get straight on the road you could stop for a quick break somewhere like Norton Services on the M6 toll to break up your 4 hour taxi ride home.

Regards
R3dV

vji6697 wrote:Just showed the thread to the misses.

"lets not mess about with that then and just head home"...

decision made - thanks all for your advice. We have 4 days yet.. I am sure we will have more questions.

Well, they probably centre around what treatments the girls will want to choose, but they can sort that our for themselves. me and the lad - shaves. simple..

As this is one of Virgins busiest flights and usually with a raft of UNIQ pax (who can book ahead for treatments), to get any free treatment is a rarity for us and is just Mrs and Me (and I am in more need than the Mrs apparantly ) so to bank on getting four for your family would be pushing it. However we wish you luck y)

IMHO revivals is only really "worth" it if you are heading straight to work after the flight lands - if I'm heading home, by whatever means, I don't hang around LHR any longer than I have to!

vji6697 wrote: we have 6 suitcases and 4 carry ons...

:0 ?| B)

clarkeysntfc wrote:

vji6697 wrote: we have 6 suitcases and 4 carry ons...

:0 ?| B)

Well there are 4 people in the party whereas we know that Jackie and Dragon Lady could happily exceed even these numbers of cases (and thats just their luggage!)

hehe. to be fair to them, we could probably get all our clothes into 2. the rest are chocs and other gifts for family.

Checked in at 11:30 on the dot and only snagged SEQ 4, 5 and 6. on one booking and SEQ 8 on another. Will aim for SEQ1 in the CH tomorrow

I notice on FB Greg has stated to a PAX travelling tomorrow that checkin and/or bag drop (including UC) can only be done at Heathrow a max 3 hours before take off. When queried if this was correct he confirmed it was.

We normally get there a couple of hours before take off but this rule could well stop some of the early birds from "exessive" time at Virgins expense in the CH (I say that as I am reasonably sure it would had be the reason d'etre used by Virgins beancounters and not to start up a flaming HH session !)

I think Greg is just quoting the standard/official policy (he has pretty much said as much), rather than a new rule or any change. I really can't see them refusing to check people in before the 3 hour mark.

Neil wrote:I think Greg is just quoting the standard/official policy (he has pretty much said as much), rather than a new rule or any change. I really can't see them refusing to check people in before the 3 hour mark.

Really I always find it intersting when two people read the same message but see a differing in the wording of said message.

Maybe that is one reason why us leagle beadles are so busy these days

Hec

It IS the standard VS policy (and that of many airlines AND airports) to tell people not to check-in at the airport in advance of 3 hours before flights though if people turn up early they more than likely won't turn them away - especially UC pax.

Given tomorrow is the start of the holiday season and is one of the busiest days of the year at LHR/LGW etc I think VS (and all airlines generally) will be encoraging people not to check-in too early.

hectershouse wrote:I notice on FB Greg has stated to a PAX travelling tomorrow that checkin and/or bag drop (including UC) can only be done at Heathrow a max 3 hours before take off. When queried if this was correct he confirmed it was.

We normally get there a couple of hours before take off but this rule could well stop some of the early birds from "exessive" time at Virgins expense in the CH (I say that as I am reasonably sure it would had be the reason d'etre used by Virgins beancounters and not to start up a flaming HH session !)

Can confirm I was at the normal checking at around 6:40, and and had no problem checking in for my 11:30 flights