V-Flyer

Hi,

Have booked a slot at the Drive Through Check In on Friday but haven't booked a car. Since it is the first time we are using drive through, does anyone recommend any companies to book with.

Thanks

Matt

where afre you are staying the night before??

About 10/15 minutes from the airport, one of the hotels, the Ramada I think.

I have booked with London Heathrow cars for our DTCI next month. Obviously can't comment on how their service was, but so far communication with them have been great and they were relatively inexpensive compared to some other companies I tried. They have said to call the day before to get the correct vehicle and driver details so fingers crossed it all goes smoothly.

Carolynn wrote:. They have said to call the day before to get the correct vehicle and driver details so fingers crossed it all goes smoothly.

That will be the issue as if a different car turns up then that causes problems accessing the UC wing - you won't have the time to call up and give VS the new info.

That will be the issue as if a different car turns up then that causes problems accessing the UC wing - you won't have the time to call up and give VS the new info.

TBH that is what I thought, but the person I spoke to at the UCW was very friendly and helpful. She said that they start work at 6.45am and they are able to put the correct details on the system straight way. So since the car is turning up about that time, I am hoping that if they HAVE given me the incorrect details the day before, I will be able to phone through with the correct ones.

Sounds great in practice - I guess its not the end of the work if we can't use DTCI

I have used LHR 87 (01895 444333) a couple of times. They supplied nice cars and polite and courtious drivers. Most importantly they were very reasonably priced and let us know the car details in time to inform Virgin so we could use the facility.

Mike

Thanks have booked with London Heathrow Cars, which were considerably cheaper than everyone else.

skybluegroup wrote:Thanks have booked with London Heathrow Cars, which were considerably cheaper than everyone else.

Matt, if you get chance, can you please post and let me know how it was and if they turned up in the correct vehicle.

Thanks

PM me too, I'm coming back through LHR this Monday and staying overnight to take VS8 to LA on Tues, would love to use the Drive Through.

skybluegroup wrote:Thanks have booked with London Heathrow Cars, which were considerably cheaper than everyone else.

Carolynn wrote:

skybluegroup wrote:Thanks have booked with London Heathrow Cars, which were considerably cheaper than everyone else.

Matt, if you get chance, can you please post and let me know how it was and if they turned up in the correct vehicle.

Thanks

It was great. Veichle pickup was as requested and the DTCI was a breeze. Hope you enjoy!

Matt

I just booked my Drive Through Check-In via London Heathrow Cars. I'll post either a video or pics of the process if anyone is interested.

I'm going this Tuesday morning for VS7 LHR-LAX.

^)

skybluegroup wrote:

Carolynn wrote:

skybluegroup wrote:Thanks have booked with London Heathrow Cars, which were considerably cheaper than everyone else.

Matt, if you get chance, can you please post and let me know how it was and if they turned up in the correct vehicle.

Thanks

It was great. Veichle pickup was as requested and the DTCI was a breeze. Hope you enjoy!

Matt

backdoc wrote:I just booked my Drive Through Check-In via London Heathrow Cars. I'll post either a video or pics of the process if anyone is interested.

I'm going this Tuesday morning for VS7 LHR-LAX.

^)

Just to clarify you have booked your arrival slot with VS? It has been known for people to book the car but not the slot.

BTW don't think you are allowed to video it or take pics.

I called VS prior to booking the car. They said to call them by 18:00 on Monday with the driver and car info.

tontybear wrote:

backdoc wrote:I just booked my Drive Through Check-In via London Heathrow Cars. I'll post either a video or pics of the process if anyone is interested.

I'm going this Tuesday morning for VS7 LHR-LAX.

^)

Just to clarify you have booked your arrival slot with VS? It has been known for people to book the car but not the slot.

BTW don't think you are allowed to video it or take pics.

tontybear wrote:BTW don't think you are allowed to video it or take pics.

I dont understand why you think this is the case; I've stated on here before that the VS DTCI is essentially Landside and really no different from the T3 forecourt.

It is not subject to any restrictions in terms of photography.

Related question: I'm staying at one of the hotels on the northern perimeter roads before my flight next month. Anyone got any suggestions for cabs that might be suitable for DTCI? London Heathrow Cars are quoting £16, which seems like an awful lot for the distance involved.

Compared to the Hotel Hoppa at £4 each (which *is* a complete rip-off), it doesn't look so bad - but there has to be a better way.

If you can afford UC you can afford 19GBP.

Pete wrote:Related question: I'm staying at one of the hotels on the northern perimeter roads before my flight next month. Anyone got any suggestions for cabs that might be suitable for DTCI? London Heathrow Cars are quoting £16, which seems like an awful lot for the distance involved.

Compared to the Hotel Hoppa at £4 each (which *is* a complete rip-off), it doesn't look so bad - but there has to be a better way.

Here is what the DTCI looks like... I used London Heathrow Cars, it was only 19GBP total from the Novotel Heathrow. The entrance is really hard to find due to construction. I'm sitting in the Upper Class Lounge waiting for VS7 to Los Angeles.
Video of DTCI
http://youtu.be/1aT4NYQXGxI

Steve

backdoc wrote:If you can afford UC you can afford 19GBP.

Pete wrote:Related question: I'm staying at one of the hotels on the northern perimeter roads before my flight next month. Anyone got any suggestions for cabs that might be suitable for DTCI? London Heathrow Cars are quoting £16, which seems like an awful lot for the distance involved.

Compared to the Hotel Hoppa at £4 each (which *is* a complete rip-off), it doesn't look so bad - but there has to be a better way.

Really pleased to see that London Heathrow Cars is working out for everyone. Lets just hope it is as smooth for us in a couple of weeks.

London Heathrow Cars (LHC) won't be able to give you the car license plate number the night before to give to Virgin. You need to make the DTCI reservation 1st. The DTCI staff will have already gone home by the time you can get the info. Just call +441293493600 at 6:45am when they open and give them the model/make/color of the car and the license plate number. Once LHC finds the entrance its all automated.

You're taking VS7 so if you have a 7am pickup it works out perfectly, plenty of time to lounge in the lounge.

Steve

Carolynn wrote:Really pleased to see that London Heathrow Cars is working out for everyone. Lets just hope it is as smooth for us in a couple of weeks.

backdoc wrote:London Heathrow Cars (LHC) won't be able to give you the car license plate number the night before to give to Virgin. You need to make the DTCI reservation 1st. The DTCI staff will have already gone home by the time you can get the info. Just call +441293493600 at 6:45am when they open and give them the model/make/color of the car and the license plate number. Once LHC finds the entrance its all automated.

Thanks Steve. The DTCI reservation was made a week or so back and I know I have to phone through with the license plate etc the day before. LHC have assured me they will know the driver and car details 24 hours before and that is why I used them. They have asked me to give them a ring the day before so they can give me the details to pass onto Virgin.

Don't fret at all if they don't have the info on time. According to Virgin the reservation with THEM is the important part, they can have the registration/car info as close as 30 min prior to arrival.

Steve

I booked a slot at DTCI yesterday, and they told me I can even phone through the details of the car from the car. As Steve says, the important bit is booking your slot with them first, the car details are just so you can get the vehicle through the barrier.

Pete wrote:I booked a slot at DTCI yesterday, and they told me I can even phone through the details of the car from the car. As Steve says, the important bit is booking your slot with them first, the car details are just so you can get the vehicle through the barrier.

I think this change might be due to some recent changes that have taken place that have seen the DTCI downgraded in terms of its security risk.

Doing it from the car would be the best option then you could just grab a cab and go to the airport.

Pete, the drive through is masked by so much construction and the airport authority won't let Virgin put up a sign indicating the entrance (as someone might consider it advertising) that its very difficult to spot. The driver may have difficulty finding it.

Steve

ASWinters744 wrote:

Pete wrote:I booked a slot at DTCI yesterday, and they told me I can even phone through the details of the car from the car. As Steve says, the important bit is booking your slot with them first, the car details are just so you can get the vehicle through the barrier.

I think this change might be due to some recent changes that have taken place that have seen the DTCI downgraded in terms of its security risk.