V-Flyer

Experts

Our flight date moves towards us at pace and I would like to garner opinions on what is the best option for us.

We are on the VS93 to Cancun on September 11th (has to now be the safest day to fly !)departing around 11.30am Tuesday morning. We have booked the Hilton for the night before and plan to do twilight check in so we have no issues in the morning, we can just get up and wander to the CH.

Couple of questions:

1. Can we do OLCI at T-24 (potentially getting a better seat)and still do twilight

2. Is there any point in doing OLCI if you are going to do twilight check in

3. What time can we use Twilight check in from ?

Any help / experience appreciated.

Thanks

FC

Fatcat wrote:Couple of questions:

1. Can we do OLCI at T-24 (potentially getting a better seat)and still do twilight

2. Is there any point in doing OLCI if you are going to do twilight check in

3. What time can we use Twilight check in from ?

1. Yes

2. See your comment against (1) re: better seat

3. Not sure; we arrived about 17:15 to use it

We did exactly this 3 weeks ago today and greatly enjoyed the experience.

Twilight is open from 3:30pm until 9pm.

Thanks both,

If we do OLCI - will we still have an option to change seats at OLCI - reading about the lack of ability to reserve specific seats at OLCI, I thought if we had a option to reserve good seats, we would however if not we would change them to better seats if available at OLCI ? Are all seats open for change (Within reason) at Twilight as they are traditionally for normal check in ?

Neil, thanks for the info - The VA website says 12.00 - 9.00pm, however I know this is prone to "tribulations" so I thought I would check with people in the know !

FC

Interesting, the VS site say 12pm yet the VH site says 3:30pm ?|

Neil wrote:Interesting, the VS site say 12pm yet the VH site says 3:30pm ?|

Yes LGW twilight desks open at mid-day.

We always do OLCI at home, as soon as the flight opens up to get our seat/boarding cards printed.

Then at airport, go to 'bag drop' for the twilight checkin. The agent rechecks everything
So at this point if OLCI gave you seats you're not happy about, you can ask the agent to change them but dont bank on it.

We never say we've printed off the paper boarding ticket as I like proper one. Booking the Hilton makes the whole process so much easier too, enjoy.

Neil,VS and VH are rarely joined up !

Hev,Thanks for the info - we have valet parking as well so was aiming to ensure that we can drop the car at the airport, check in then wander to the Hilton with just cary on bags for the morning sounds like it should all go swimmingly. wait at home for OLCI, car ride to LGW for approx 3pm and then in to the Hilton in time to quickly unpack and decamp to the exec lounge for a lite bite and a couple of drinks

Even though I live only about an hour away from LGW, I'm a great fan of the Hilton valet parking package when I have morning flights from there. Definitely destresses the whole process (especially important when you have a family in tow...).

Last couple of times I've used twilight check in though I've noticed it was quite busy (and of course there's no seperate UC desk to go to) - earlier this year VS were marketing it quite heavily, I got an email and a text message suggesting that I try it, clearly others decided to do so as well.

Fatcat wrote: to the Hilton in time to quickly unpack and decamp to the exec lounge for a lite bite and a couple of drinks

Only a couple? Lightweight.

Three weeks back was the first time we'd done the OLCI / Twilight / Hilton / CH / UC "journey". When we can afford UC again we'll be back for more....

Ive used twilight a number of times...smack on mid day. better chance of a decent seat choice (but yes agree do OLCI first)

ratechaser wrote:
Last couple of times I've used twilight check in though I've noticed it was quite busy (and of course there's no seperate UC desk to go to) - earlier this year VS were marketing it quite heavily, I got an email and a text message suggesting that I try it, clearly others decided to do so as well.

No good time to arrive. We went thru in March @ 3.30pm and it was empty. After a walk around the terminal we noticed that by 4.30pm there was a long queue

When I dropped a friend recently, queue was long but there was a VS agent checking paperwork etc before people jpined the line and when she noticed my friend was in UC, they flicked down one of the barriers and she was next in line. That worked for us too in 2011, when flying PE.

On that subject , I am flying upperclass to cancun next march , I'll be staying at the Sofitel the night before the flight . I intend to do OLCI before setting off to the airport and was intending to do twilight check in as well to drop my suitcase , but now am starting to think that perhaps I would be better just taking my suitcase to the upperclass check in on the morning of the flight ( rather than queuing at the 'bag drop' desk)
Am also thinking that if I used twilight check in my upper class priority baggage handling wouldn't be worth the paper it's written on as my luggage will be mixed with all the other pax who have done twilight check in.
Any suggestions gratefully received : )

DOUGALSMUM wrote:Am also thinking that if I used twilight check in my upper class priority baggage handling wouldn't be worth the paper it's written on as my luggage will be mixed with all the other pax who have done twilight check in.

Granted only a single experience, but the hold luggage we dropped off at Twilight Check In was pretty much first off the aircraft.

DOUGALSMUM wrote:Am also thinking that if I used twilight check in my upper class priority baggage handling wouldn't be worth the paper it's written on as my luggage will be mixed with all the other pax who have done twilight check in.
Any suggestions gratefully received : )

We've been doing the twilight bag drop for years. Travelling in PE. Luggage is tagged accordingly and at the arrival airport, it has always come up first. Usually with UC & the crew's bags. We have never had to wait for our luggage.

Can't comment on Cancun timings but perhaps others on the forum will hopefully put your mind at rest

Fatcat

If you are looking for "better" seats it is worth checking seat availablity from 72 hours or so before the departure time.

VH release any spare seats they have remaing from their allocation back into the mix anytime between 72 hours and 24 hours before departure.
y)

Scuba,

Now maybe the time to book the Hilton - we got a great deal

Basic room was circa £83 with tax, however we managed to upgrage to an Executive room with Longe access for only £20 more - at the prices in the Hilton, thats only 1 drink each !

FC

Fatcat wrote:Basic room was circa £83 with tax, however we managed to upgrage to an Executive room with Longe access for only £20 more - at the prices in the Hilton, thats only 1 drink each !

Good catch!

Well done Scuba - not a bad rate at all, not quite as good as us but close !

In terms of bags at Cancun - to be fair, it matters not a lot when theycome off because of the organisation of the airport (or therin lack of !) tips for the airport are make sure you have filled in your visa waiver (think thats what it's called) on the plane - departures and arrivals mix at CUN and you have to pass a security guard checking completed forms before they let you get to the baggage carousel - hence there will be a lot of people filling forms in there as they "forgot" to do it on the plane.

After passing this security, you can collect your bags - however this is not the end. You then have to wait in line to have your bags x-rayed on departure, after collecting your bags you then have to play the customes game - different here as it's more like a game show !

You have a button and a screen - press the button and it comes up with a green tick - your good to go, get a Red cross ? it's off to the inspection area to have the cases examined ! I suppose it's a bit more fun than randomly pulling people to one side !

All said, no matter when you get your bags, you will invariably end up waiting in a line to clear security - and after that you have to brave all the "porters" who have a desire to help with your bags - and sell you a timeshare at the same time !

It's not the greatest airport experience, however if you do everything correctly before you arrive it make it a whole lot easier !

FC

Yes , cancun arrivals is not for the faint hearted! , still gives me palpitations ( and I've done it 9 times so far ), but if you know what you are doing and don't get caught out by the things fatcat mentioned it can be pretty speedy and hassle free

Sounds fun lol, I have this to look forward to in November. I'll make usre I padlock my suite cases to my wrists

twilight checkin was a breeze
we only registered 20 min on our short term car park ticket when we dropped our bags on Sunday 22nd July
Monday morning it was graet to see the long checkin queues and just walk past, after security and i little shoping we were sat at champagne bar enjoying our holiday.
Used online checkin coming back at hotel, and got great seats in the bubble, bag drop following day was a breeze at LAX