V-Flyer

Hello, long time lurker, first time poster, thanks for all the useful info!

Quick query, I'm flying LHR to EWR in September, hubby and I are flying UC, his parents are flying with us but in PE. Can we all check in together and can the parents come through UC security with us or do they need to check in separately and meet us at the Clubhouse?

Also, I'm probably being a bit paranoid, but when I log into my booking, it doesn't show the aircraft type for the return flight (VS010 JFK/LHR 15 Sep). When I do a dummy booking, it comes up as an A330, but it just seems a bit odd the aircraft type doesn't show in the booking. It's been like that since I booked the flights in January. I'm worrying, probably unnecessarily, that the flight might be cancelled. Normally I wouldn't be concerned as there are so many flights out of NYC. But as I booked my flights with miles, hubby's with cash and parents in PE, we're spread over 3 booking references (although allegedly linked), so my nightmare scenario is that the flight gets cancelled and we get put on different flights. I appreciate that Virgin's IT system can be a bit temperamental, but if anyone has any reassuring words, I'd be very grateful for them...

Thank you!

Welcome to V:Flyer

As each UC pax is allowed 1 guest with them at both check-in and using the UC Wing, you will be fine all checking in together at the UC check-in desk and going through the UC Wing together at LHR.

The aircraft type bit of the manage booking system is very hit and miss so I wouldn't worry about it. There's no A/C type showing in one of my bookings for December yet.

From my experience you can all check in using the UC desks, you should also be able to use UC security. In my situation I was in UC and had two family members in PE and we all checked in together and were able to use the fast track security. However with the clubhouse you have one guest each I think so 2 + 2 guests should work.

You shouldn't read into not seeing the aircraft type when logging on. Its quite temperamental, sometimes it shows nothing and others the wrong aircraft. Once the seat map becomes available (90 days in advance) you will see the actual aircraft (most likely A330 with VS10). I don't see why the flight would be cancelled at all!

Fabulous, thanks both, you've been an enormous help, it's greatly appreciated!

Just thought I'd update on the mystery of the missing aircraft type...

Selected our seats at T-90 a few weeks back, A330 as the dummy booking had suggested. Having read this very helpful forum, I've been checking my seat selection on a regular basis, all fine. Logged in yesterday and the aircraft had changed to an A340-300. Picked new seats and we're all sorted.

Quite pleased as we've flown that configuration before and I really liked the privacy of the K seats and I'd been fairly discouraged about the reviews of the UC suite on the A330.

So the moral of the story is, V-Flyer is right, you should check your seat selection regularly!

I have a similar query, however in my case, it's a party of 4 flying but 2 in PE and 2 in econ.
We will have done OLCI, but will we all be able to use the PE bag drop at LGW?

(Silly question time now - but what do u think the chances are of getting the econ bags tagged as PE so we are not waiting ages after picking the PE bags up?

Steve

VS will probably let you all check-in together but your economy bags wont get priority (even if those small PE tags are attached) because it's the actual bar code on the VS printed bag tag which is automatically generated from your booking that determines which bin it's loaded into and hence if it gets priority or not.

All UK airports use automatic baggage sorting systems using those bar code tags.

So even if those small PE bag tags are attached, economy bags will still go in the economy bins on the A/C when departing from the UK.

The only exception is if you have Flying Club AG or AU status but this status is also incorporated into the bar code, sending your bag to the correct loading area.

It may work on the return flight, however, as many US airports still don't have fully automated baggage sorting systems and do use the small tags to determine the bags priority.

mitchja wrote:It may work on the return flight, however, as many US airports still don't have fully automated baggage sorting systems and do use the small tags to determine the bags priority.

I'm quite surprised by that but at the same time not really surprised

Sometimes even the bar codes don't work either so it can all be a bit pot-luck.

Plus on some flights there are so many people with priority baggage - UC, PE and status - that priority is meaningless unless there is priority within the priority of course!

mitchja wrote:VS will probably let you all check-in together but your economy bags wont get priority (even if those small PE tags are attached) because it's the actual bar code on the VS printed bag tag which is automatically generated from your booking that determines which bin it's loaded into and hence if it gets priority or not.

All UK airports use automatic baggage sorting systems using those bar code tags.

So even if those small PE bag tags are attached, economy bags will still go in the economy bins on the A/C when departing from the UK.

The only exception is if you have Flying Club AG or AU status but this status is also incorporated into the bar code, sending your bag to the correct loading area.

It may work on the return flight, however, as many US airports still don't have fully automated baggage sorting systems and do use the small tags to determine the bags priority.

Thanks for that.

I had a feeling that would be the response regarding tags.

It won't be a problem on the reutrn trip as we are all traveling PE.