V-Flyer

The last time we flew VA from LGW the priority boarding was non-existent, you had to push your way to the front holding your boarding pass up high, encountering the wrath of economy passengers shouting 'do not push in' and do you think you have a different ticket to me, is this still the same or is the desks at the gate different for UC and PE passengers, as it can get a bit out of hand if your in UC or PE

I've always classed the priority bit as checking desks and getting to the gate but not actually boarding from the gate unless you are there for the first boarding call.

If arriving after boarding has started, we usually just wait our turn on the jetty with everyone else

The check in and entry to the gate area as well as the boarding part (if we are there early) has always worked very well for us when flying upper from gatwick

David

Should add that the priority lane outside the gates is usually clearly marked and well policed by the checkin staff.

It's because the first time we flew with VA, from Gatwick, there were separate desks at the gate and a split walking area on the jetway for Upper Class and Premium Economy passengers, and I do not understand why VA have changed this procedure

ken54 wrote:It's because the first time we flew with VA, from Gatwick, there were separate desks at the gate and a split walking area on the jetway for Upper Class and Premium Economy passengers, and I do not understand why VA have changed this procedure

I think that was because up to a few years back, VS predominantly operated out of the satellite at Gatwick's South Terminal where the gate was at the entrance to the Airbridge.

In more recent times, VS have used Gates in the main drag (Gates 13 - 21) where the desks just put you into a gate room from whence boarding is actually called

buns

Can the booking gate at LGW be worse than the scrum PE & UC passengers face when trying to board at Orlando airport. I was actually pulled back by someone as we tried to gently and politely get to the gate after the announcement they were boarding PE passengers. I vowed that the next time I have to travel from MCO, I'd prefer to wait until last call ):

Hev60's reply reminds me of a completely different experience at MCO last year.
I was returning on a A330 two class in PE. As a Gold Card I had been given an invite to the Delta lounge ( ok but nothing special), they announced the flight and I moved to the desk to be met by a Virgin agent. "You must be Au?" He said and promptly and politely escorted me to my seat on the plane!
I mean, he carried my bag, pushed passed everyone waving my boarding pass, introduced me to the crew and disappeared!
I can honestly say it is the only time in three years, so far, that my " status " has been recognised in any significant way. This is not in any way intended as a criticism of the way I have been generally been treated which has on the whole been friendly, professional if a little robotic!

ken54 wrote:It's because the first time we flew with VA, from Gatwick, there were separate desks at the gate and a split walking area on the jetway for Upper Class and Premium Economy passengers, and I do not understand why VA have changed this procedure

In a few years flying from both LHR and LGW though I've seen separate queues into the boarding area and occasionally a different jetway I've never seen separation on a single jetway... I live and learn...

pjh wrote:In a few years flying from both LHR and LGW though I've seen separate queues into the boarding area and occasionally a different jetway I've never seen separation on a single jetway... I live and learn...

I have seen two jetways before. One for UC and PE and one for the rest.

The fact is you have priority boarding and the clues in the name. I would as politely as possible make my way forward but if questioned by anyone just tell them my ticket allows me priority boarding, if they don't like it they can pay for PE or UCS next time.

easygoingeezer wrote:The fact is you have priority boarding and the clues in the name. I would as politely as possible make my way forward but if questioned by anyone just tell them my ticket allows me priority boarding, if they don't like it they can pay for PE or UCS next time.

That's true!
I remember at LHR last time we flew PE we got a few "looks" from people when we arrived at the gate the queue for E was quite long but the lane for priority boarding was empty.
Like you say you get what you pay for

gfonk wrote:

easygoingeezer wrote:The fact is you have priority boarding and the clues in the name. I would as politely as possible make my way forward but if questioned by anyone just tell them my ticket allows me priority boarding, if they don't like it they can pay for PE or UCS next time.

That's true!
I remember at LHR last time we flew PE we got a few "looks" from people when we arrived at the gate the queue for E was quite long but the lane for priority boarding was empty.
Like you say you get what you pay for

I think the issue is more whether you expect to be able to move to the head of the queue on the jetway itself.

pjh wrote:I think the issue is more whether you expect to be able to move to the head of the queue on the jetway itself.

:-0 oh I see
I have been in that situation as have always boarded when the call for priority boarding is made
It's a tricky one I guess, because does priority boarding mean you simply get called to board first or does it continue to extend once general boarding has commenced ? Hmm
Interesting.

'You had to push yourself to the front holding your boarding pass up high'

Really? Who does that?

747Rich wrote:'You had to push yourself to the front holding your boarding pass up high'

Really? Who does that?

Lol lol

A lady did push by me on the jetway she was manic, I did think then its wheelchairs and such like waiting at the plane door.
Turned out she was sat opposite me.
So no I would not fly by people waiting at the plane door, but I would on the way to the gate.

What do you mean by the priority boarding was non-existent?

I generally fly PE and have always found the proirty boarding not an issue as it seems to go in the correct order wheel chair pax,UC & Gold, PE etc...but disemabarking well dont even get me started on that one. Al I ask is that once this year VA hold back the EC pax downstairs to let bubble off after UC & PE (talking LGW1 config)

The last few times to MCO we have flown PE last year there was a priority lane at the gate for PE, but wheelchairs and px with children got called the same time as UC & PE.didn't bother getting ahead on the sky walk as I thought we still had priority over most of the plane. At MCO they have usually held back ecom to disembark PE & UC this year we have got PE downstairs second row from the exit as I didn't know how they would handle the bubble being mixed class of PE and E passengers. If I'm paying premium to fly and in the bubble I would expect to be let off before economy not because I'm better but because I've paid extra for my ticket. Ok seats and food is marginally better but I believe its all part of the PE experience.

My view is that if you are at the gate and priority boarding is called then yes you can have priority boarding but once general boarding has commenced then its tough luck.

And certainly once on the jetway no pushing past.

But these days with a growing % of passengers getting some sort of priority it's becoming pretty moot anyway.

I just enjoy another cacktoil and stroll on

tontybear wrote:My view is that if you are at the gate and priority boarding is called then yes you can have priority boarding but once general boarding has commenced then its tough luck.

And certainly once on the jetway no pushing past.

Yes I tend to agree with this.

Darren Wheeler wrote:I just enjoy another cacktoil and stroll on

I tend to agree, Im never rushing to be one of the first on

Darren Wheeler wrote:I just enjoy another cacktoil and stroll on

"cacktoil" :$

tontybear wrote:My view is that if you are at the gate and priority boarding is called then yes you can have priority boarding but once general boarding has commenced then its tough luck.

I couldn't disagree more. Virgin, like most airlines, offer priority boarding for their premium cabin pax, not priority boarding so long as you're at the gate when first boarding is called. One of the benefits of being a premium cabin pax is the ability to spend some time in the lounge and not have to hang around the gate area.

Other airlines manage to create a separate lane/area for priority boarding at any time, so why VS can't consistently manage this is beyond me. Sometimes they do it great, other times it just a scrum, probably poor management by the person in charge of the area.

Last couple of times when flying out of LGW the Clubhouse staff have announced boarding so late that by the time I have got to the gate most passengers were already onboard.

-Steve