V-Flyer

Flying out of LHR for the first time, just got a few questions...

1. Can I do through Upper Class wing to check in and then go park my car myself or do I need somebody else driving?
2. Is Heathrow Valet Parking worthwhile?
3. If I valet park can I still use VS fast track security option?
4. Coming from Birmingham for a 10:55am flight, should I drive down (100 miles) or stay at a nearby hotel overnight? I want to make the most of the clubhouse so ideally want to be in there by 8:30-9am.

Someone else will need to drop you off at the DTCI.

All UC passengers can use the VS private security channel, whether they use DTCI or not.

If you really want to make use of the Clubhouse I'd stay at an airport hotel and aim to be in there by 8, then you'll have plenty of time for breakfast and a spa/hair treatment if required.

1. In theory you could, I guess, as having checked together in there's nothing to force you through security at one time. However., their security model probably has something built in that expects the driver to stay in the car and move on as soon as the passengers and luggage are out.

2. No idea

3. Some valet parking companies will have the driver meet you and drive through DTCI. All UC passengers can use the Fast Track security, regardless of whether you check in at the UC desks in te main terminal or use DTCI.

4. Personally I'd stay over, as you'll have to get up very early to either beat the rush hour traffic or have sufficient time to sit in same.

In terms of when to make your way to LHR I would without a seconds thought say afternoon/night before and check into a hotel. I travel home from Birmingham and Coventry to London quite often and although if luck is on your side you can do it in 2hrs or so

a) For a morning flight unless you leave stupidly earlier theres a risk of catching traffic along the way

b) Less stress and don't have to wake up on the day of your flight any earlier than you have to

c) You get to start your holiday a day early!

Am not sure why anyone would do #1 and drive out themselves

Any time you save using DTCI would more than immediately be lost by you having to drive to the car park and park and get back to the terminal and then go through security etc.

DTCI is designed for the car to be in and out with no waiting. If you really want to do DTCI then do it with one of the valet companies. You arrange to meet them somewhere and do the paperwork etc and then they drive you to DTCI

As for #4 there are some here who would say that planning on arriving only at 9.00 is that you are arriving far too late and would say you should be banging on the doors at 7.00!

I'm a massive fan of overnighting near LHR ever since the early flight from Cork had me catching a flight to SFO by the skin of my teeth after congestion at LHR prevented our plane from taking off on time. Since then I've always gone the night before if I've been taking a flight from LHR before 1pm. In fact the only time I take a same-day flight is if my departure is a night-time one and even then I make sure that there is one other ORK-LHR rotation between me flight and my onward one.

Do it! You won't regret it and as the others say, it means the holiday starts earlier.

flight 1055

clubhouse opens at 0700

as above, be there for opening: bubbly, bubbly, breakfast, bubbly, bubbly, another breakfast, bubbly, bubbly

time flows so fast

I agree regarding arriving the night before. We often drive to LHR (it's about a three and a half to four hour drive for us if traffic is good), but usually only for afternoon flights, and even then we set off very early, with a plan to be at the airport 4 hours prior to departure. However, for our NRT trip in December as the flight was scheduled for a midday departure we decided to get a hotel the night before. I'm so glad we did as our flight has been altered to be 30 minutes earlier--a small change, but can make a real difference to plans. I'll be very relieved to get the driving section of the trip out of the way the day beforehand so the night before the flight we can rest easy Peace of mind is worth the cost of an extra day of parking and a hotel room for me. You don't even have to lose a day as you can drive down in the evening (just make sure late check-in is OK with wherever you decide to book).

I agree would stay in a hotel near by, and get to the club lounge for 7am. Time goes so quickly there. We spent 5 hours in the lounge in July and it didn't feel like 2 minutes

Sharon

Right, hotel is booked (Marriott Heathrow) and valet parking is booked with Heathrow Valet Parking.So do I now just call ahead to the parking company to ask if they will drive me through DTCI?

Do I still need to contact VS and supply the drivers name before I arrive?

TheBigBad wrote:Right, hotel is booked (Marriott Heathrow) and valet parking is booked with Heathrow Valet Parking.So do I now just call ahead to the parking company to ask if they will drive me through DTCI?

Do I still need to contact VS and supply the drivers name before I arrive?

Yes and, as long as you've already given VS the car details, no (though I stand to be corrected on this).

Will valet parking actually take you through DTCI if you are staying in a hotel the night before, would they not have already got the car the day before you want to do the DTCI and therefor require you to find another form of transport to go with?

Doesn't Purple Parking give you the option to be met by their driver in the UC Wing? I recall some comments on this but haven't had the need for it myself.

I think so but I was curious about the day before bit as you wouldn't be using the check in when you met the valet, the valet would have to come back the next day and take you through. Unless you park your car at the hotel for one night and then take it to valet parking...

slinky09 wrote:Doesn't Purple Parking give you the option to be met by their driver in the UC Wing? I recall some comments on this but haven't had the need for it myself.

I've always had to meet the driver at the main dropoff .
PP are now pretty geared up to whizzing you around to DTCI ( they even know where to go now ).
Suits me just fine .
DL

Sorry to be clear, I will park at the Marriott the night before. Will just want valet to drive us through DTCI.

Only really because 7 of us will have 7 or 8 cases collectively so it can be a bit of a pain moving them all around!

FLYERZ wrote:In terms of when to make your way to LHR I would without a seconds thought say afternoon/night before and check into a hotel. I travel home from Birmingham and Coventry to London quite often and although if luck is on your side you can do it in 2hrs or so.

AA has just announced JFK-BHX daily from 7 May 2015, and also JFK-EDI from 8 May 2015 ... a shame VS coudn't have beaten them, plus from MAN of course ... but that might help options in future!

One more thing...

Can kids use the complimentary treatments in the CH?

My daughter (9) has looked the CH up online and wants to get her nails done which in turn has prompted by 7 year old son to decide he wants a massage to relax him before the flight!!!

TheBigBad wrote:One more thing...

Can kids use the complimentary treatments in the CH?

My daughter (9) has looked the CH up online and wants to get her nails done which in turn has prompted by 7 year old son to decide he wants a massage to relax him before the flight!!!

I'm afraid that both are going to be dissapointed as the minimum age is 12 for some treatments and 16 for others.

The ages are listed in the 'menu'on the LHR CH pages - see the '**' at the bpttom of the page

I have a question about LHR too (hope nobody minds me popping it in here!). If i was to get Purple Parking (or some other valet company) to take me from T3 to DTCI, is this possible and how much roughly would it cost?

hmmmm I assume those age restrictions only apply to the massages? The other treatments do not have the same note on them

TheBigBad wrote:hmmmm I assume those age restrictions only apply to the massages? The other treatments do not have the same note on them

You need to check the other menus as they have the same asterisks as well or give vs a call better to avoid any disappointment on the day

Just spoke to someone on livechat. The age restrictions only apply to massages.