UC las-man a once only opportunity-how to make the most

I can't see this happening again for a while.
I haven't told the rest of the family. But how can we make the most of this experience.
does anyone know what the menu will be? its VS086.
I'm so excited about this. xxxx

I'm not paranoid, but I feel that no ones talking to me!!
I want to know anything and everything?
checkin, whats the lounge like?
upper class menu on the way home?
nicest window to lick!

Well I'll talk to you, even though I don't really know what you are looking for.
First thing may be the Club House. Get there early and enjoy the food and cocktails. Some like the spa although we don't bother.
Will you be using the DTCI? I haven't flown from Heathrow but it sounds fun.
There have been a few threads on when to spring the surprise. Again a few like to keep quiet until they get to the Upper Class check in desk but my personal view is to enjoy the excitement as early as possible.
What about packing? Are you going to use up the 3x 32Kg baggage allowance per person. Even if you only take two cases each I'd have thought it fair to let people know they can pack plenty of clothes.
Seat choice: Again loads of threads about which are the best seats on each aircraft. It will depend a bit on the make up of you group. Seatguru gives some good pointers.
http://www.seatguru.com/findseatmap/findseatmap.php

That's about all I can think of at the moment, but I'm sure others will come along soon.
Have a great time.

Dick D

Honestly, not to sound dismissive at all but your question is really broad. If you want to know about the entire Upper Class experience you'd save time yourself some time by reading about it on the VS website. Link is here.

As for specific things about LAS-MAN:

• There is no Virgin Clubhouse at LAS. There is a shared lounge called "The Club" just opposite the gates that VS use, which you'll have access to. It's not exclusive, it's the only lounge for the E gates so it's shared with BA and possibly some other airlines. It's pleasant enough and could offer a nice haven if you're looking for some peace and quiet. It offers food but the pickings are your standard basic business lounge affair, soup, simple buffet and the like. There is a bar for free drinks.
  If you're looking for somewhere to eat I'd recommend the Chophouse a few gates away.
  
• Check-in experience is standard at LAS. There is, as at other airports, a separate queue for UC passengers. Last time I was there (a couple of weeks ago) the staff were very friendly. For security, there is a separate First Class line which you should have access to. That'll save you a good bit of time as the queues can get quite long in the standard line.
  
• There are some UC menus currently floating about the forum. A quick search will unearth them. Whether these are the ones that your flight will have though, who can say. It's probably way too early to say if your flight isn't for some time.
  
• As for which seat, I'd follow the seatguru link that Dicky supplied. Most people go for 6A/6K if they're travelling with a partner. Otherwise they're all as good as each other in my eyes.

Hope this helps.

turn up at airport - maybe get a chauffer service.
check in through upper class.
go to club house.
get on plane.
Sit down.
take off.
put seat in sleep position
watch some films
eat some food
drink some free booze.
have a sleep.
wake up
put bed back in seat position
land in vegas.
Then wonder what the fuss is about.

I'm not entirely sure (due to the other replies) but are you only going UC one way, from LAS to MAN? if so, DTCI and the Heathrow CH won't apply.

Have you tried to see if there are any recent Trip Reports relating to your flight?

Edit - a couple of links which may give an insight even if they aren't all recent.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=280853&p=849233&hilit=VS86#p849233
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=286512&p=879047&hilit=VS086#p879047
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=286175&p=876791&hilit=VS086#p876791

thank you all for being so nice
yes we are only one way UC las to man
I have read some of the trip reports, but they all seem a bit out of date, and I also get the impression that the uc cabin from las vegas can be a little loud!
I have tried to search for menus but none seem to pop up for the flight, maybe I need to search a few different ways, its the abbreviations that cause me problems.

Its ticking down quickly now and I still need to sort out some bits on the trip x

I wouldn't get too bogged down with the detail. You will get access to the lounge as per SlimplyJones' post. The menu will basically be a variation of any you find on a recent TR. My advice would be to enjoy it and have fun.

Unless they've changed it, you can actually check in your luggage before the airport. You can check it in at the Venetian, which is nice. Otherwise most times there's roadside checkin at LAS as well, not particularly Upper, but different from most places.

thank you all for being so nice
yes we are only one way UC las to man
I have read some of the trip reports, but they all seem a bit out of date, and I also get the impression that the uc cabin from las vegas can be a little loud!
I have tried to search for menus but none seem to pop up for the flight, maybe I need to search a few different ways, its the abbreviations that cause me problems.

Its ticking down quickly now and I still need to sort out some bits on the trip x

For the UC experience is it worth looking in the Trip Report Index in the Toolbox for the LAS-LGW experiences? Differing aircraft aside, it can't be that different to LAS-MAN?

As to the menu, you don't say when you are going and they do change. The menus are the same across different groups of routes (a list used to be published at the bottom right hand of the last page of the menu) but unless someone has a recent menu that has your flight number giving you a key to which other TRs to look at that isn't much use at this point.

My reading of Las Vegas TRs is the flights can be upbeat and noisy on the way out but penitent and quieter on the way back.

BTW, if you have platinum amex, then there's a much nicer lounge you can visit. Go across to Gate D, via the transit, takes a couple of minutes, and you get to the amex Centurion lounge, free to amex platinum cardholders and above.

Nice food, free champers, much nicer lounge.

http://thecenturionlounge.com/location/LAS