Gold Benefits with guests at LHR

We're travelling as a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids (8 and 6)) in premium soon. I'm gold and wanting to check I understand that benefits.

I think we can all use upper class check-in, though not via the wing as that's gold plus 1 guest only?

Can we all use some sort of fast track security?

And the Clubhouse is 1 guest only and with how busy it gets lately, I assume trying to pay entry for the kids will be denied? We're flying at 3:45pm so not a peak time.

Thanks!

Use the wing. Nobody asks if you have guests when you clear the barrier entering the wing. They ask what cabin you’re flying and whether you’re flying VS/DL.

Clubhouse I expect will also be a bit variable because the rules there are stricter. Be ready to pay for the kids but I expect it should be fine too. If you have issues, play the Gold card HARD. But I don’t think you will.

Situations like this are why is good to develop personal relationships with the CH staff. Comes in handy…

As has been said, drive up to the wing won't be a problem, last time we did it we had 2 in UC & 2 in PE, when we actually checked in they asked who was flying UC and who was flying PE, but checked us all in together and we all used the VS dedicated security lane.

I would think that CH access will be allowed at that time of day but until the day you won't know. Fingers corossed it won't be busy.

I traveled in the same situation when the children were a similar age and they were let in with the 2 adults and not charged. But be prepared for a no and at the least to be charged.

A cheery hello and smile goes a long way as will 2 well behaved children at the CH check in

Just a quick follow up.

Didn't bother driving up to the wing as we decided to park the car in meet and greet. Quick walk across to the regular upper checkin and then we were escorted to use the security channel at the wing.

At the clubhouse, my wife entered as my guest and we were charged £25 each for the kids (cheapest combination). The agent had a fixed price list in a drawer. Can't remember all the prices, but obviously increased significantly with the age of the guest. We were still relatively happy since we would have probably spent that and more in the terminal getting lunch and drinks.

"Situations like this are why is good to develop personal relationships with the CH staff. Comes in handy…"

You must fly a lot! I'm not the best with faces, but I can't recall having met the same FOH CH staff twice (I fly VS about every 6 weeks).

"Situations like this are why is good to develop personal relationships with the CH staff. Comes in handy…"

You must fly a lot! I'm not the best with faces, but I can't recall having met the same FOH CH staff twice (I fly VS about every 6 weeks).

Haha, I do. In fact last year I flew with the same FSM three times. My recent RUH trips I had the same FSM twice. Crew have route preferences, so if you do the same routes all the time, you tend to meet the same staff.

Clubhouse shift change is around 3pm in the afternoon, and again some of the staff have preferences for morning vs afternoon so if you constantly do the same times in the CH you see familiar faces. I also do a lot of on the day upgrades and seat moves, again requiring me to talk to the concierge staff, so i've naturally built some relationships there.

Helpful bit of information generally too... the Virgin Exec who used to run the Clubhouses (Rami) left recently. His role has now been replaced by one of his colleagues and that colleague is responsible for both Clubhouse and part of the onboard customer experience, so if you want to moan about things like the menu, they're the person to talk to. She can often be found in the Clubhouse during the week.

But yes, when you fly so much that staff know you by name... its probably a little too much

The Clubhouse Concierge, in grey who are there to basically look after gold and uniq customers always make a beeline for their guests and will always go above and beyond to help!