Drive Thru Check In Moving

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Must have missed this online, but it was on my paper statement this morning:

As you may be aware, Terminal 3 at London Heathrow, where our Upper Class Drive Thru Check In facility is located, is currently being redeveloped. This will result in a few changes to Drive Thru Check In.

From June 2006, the Drive Thru Check In will be relocating to the outside area of Zone A where Virgin Atlantic Check In desks are sited.

Rest assured you will still be ablle to relav in your car, while you are checked in. You will then need to make a short walk through the Check In hall and upstairs to reach Fast Track security control.

I noticed the building work had started in the car park the other week, as my driver had to go up an extra level in the car park to come back down to drop me off by the walkway.

Now, while that's only a slight change - isn't that area where all the traffic snarl-ups occur at the moment? People trying to drop all other passengers off while VS try to check people in "in-car" on the left hand side?

The LHR DTCI at Terminal 3 at the entry point to the short term car park was functioning last evening.

Paul

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Originally posted by p17blo
The LHR DTCI at Terminal 3 at the entry point to the short term car park was functioning last evening.

Same here, Paul. I was referring to the car park drop-off by the walkway to fast-track, as opposed to the DTCI itself. That doesn't switch until June, from VS' statement above.

I have heard that the current T3 will be knocked down and a hotel is being built outside T3!!

Hence the new car park is too far from the terminal so a walkway cannot be built as the new hotel will be in the way!!

Sure T2 would be first meaning that T3 would be a while off. Also, I would think that this has had a LOT of money spent on it recently, including the landmark VS clubhouse.

If this is true, it must be several years off. I can't imagine VS investing so much to have it all taken away in 6 months.

Paul

Originally posted by declansmith
I have heard that the current T3 will be knocked down and a hotel is being built outside T3!!

Hence the new car park is too far from the terminal so a walkway cannot be built as the new hotel will be in the way!!

SORRY I FORGET TO ADD CAR PARK ON THE END OF T3!!!

The present T3 Car Park will be knocked down to make way for a hotel!!

Hope that makes more sense, the terminal building is not going anywhere!!

Ah ha, yes that does make a little more sense. Would like to see the hotel you mention being built there.

Paul

Terminal 3 is having a big makeover... The intermediate DTCI Will be outside the current Check-in South wing T3... The Old car park is being used to extend the terminal.

Virgin Atlantic are working very close to BAA to make sure that although the dark side will have a bright new building in a few years they too want the Flying experience to be a good one..

Effectively will be a terminal within a terminal and The DTCI will be behind the current check-in. The limo will go up a ramp and drop you off at a dedicated Upper class check in area with the type of feel you get from the lounges.

Soon the road/car park side of the south wing will be made much lighter and more glass etc... the plans are very nice and will be complete before T5!!!

the bad news is there will be disruption as work is done around a working check-in and terminal... But just think how great it will be eventually with as little as 200m from check in to the Gates* (based on pier 6, A380 stands)

So does this mean that although Terminal 3 will become oneworld, VS will be able to stay?

^ T3 is practically One World anyway!

From how I understand there is lots of changes happening at LHR- When T5 open Ba will move and T3 will become Star mainly and Virgin. But if plans go ahead for 2009 and Eastside project them Virgin Would probably move to Eastside but that is a long way away!

Originally posted by milehigh
From how I understand there is lots of changes happening at LHR- When T5 open Ba will move and T3 will become Star mainly and Virgin. But if plans go ahead for 2009 and Eastside project them Virgin Would probably move to Eastside but that is a long way away!

Looking at the BAA website, the long term plan shows Terminal 3 becoming mainly "One World" airlines but will house others such as VS.
Terminal 1/2 will be the "Star" Alliance home. Its all contained here: Link




Edit by mod to shorten link.......... Nick

The new drive through at LHR is open this morning. Was one of the first to us it and still a few minor problems to sort out. The computer link via Tristar not working, so they do not know you are coming! But will be an improvement as dropped at the end of the terminal by Virgin Check in and then only a short walk. Very efficient service, was checked in and on our way to the club house in minutes.