Twilight Check-In - Why not at LHR?

So how come twilight check-in is available on at LGW and not LHR?

Originally posted by bostonbrit
So how come twilight check-in is available on at LGW and not LHR?

I should think its about the mix of pax, at LHR being more business and a higher per cent living in the London area it is required less than the holiday flights from LGW leaving early, with people from all over the country (staying overnight to be on time for their flights).

Dare say a staffer will have a better answer.

My guess is that LGW, being more of a B&S port gets more passengers that are likely to be in the area the night before and would want to check in.

I would have thought this was of most use to Families with young children where getting to the airport early is a bit of an ordeal.

The earliest flights from LHR - JFK, BOS are not nearly as likely to be full of this type of passenger.

I'm sure that it would be useful though and since the check-ins at LHR are open late anyway I would have thought something could be arranged.

Phil FM

From experience ihave tried to check in with other airlines (not VS) more than 3 hrs prior to departure. This is always somewhat of a challenge and having spoken to the SAS reps and Air Canada reps it is because the area for baggage storage is so limited.
I have always believed it was for this reason that Vs didnt offer a Twilight at LHR.

My guess is it is also checkin capacity related. Most Gatwick departures leave between 09:00 and 10:00 in the morning, with the LAS and two MCO flights all gone by 12:30.

LHR has departures throughout the day, with BOM/DEL/DXB/HKG/LOS/EWR all leaving between 20:30 and 22:30. With all those passengers, I suspect they don't want to clog checkin with twilighters, as there simply isn't the capacity to process them all at the same time. But with all those hotels around LHR, there are a lot of people who would very much like a twilight checkin, myself included!

AF

Speaking as one who has taken advantage of twilight CI on a number of occasions, I would be surprised if it will survive should the existing hand luggage limits stay in place...

It definately will it survived 9/11!

Originally posted by mdvipond
Speaking as one who has taken advantage of twilight CI on a number of occasions, I would be surprised if it will survive should the existing hand luggage limits stay in place...

I thought this too - what's the point of leaving your bags if all you hand luggage is taken up with toiletries for the night which you can't then take with you ... or I suppose you can check in bags twice but what's the point of that?

Gatwick desks are 'free' for twilight after the day's flights have departed at 1230. This makes it possible to offer a twilight check in service. No confusion regarding which bags are travelling today and which ones are travelling tomorrow. This is why (with the last week's delays) some flights were closed for the possibility of Twilight Check-In.

BAA would probably have a thing or two to say about Twilight check-in at LHR.

Space is tight at T3 at he best of times. Having extra baggage bins in operation for the following days flights would take up a lot of room and probably cost a fair wack with BAA being involved.