How early can you Check-in for a flight

Firstly I would like to say how great this site is. It convinced me to fly Virgin Upper Class to visit my family in Australia. It's my first time flying business class so I'm quite excited about this trip.

Now I've been reading all about how great the club house is and was wondering how early I can check in to take full advantage of it. In Sydney you can't check-in until 3 hours before the flight. Do they have the same rule at Heathrow? I couldn't seem to find anything on the virgin website.

I've already booked my beauty treatment but I would love to check out the sauna and spa and have some food and drinks before I go as well. Any other suggestions are also appreciated.

Look forward to your replies.

Emma

Less than six weeks till I leave and I can't wait for the time to pass

Hi Emma and welcome aboard!

Not sure what the official line is but we recently checked in 4 hours before our recent flight to LAX - loads of time spent in the Clubhouse!

Have a great time,

Neil

[preiffer]

LHR tend to be more relaxed about check-in times. Technically, it's possible to check in for any flight once the desks are open (within 24 hours, of course). So, I'd say you're fine from the early hours of the morning onwards.

Enjoy [y]

[fozzyo]

I can't remember what time the flight leaves, but I do remember we were picked up in Wolverhampton at 1pm and S (our fantastic driver) wasn't holding back with the speed so we we had loads and loads of time to enjoy the CH. My advice - get there as early as you feel you need to. Enjoy it all and have a great flight - UC to Sydney is so very worth worthwhile!

As its your first time You'll want to get there nice and early to savour the atmosphere. Saying that I've been there a few times and I still get there early!

My philosophy is generally on days when you're catching a flight you're just treading water waiting to get to the airport so if you have the access to the lounge why not. Its a case of waiting there or waiting at home... (and we don't have a jacuzzi so thats an added bonus)

Dean

As far as I know, you can check in as soon as checkin opens for any VS flights that day. From memory, checkin opens at 6.30.

At LGW, you can check in for some flights the night before...

Chris

[Neil]

Originally posted by cshore
As far as I know, you can check in as soon as checkin opens for any VS flights that day. From memory, checkin opens at 6.30.

At LGW, you can check in for some flights the night before...

Chris

Check In at LHR open at 6am (or more likely 6:15 by the time they've got themselves sorted).

Neil:)

but the clubhouse opens at 7am.

We checked in for VS200 at 4pm last week, leaving us a good 6 hours in the clubhouse. It sounds like your travelling alone, otherwise after our drinks,food and treatments spent some time playing pool and raiding the sweetie bar. There is only one cue available though at the moment !

We spent a few minutes playing in the Jaguar on the roof, playing video games and surfing the interweb. Interlaced of course by plenty of red wine. If by chance you can play a guitar, the Gibson guy upstairs I think would be desperate for your company, we didn't see anyone with him all night.

Enjoy your flight, I managed to sleep most of the way to HKG, much to the annoyance of the wife, especially as the IFE broke down for much of the way to HGK.

Don't forget that the CH in Sydney isn't a Virgin CH; it's ok, but nothing to get excited about. It's big, airy, good views of the runways, but snack/light food, and normal self-serve drinks etc.

Thread title sounds like a challenge to me!

I'm off Down Under on VS200 to see Skippy and his mates at the end of January, and I'm planning on being about five hours early.

As it's a Z-fare I'll have to make my own way to LHR, and because I live in mortal fear of missing a flight (or at least one I've paid for myself), the extra slack I have to build in means I'll probably pitch up at the desks about six or seven hours in advance.

I know it's hardly rational, but whenever I've got to get to Heathrow from my house in Lichfield (125 miles, all motorways, two and a half hours no problem), I just have to build in provision for such calamitous eventualities as freak blizzards, multiple punctures, minor road traffic accidents and getting pulled over by the police.

I've never missed a flight in my life and long may it continue. And besides, if all it means two or three more indolent hours in the CH sipping champagne, stretching out in the sauna and chilling in the jacuzzi, I can't see any good reason to change my ways any time soon!:D

Thanks for all the responses. Good to know I can get there as early as I want. I have the day off work so other than getting a few final things organised I was probably just going to hang out at home watching TV or reading a book so I may as well do that in the comfort of the Club House

And StropshireLad I'm the same as you. I always seem to worry about trains being delayed or traffic being at a standstill so I tend to be there hours early and I'm usually first in line to check in. I hope you have a good time in Australia.

Emma

me and my family was told 2 hours before by LHR when i was flyin 2 rome, and we were almost 5 minutes late for check in!! lol
naughty us!
[V]

At London Gatwick can check in up to 9pm day before, which we find is great, and if retuning back to UK from Orlando can check in from 8.30am to 1pm at Down Town Disney weather permitting on day of travel. Great if late evening flight back to UK, means have rest of day free.

But you still have to come back the next day and join the 'shoe carnival' since the clubhouse is not open overnight.

[honey lamb]

I've often been in the Clubhouse 5 hours before a flight thanks to my connecting flights into LHR. It's a perfect place to while awaythe time.

Don't forget that in Hong Kong you can also visit the HKG Clubhouse. When you disembark there will be staff to shepherd you the correct way and it will be signed. You will get a "Catch me if you can" sticker and will be able to use the Clubhouse. Aer John took this video link of it [y]

Yep, I can confirm that 5 hrs was no problem last week on the way to Dubai - thanks to some clear roads - well, we wouldn't want to be late now, would we? Only problem with getting CH access 5 hrs before leaving is that I don't recall much of the actual flight!

This is good news, on Christmas Eve we land in LHR at 13.15, we are then on VS400 leaving at 20.50 (or thereabouts) so we have loads of time to pass in the CH, I doubt there won't be many in on Christmas Eve?

Originally posted by honey lamb
Aer John took this video link of it [y]

LOL - I noticed that the tincy wincy shower rooms didn't get shown - I doubt you could get yourself with a camcorder in there!

I would get such a slap from the GF if I tried that - as it is I have been banned from taking meal shots for AirlineMeals.net

Cheers, Howard

Meal shots - is that some sort of porno term?

Well I can only agree with everyone else, re the CH, I always get to the airport early, not only to enjoy the CH, but to do a bit of plane spotting!!

If you have the dayoff, I'd get there as early as possible, and just sit back and ENJOY!

When I go to DXB in December, I am planning on getting there a few hours to play in the CH!!!

Enjoy and look forward to your TR.

Dominic