This is the main V-Flyer Forum for general discussion of everything related to flying with Virgin-branded travel companies.
#2113 by kevinjp
08 Aug 2004, 21:44
Flying to MCO in PE and want to make use of the twilight checkin at LGW as we have paid to use the Clubhouse and want to make full use of it :) instead of using checkin in the morning. Have a few questions about this.

1) Do they have all class of checkin desks (UC, PE etc..) open for twilight checkin?

2) VH also say I need to collect tickets for Clubhouse from VH desk, can I do this the evening before? or will the Clubhouse let us in with just our VH voucher?

3) Wanted to stay at the the Le Meridien or Hilton (preference is Le Meridien after the bad reviews I have read of the Hilton)the night before our flight. But as car parking is not on-site at either hotel we will have no where to put our overnight bags on the day of our flight. Can any recommend what the best thing to do is? or any other airport hotels which offer parking?

Thank you.
#38393 by The_Banking_Scot
08 Aug 2004, 22:06
Hi kpen687728,

(1) I think there is just one line for twilight check in ( no PE or UC separate line)

(2) I doubt VH desk will be open for twilight check in ( you will probably have to exchange vouchers for the lounge invitatiions on the day of departure)

(3) I thought the Hilton did do parking for multidays. If they do not take you overnight bags with you when you drop the car off and take them with you ( should be coaches from the off site car park to the terminal). I always stay at the Hilton ( never a bad stay)( I'm HH Ddiamond so I'm a little biased as I always get upgraded to an Executive room):D but the hotel is nice enough.

Regards

TBS
#38394 by Nottingham Nick
08 Aug 2004, 22:20
If you are travelling PE, I can't see a lot of advantage of the twilight check in. The lines for PE are rarely a problem.

I haven't seen any bad reviews of the LGW Hilton, but my preferencc is the Renaissance - it is off site, but had a bus that goes regularly, picking up next door at the Thistle on its way to the airport - it is still only a few minutes away. The parking there is onsite.

Nick
#38395 by kevinjp
08 Aug 2004, 22:30
Thanks for your quick replies. Hilton do offer parking but from what I have read it seems you can leave your car whilst you check-in to the hotel then you have to take it straight to the summer special car park.

What time does check-in at LGW open? and what times does the LGW Clubhouse open? I guess if queues are a minimum at PE it wouldn't really matter to check-in on the day. Only thing is, if the majority of passengers use twilight check-in could our seat requests be given to someone else, so we would have to take what is left on the day?

I have read bad reviews of the Hilton on TripAdvisor, but I guess it's only one night.
#38396 by The_Banking_Scot
08 Aug 2004, 22:38
Hi,

Check in opens about 630am I think.

The clubhouse opens about 7am I think.

I doubt your seat assignments would be changed esp in PE. ( of course I'm not sure if the exit row seats would be still left in the morning or be allocated at twilight check in)

Regards

TBS
#38400 by Jonathan
09 Aug 2004, 00:29
quote:Originally posted by The_Banking_Scot

The clubhouse opens about 7am I think.

TBS

7:30 as I discovered a month ago;)

If your flying PE Twilight checkin isn't so useful. Unless that is of course you have a long drive to LGW.
#38414 by Bazz
09 Aug 2004, 11:29
Hmmm, they must have changed the opening time as it was 07:00 in March coz that was the time we went in [?]
#38422 by Jonathan
09 Aug 2004, 11:58
Just phoned the LGW clubhouse!!
lounge opens @ 7:00am
treatments from 7:30

maybe they were short staffed when I was there last as they weren't open @7am!!
#38481 by kevinjp
09 Aug 2004, 22:53
Had another idea! :)

Could use the online checkin before leaving home the day before or even using a PC at the Hilton hotel. Then use the DIY checkin desk (I assume they have one of these at LGW) on the morning of the flight to drop off our luggage.

That way we can ensure we get our choice of seats.
#38496 by Jonathan
10 Aug 2004, 10:53
If you going to be at LGW the night before anyway you may aswell use twilight check in.

You never know you might get upgraded if you the flight is overbooked:D
even if its not overbooked you could try and get rows 11 or 12;)
#38520 by kevinjp
10 Aug 2004, 14:20
Only problem with twilight check-in is having overnight bags when the car is not on-site at the hotel. The reason I thought DIY checkin, was that the bags wouldn't have to be dropped off until the morning of the flight.

We are flying next year so I presume the LGW planes will have suites by then, so I guess rows 11 & 12 for PE will no longer be offered.

Do you think many people on the LGW-MCO route would be in the flying club? I am only red with no points (missed out on claiming miles from last November) and am on a VH ticket, so imagine I would be at the bottom of the list when it comes to upgrades [:(]
#38523 by Jonathan
10 Aug 2004, 15:36
quote:Originally posted by kpen687728
Only problem with twilight check-in is having overnight bags when the car is not on-site at the hotel. The reason I thought DIY checkin, was that the bags wouldn't have to be dropped off until the morning of the flight.


True but then again O/N bags can be fairly small!

quote:
We are flying next year so I presume the LGW planes will have suites by then, so I guess rows 11 & 12 for PE will no longer be offered.


Also true!! I thought you we're traveling fairly soon..I guess you just like to plan ahead!

quote:
Do you think many people on the LGW-MCO route would be in the flying club? I am only red with no points (missed out on claiming miles from last November) and am on a VH ticket, so imagine I would be at the bottom of the list when it comes to upgrades [:(]


I'm a AU card holder and I fly that route 90% of the time! on my last flight out the guy next to me was AU too. A lot of people own vacation property in FL so are FF.

you wont be at the bottom, as you are a member of VSFC however upgrades usually goto AU,AG first and there are normally enough of them to satisfy the op upgrades.

However this varies flight to flight so you never know!
LGW-MCO is nearly always full so upgrades are usually on offer I guess it depends on your luck on the day.
Virgin Atlantic

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 171 guests

Itinerary Calendar