New Upper Class Drive Thru Checkin Trial

Just received this email on behalf of my girlfriend who is flying on Thursday:

Dear Miss xxxxxxx,

Speed your way into Heathrow Airport
As one of our specially selected passengers, were delighted to invite you
to take part in our exciting new trial.

Currently all of our Upper Class passengers and Gold Card members can use
our dedicated Private Security Channel at our award winning Upper Class
Wing at Terminal 3, but to date the check in facility has only been for
passengers using our complimentary chauffeur driven car service. But not
any more! On 18 June, well be running a trial to allow selected Upper
Class passengers arriving by private vehicle to use the Upper Class Wing
facility.

Interested in taking part?
If you are interested in taking part in the trial we would like to hear
from you right away. Please call our Upper Class Support team on +44 (0)
844 xxx xxxx between the hours of 06:45 and 20:00 no later than twelve
hours before your flight.

Our Agents will confirm an arrival time for you and you will receive a
confirmation email detailing where you need to go and what you need to do
when you arrive at Heathrow Airport.

Yours sincerely
Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd

Thanks for posting this. I never see CDC as complimentary just an optional extra . Provided the access is managed to avoid queues and the cost reasonable this could be popular, particularly if they are going to start charging for dropping people off at the terminal anyway.

quote:Originally posted by Jacki
particularly if they are going to start charging for dropping people off at the terminal anyway.


Eeek! Where did that come from, some mad greenery scheme?

We will be taxed for thinking about driving soon. I'm just assuming that if Luton get away with drop off charges the other airports will follow.

Great news, they mentioned that to me when I was there at the beginning of May. I hope they will still be doing it in August.

Mark

[Bazz]

I haven't yet spoken to VS Special Needs staff regarding our LA trip at Christmas but was intending to ask them if we could use the Drive Through facility so this looks like a promising development.

[preiffer]

Was going to say - it's been 'in trial' for a while now.

Re-reading the original post, implies it just 18th June is taking place rather than an ongoing exercise and an invitation only.

I fly out next weekend, hopefully I'll be one of the 'selected' ones [:D]

[preiffer]

Hmmm...

It was mentioned aaaaages ago. Seems it must have taken them a long time (6 months ish) to get the actual trial up and running then. [:?]

[honey lamb]

I wonder if I can get the Hoppa bus to go through the check-in area? [:w]

quote:Originally posted by preiffer
Hmmm...

It was mentioned aaaaages ago. Seems it must have taken them a long time (6 months ish) to get the actual trial up and running then. [:?]

Are you sure you weren't thinking of the walking PAX trial? this one is car based.

[Darren Wheeler]

quote:Originally posted by honey lamb
I wonder if I can get the Hoppa bus to go through the check-in area? [:w]


I'm game to try it. Party Bus anyone [:D]

I would love to take part (fingers crossed they do this on a adhoc basis) and think it is a good use of their facility.

I think VS should use it more, they would know of every limo that is due to come in and to offer it to UC pax on a regulated basis it is a nice perk and it doesn't cost VS any more.

Let us know how your GF finds it.

Dominic

[buns]

Could have asked me[:(!]

I suspect that the use of an Austin Allegro was completely out of the question though[:w]

buns

I have to admit I scanned the forum and misread the title as being upper class drive thru chickin trial!!!!!!!!!!!

[:p]

quote:Originally posted by buns

I suspect that the use of an Austin Allegro was completely out of the question though[:w]

buns


Oh, I think a Vanden Plas with the rear picnic trays would work just mighty fine [:p].

I had cause to speak with the premier team today concerning some flights, whilst on the phone the agent laughed out loud then apolgised as apparently Steve Ridgeway had just walked in in fancy dress.[:D]

Anyway i digress, whilst on the phone i enquired about the trial to see if i could take part in July when we travel.

The agent said that yes there was a trial but it was administered from the department that arrange the CDC service, and not them.

Apparently they look at the loads on a daily basis for about 48hrs ahead and would invite people by email or phone if the CDC use was not going to be compromised by others arriving.

When we go next month we were going to use purple parking meet and greet, and i enquired if the purple parking chauffeur could collect the car from us at drive through (in case they offer it to me when i've booked the meet and greet), but was told that this would not be allowed.

So knowing my luck i'll book the meet and greet then get the email !

If anyone from CDC is reading this I fly on Friday and would be more than happy to partake in the trail [:I]

quote:Originally posted by carter
If anyone from CDC is reading this I fly on Friday and would be more than happy to partake in the trail [:I]


I would expect it is offered to Uniq and Gold FC pax first then, if is still room, the lower tiers.

Hackneyguy

Fat lot of good that is, i got back yesterday on a the delayed vs10 out of JFK to find the invite sitting in my inbox the evening before i flew[;)]

Thanks for the heads up virgin!

Alex

How does the invitation work ? Do you have to give a car registration before you travel ? I'm just wondering if I was to book a cab, as I wouldn't know the reg until it arrived.

[honey lamb]

I've just received the email for my trip on Tuesday. Now to try and convince VS to allow the Hoppa bus through [:w]

[Darren Wheeler]

quote:Originally posted by honey lamb
I've just received the email for my trip on Tuesday. Now to try and convince VS to allow the Hoppa bus through [:w]


Hoppa?? Hoppa!!!

In May I used a taxi booked through the concierge at the Skyline. To T3 it cost 10. OK, the Hoppa (spit) is 4, but the taxi was much easier with luggage, faster as no tour of T1, T2, other hotels and much more comfortable.

quote:Originally posted by gameswolverine
How does the invitation work ? Do you have to give a car registration before you travel ? I'm just wondering if I was to book a cab, as I wouldn't know the reg until it arrived.


That seems to be a rub - I was talking with the VS check in people last week and it seems that ironing out the security issues (number plate and passenger recognition) seems to be the key issue with opening this up.

[Decker]

Invited for next Thursday. They'll want the car reg and a contact number. They'd like the driver name and the car make and model too - they're mailing to give me full details.