New Upper Class Drive Thru Checkin Trial

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#720580 by Sealink
09 Jul 2009, 14:23
quote:Originally posted by slinky09
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.


Maybe something for VS to look into - 'preferred' taxi / chauffeur services?

#720581 by Guest
09 Jul 2009, 14:34
quote:Originally posted by Sealink
quote:Originally posted by slinky09
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.


Maybe something for VS to look into - 'preferred' taxi / chauffeur services?


They already have one - it is called TriStar [|:)]

I have used them for years and have been able to use the drive thru when on a non qualifying Upper Flight (you cant do it as just a Gold)- as posted in the past. Also doing the very same tomorrow for my trip [y]

Regards,

Hackneyguy

#720583 by jaguarpig
09 Jul 2009, 15:46
quote:Originally posted by hackneyguy



I have used them for years and have been able to use the drive thru when on a non qualifying Upper Flight (you cant do it as just a Gold)- as posted in the past. Also doing the very same tomorrow for my trip [y]

Regards,

Hackneyguy


Are you using the BA black cabs?

#720584 by Guest
09 Jul 2009, 16:01
quote:Originally posted by jaguarpig
quote:Originally posted by hackneyguy



I have used them for years and have been able to use the drive thru when on a non qualifying Upper Flight (you cant do it as just a Gold)- as posted in the past. Also doing the very same tomorrow for my trip [y]

Regards,

Hackneyguy


Are you using the BA black cabs?


No - sorry

Regards,

Hackneyguy

#720585 by David Glickman
09 Jul 2009, 17:17
quote:Originally posted by hackneyguy


I have used them for years and have been able to use the drive thru when on a non qualifying Upper Flight (you cant do it as just a Gold)- as posted in the past. Also doing the very same tomorrow for my trip [y]

Regards,

Hackneyguy



Flying a week Monday on a Z ticket and covering bases in case I don't get an invite, I have just spoken to Tristar reservations to get a quote. They told me that they couldn't take me through the drive thru barriers without Virgin's prior authorisation which I would need to obtain. Just wondering how you have managed to get this to work!

Thanks

#720586 by Guest
09 Jul 2009, 17:27
quote:Originally posted by David Glickman
quote:Originally posted by hackneyguy


I have used them for years and have been able to use the drive thru when on a non qualifying Upper Flight (you cant do it as just a Gold)- as posted in the past. Also doing the very same tomorrow for my trip [y]

Regards,

Hackneyguy



Flying a week Monday on a Z ticket and covering bases in case I don't get an invite, I have just spoken to Tristar reservations to get a quote. They told me that they couldn't take me through the drive thru barriers without Virgin's prior authorisation which I would need to obtain. Just wondering how you have managed to get this to work!

Thanks



Maybe the bit in red is a clue - I have a VIP account with Tristar and usually travel on a J so have only done this a few times over the last 2 years.

#720587 by David Glickman
09 Jul 2009, 17:53
quote:

Maybe the bit in red is a clue - I have a VIP account with Tristar and usually travel on a J so have only done this a few times over the last 2 years.


Many thanks - they certainly wouldn't regard me as a potential VIP account holder so will just have to hope the invite from Virgin comes through.

#720589 by honey lamb
09 Jul 2009, 18:22
I didn't avail of the service although I got the invite since I was overnighting at the Sheraton Skyline and it was going to be too much hassle to set it up. I was however checked in at the Drive-thru lounge desk as the UC desks at the main check-in were full and discussed it with her. She said she had seen black cabs use the area since the trial started.

#720616 by jaguarpig
10 Jul 2009, 13:06
quote:Originally posted by hackneyguy


No - sorry

Regards,

Hackneyguy


No invite for a prem[:0]

#720621 by Guest
10 Jul 2009, 14:07
quote:Originally posted by jaguarpig
quote:Originally posted by hackneyguy


No - sorry

Regards,

Hackneyguy


No invite for a prem[:0]

I use Tristar [y]

#721601 by chumba
27 Jul 2009, 12:08
I received my invite to the trial via email this morning for flights this Friday. [^] Rang the number to discuss options as we have already booked meet & greet parking with Purple Parking. The upper class support agent suggested we pick the Purple Parking employee up outside the terminal, drive round the roundabout and into the DTCI area, where we can be dropped off and the employee can then take the car. (no way i thought)

Rang Purple parking to see if they would go for it and they did.[y]

So DTCI here we come ! [oo]

#721608 by honey lamb
27 Jul 2009, 14:29
quote:Originally posted by chumba
I received my invite to the trial via email this morning for flights this Friday. [^] Rang the number to discuss options as we have already booked meet & greet parking with Purple Parking. The upper class support agent suggested we pick the Purple Parking employee up outside the terminal, drive round the roundabout and into the DTCI area, where we can be dropped off and the employee can then take the car. (no way i thought)

Rang Purple parking to see if they would go for it and they did.[y]

So DTCI here we come ! [oo]

Nice one [y]

#721678 by gameswolverine
28 Jul 2009, 19:05
I used the DTCI trial on 18th July (VS23), travelling on a Z bought in the sale. I had to give the private hire driver's name, car registration/make/colour and the expected time of arrival within a 30 minute window.

When we got to the security ramp it all went a bit wrong unfortunately, with lots of back and forth with the increasingly flustered lady on the intercom. It took several minutes to be let through, with at least 3 cars behind us by the time the bollards dropped !

We were right at the start of the arrival window, so maybe that caught them out, but I did feel bad for the folks behind who looked like they were in Tristar Volvos and would have paid an arm and a leg for their Js. Once through it all went like clockwork - busy lounge but otherwise superb as ever, great cabin crew, and even the slighly late take-off was made up in the air.

#721935 by ukcobra
31 Jul 2009, 21:30
How many days before flying are the trial invitations going out ? If indeed they still are.

We are flying on Friday.

Mark

#721936 by honey lamb
31 Jul 2009, 21:45
My invitation arrived two days before my flight

#721939 by mike-smashing
31 Jul 2009, 23:48
I got an invite earlier this week for a flight on Tuesday.

Still not worked out if I'm going to avail myself of this yet, as I'm still working out how I'll get to the airport.

Mike

#721941 by honey lamb
31 Jul 2009, 23:53
Hmmm, my flight was on a Tuesday and I got the invite on a Sunday, which surprised me.

#721951 by Alex V
01 Aug 2009, 09:25
My flight went out on a tuesday to JFK VS045 back in june and i got the invitation on the monday evening which was a tad late by that time, bit of a stinker trying to arrange that one.

cheers

alex

#721996 by ukcobra
02 Aug 2009, 01:43
I need to ring VS customer services anyway, as I am having trouble changing my email address online.

I'll ask at the same time.

#722037 by ukcobra
03 Aug 2009, 11:36
Got the email today, only noticed after I spoke with VS FC, who were unable to help with my request to see if I would be invited.

Just need to work out what I plan to do, i.e Taxi or Purple Parking.

#722040 by Slipperman
03 Aug 2009, 13:14
Also flying Friday, but not got an invite yet. Mind you I'm only Ag so probably a bit lower in the pecking order. Also I wonder if, being a morning flight, there might not be so many trial slots available. [:?]

#722047 by mike-smashing
03 Aug 2009, 14:08
I'll be taking an Addison Lee car through tomorrow morning, assuming that the driver is game, and I can get hold of UC support in time to register the Addlee car's registration number (given UC support opens at 0645 and I'll get there about 0715/0730).

I'll let people know how things go, but it all seems quite well organised at the moment. I guess if this works out long term, there will be an option for you to do this online or via SMS or something.

Mike

#722068 by Simon Kanjee
03 Aug 2009, 16:13
I'm on the 19 on Friday too, and am Au...but no emails as yet. But I am flying G class, so again, possibly not top of the list?...which is a shame...

#722081 by Nevil30
03 Aug 2009, 17:22
On the VS5 on Friday and also only a Ag and no invite [:#]

#722157 by mike-smashing
04 Aug 2009, 10:37
Very smooth experience this morning. The Addlee driver was up for it, despite having never been there before.

Phoned the car reg through to UC Support as soon as they opened, and there was no fuss at all. As soon as we pulled up to the barrier, the number plate was recognised and we proceeded through the bollards to a deserted UCW drive-up area where an agent met the car, at which point it was no different to a Tristar dropoff.

Good to experience VS trying to make better use of this excellent facility.

Mike
Virgin Atlantic
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