New Upper Class Drive Thru Checkin Trial

quote:Originally posted by mike-smashing
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


Glad it worked out for you Mike.

Fingers crossed that the trial become a reuglar part of the Upper experience in the near future for all.

Hackneyguy

Good to hear that it went smoothly!

Dominic

My UC ticket is a Z if I recall, and the invitation came through 4 working days before the flight.
I had n't decided how to get to the airport, but have now booked my driver and registered, so expecting a smooth experience.

I've just got the invite - which as a lowly silver, flying on a Z fare to LAX and on a Saturday, I didn't expect.

Rang up with all the details and it's all confirmed, but - as I've never done this before - where exactly does the car go? The nice lady on the phone said that there is a ramp with a barrier on the left, just past the short stay car parks...is that right (I can't remember one, but haven't exactly looked in the past)?

It's no great shakes, because I'll check in on foot otherwise, but my taxi driver is keen to do it as he's never been up there before and has got a bit excited...

Incidentally, the email seems to have changed from earlier, and suggests that Gold card holders could always have used it - see below:

Cheers

Drew

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Speed your way into Heathrow Airport
As one of our specially selected passengers, were delighted to invite you to take part in our exciting 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! Were running a trial to allow selected Upper Class passengers arriving by private vehicle to use the Upper Class Wing facility.

In order to comply with Department for Transport regulations we need to know the registration number, make, model and colour of the vehicle youll be arriving in no later than 30 minutes before your arrival time. Unfortunately, if you do not feel you will be able to provide these details within the time frame you will not be eligible to take part in the trial.

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) 1293 xxxxxx between the hours of 06:45 and 20:00 no later than twelve hours before your flight.

Please note that when you call our agents will ask for your Advanced Passenger Information (API), so please have this to hand (travel document information and address of where youll be staying at your destination).

Our Agents will then confirm an arrival time for you at the Upper Class Wing 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.

quote:Originally posted by ajb69
Rang up with all the details and it's all confirmed, but - as I've never done this before - where exactly does the car go? The nice lady on the phone said that there is a ramp with a barrier on the left, just past the short stay car parks...is that right (I can't remember one, but haven't exactly looked in the past)?


The entrance is on your left, before you get to the main drop off area for T3. So get the driver to stay left.

There are two routes signposted 'Authorised Vehicles Only'. The first is an airfield check-point (for vehicles going airside), labelled 'Control Point ', which has a large full-height barrier, with a guardroom attached. Do not go in here.

You need the second entry, which is very obviously leading up a ramp, with a car park style barrier and bollards.

The security system will optically read the vehicle numberplate, and if it's expected, the barriers and bollards will open in sequence (a system to prevent tailgating) to let you drive up to the check-in, which is basically like a roundabout, but with the parking bays arranged around the outside.

Park at an empty space nearest the door.

quote:
Incidentally, the email seems to have changed from earlier, and suggests that Gold card holders could always have used it - see below:


The email was referring to the fact that all UC and Gold pax could use the private security channel part of the facility after checking in at the main VS T3 lobby, but couldn't use the drive-up before this trial started.

Mike

Although the drive through area is easy to find, just stay in the left hand lane as you arrive at T3 and look for the yellow signs/stands, they sent me a map if anyone wants it, PM me and i'll email it.

What time does DTCI open? If it's 7am, would we be able to get through check in and security and to the CH in time for my 7.15 am Cowshed treatment next week (assuming of course that we do first get an invite)?

I have had the e-mail for my flight out to JFK on Friday. Not sure if I will use it though as staying in a hotel the night before and not sure it is really worth bothering about. Also there are 4 of us in my party and 2 of them are travelling in Y so not sure if this would preclude me from doing this?

[honey lamb]

quote:Originally posted by dan87027
I have had the e-mail for my flight out to JFK on Friday. Not sure if I will use it though as staying in a hotel the night before and not sure it is really worth bothering about. Also there are 4 of us in my party and 2 of them are travelling in Y so not sure if this would preclude me from doing this?

I was staying in an airport hotel in July and although I had the invite I decided it was too much hassle. As it was I was checked-in in the DTCI lounge because the UC desks were busy

quote:Originally posted by honey lamb
I was staying in an airport hotel in July and although I had the invite I decided it was too much hassle. As it was I was checked-in in the DTCI lounge because the UC desks were busy

Well fingers crossed that will be the same. Hoping that my colleagues in Y will be able to check in with me to save them waiting.

quote:Originally posted by dan87027
quote:Originally posted by honey lamb
I was staying in an airport hotel in July and although I had the invite I decided it was too much hassle. As it was I was checked-in in the DTCI lounge because the UC desks were busy

Well fingers crossed that will be the same. Hoping that my colleagues in Y will be able to check in with me to save them waiting.


I think you may well that you may take a singular colleague thru but no more than that 1.

I received my invitation this evening (NB. the correct word is 'invitation' and not 'invite' as is so commonly and wrongly used on this forum! I'm amazed how frequently it is misused on here...) but having Purple Parking Meet & Greet booked, I can see no benefit; collecting the PP driver and then going through the added hassle of DTCI is simply a waste of time - or am I missing something?

quote:Originally posted by rod10
I received my invitation this evening (NB. the correct word is 'invitation' and not 'invite' as is so commonly and wrongly used on this forum! I'm amazed how frequently it is misused on here...) but having Purple Parking Meet & Greet booked, I can see no benefit; collecting the PP driver and then going through the added hassle of DTCI is simply a waste of time - or am I missing something?


Clearly we should all be severely reprimanded[oo]

[honey lamb]

quote:Originally posted by rod10
I received my invitation this evening (NB. the correct word is 'invitation' and not 'invite' as is so commonly and wrongly used on this forum! I'm amazed how frequently it is misused on here...) but having Purple Parking Meet & Greet booked, I can see no benefit; collecting the PP driver and then going through the added hassle of DTCI is simply a waste of time - or am I missing something?

According to my 1969 edition of the Pocket Oxford Dictionary after the definition of invite as a verb it then reads:

'invite - n. (colloq.) Invitation'
and therefore is perfectly acceptable. Certainly as far as I'm concerned it is far more acceptable than 'would of', 'should of' 'could of' which populate the boards constantly instead of 'would have', 'should have', 'could have' [|:)]

Grammar lesson over. Now back to the DTCI trial [:D]

[Decker]

She shoots, she scores...

[buns]

And oh so graceful.....

buns

'invite - n. (colloq.) Invitation'
and therefore is perfectly acceptable. Certainly as far as I'm concerned it is far more acceptable than 'would of', 'should of' 'could of' which populate the boards constantly instead of 'would have', 'should have', 'could have' [|:)]

Grammar lesson over. Now back to the DTCI trial [:D]
[/quote]


Oh don't get me started on the 'would of' errors [:w] You'll have my blood pressure going through the roof![:I] Akchooly, A'v not spoke write since I was a wee children...

Now, let me think, how many hours until my holiday?[:D]

Just to let you know the trial is still in operation. I've just received an invitation to use it on Tuesday.

-Steve

Just picked up an email today offering me DTCI for my G ticket on Wednesday

[:)][:)][:)]