FIrst Time UC VS008 / VS007 Tips

Flying VS008 / VS007 in UC. First time on VS.

Looking for any tips from pros that will make travel easier. A couple specific questions:

1. How early should I arrive at the airport? At LAX, I know check-in and security lines can be crazy. On Virgin, are there special check-in lines for UC? Security?

2. Is it better to hang out at the gate or wait to be called from the lounge? Read a couple trip reports where UC pax had trouble getting through the gate crowd after waiting in the lounge.

Since this is my first time on VS, are there any other things I should know ahead of time to make travel easier?

[Nottingham Nick]

Welcome to V-Flyer. y)

Not been to LAX in a long time (always try and go out of SFO from the West Coast to enjoy the Clubhouse there), so will leave others to answer the LAX specific questions.

The VS008 gets into LHR about midday. IIRC that is just enough time to enjoy Revivals - immigration queue permitting - as it closes at 1330.

For the return - get to the Clubhouse as early as you can, try and book a treatment as you arrive and then settle back and enjoy.

You have obviously read trip reports, this is the best way of picking up tips (and pitfalls) in order to maximise your VS experience.

Nick

One memory I have of LAX is the line of Upper Class passengers being led by a member of staff from the lounge straight to the gate for boarding so no worries about having to push in!

There isn't really a signed priority entrance for security at LAX, however when they saw that I had a purple boarding card, I was ushered into a different lane at security with no queue.

[honey lamb]

Welcome to V-Flyer.

VS have separate lines for UC, PE and Economy check-in at all airports. UC check-in will be clearly marked but if it is busy you may be called to a PE desk ahead of PE passengers - in other words you will be given priority. With regard to LAX, I haven't flown out of there since 2003 but my memory of it was it was rather congested. Mind you we were waiting to check in for VS24 and couldn't until check-in for VS 8 had closed so it was a bit chaotic. Check-in usually opens 4 hours before a flight at all stations with the exception of LHR and LGW (and some holiday destinations where they have unique arrangements for those places) At LHR you will be able to check in any time after check in opens at (I think) 6 or 6:30a.m.

In LHR all UC passengers can use the private security channel which bypasses the main security area but brings you out into the Duty Free area. I do not know if they have a separate security line at LAX for first and business class passengers but someone else will know.

It is better to wait in the lounge till the flight is called. From some airports (and LAX may well be one) UC passengers may be boarded through a separate door. At LHR, that is hit or miss and the perceived wisdom is to wait till the second call before leaving the Clubhouse. Even then, they may not have begun boarding!

Enjoy your flights. Read a few Upper Class trip reports to get a feel of what to expect and enjoy your flights

Hi CantRememberLogin

I take this flight 2 or 3 times a year. I last flew out of LAX at the end of May.

The UC checkin queue is usually fairly short but sometimes its difficult to get at due the mass of economy passengers in the way - You just need to be assertive and excuse your way thru. Unusually, your checkin luggage will be transported by a TSA employee to an xray machine to the side of the checkin area which you can watch if you wish. I strongly advise using TSA locks.

The most tedious aspect of LAX is the long security lines which have no priority lines for UC passengers. I would allow an hour between checkin and lounge.

The New Zealand Lounge is pretty good and I would certainly stay there until ready to board. It only takes a few minutes to get to the gate so you can go either from the boarding announcements or time it. Again, priority boarding tends to be obstructed by other passengers but I don't find this to be a big deal. You can either be assertive or just go with the flow

Good Luck with your flight

PK

Firstly, I hope you really enjoy your flights. My recent LAX trips have been superb experiences.

VS check-in at LAX opens 4 hrs before the scheduled flight time, and you're right, security can be an absolute pain in T2 but it is less of a pain the earlier you get there. Last time I came home from Palm Springs, my CDC was so fast we arrived a good 3 1/2 hrs before the flight and it was 20 mins from kerb to lounge ... leave it later and there are masses of people and longer, longer queues!

If you are early, the ANZ lounge that VS uses is very pleasant indeed. Good views, comfy seats, showers, lots of PCs, great drinks and a fine if not over abundant buffet of food. T2 at LAX is otherwise dire, over crowded and full of crap franchises.

A VS representative will announce boarding and encourage you to leave the lounge when boarding commences, they may guide you from the lounge to the gate but not always. I wouldn't. The gate areas are insufficient at T2 and if you leave the lounge on the first announcement, there'll be a mass of people to fight your way through, even if you can see the priority boarding channel. I wait until the very final call when things have quietened down. In no circumstances hang around the gate, it's a very short distance from the lounge and as I said, will be a mass of people standing, brushing by, crowding around.

The VS7/8 is operated by a A346 and has been now for as long as I can remember - check out your seating or look at the charts and comments here to select best for you. As to onboard etc. well there are enough TRs to read through for tips.

Are you on a higher fare ticket with CDCs at either end of your journey? If you decide to use arrivals then you can let the staff there know and they'll have your chauffeur waiting for when you are done - otherwise if you're in a hotel and will get check-in at the arrival time, I'd simply head straight there.

On your return, as Nick says, spend some time enjoying the Heathrow Clubhouse.

Thanks for all the tips. I'm looking forward to the trip. I'll let you know how it went once I get back.