Car collection at Upper Class Wing

I think I know the answer to my query but thought I would ask anyway.

I am travelling UC next month and and as I have previously loved the experiance of being dropped off at the UC Wing I would very much like to do it again. On this trip I am driving myself & wondered if anyone knows if it is possible to arrange for a valet parking company to meet me & collect my car at the Virgin drop off.

I am guesing what I want is not possible but live in hope.

I had a great deal on an upgrade, booked Premium return to New York at £725 and have upgraded to UC with 10k company Flying Co miles, keeping fingers crossed that same becomes available for my return flight.

Thank you in anticipation on an assistance

oldboy

Others have used Purple Parking before to do this.

forum/index.php?f=4&t=272554&start=0&rb_v=viewtopic

Many thanks


oldboy

Did it in March flying to SFO.

Works great, purple parking meet you in the valet parking lane at T3 and drive you round to the DTCI. You just need to ring the number given on your UC confirmation email and leave all your details prior to arrival.

You will need to book purple parking Meet and Greet - do through VS website and you will get 500 miles.

You won't check in any other way again!

[preiffer]

Have to say, it *does* seem a little silly in terms of time/round-trip. If you've driven to the T3 forecourt, it's a case of walking no more than 50m from the car to the check-in desk (which rarely has more than 1 person in front) and just getting the lift up to the same upper class wing for private security.
Orrrrr... get out of the car, swap seats, have Purple Parking drive you all the way around the back of the T3 car park system, up the ramp and into the DTCI area - where you'll equally be checked in. With all the "pre-prep" phone calls, etc needed, I really do question if it saves any time/effort - and would go so far as to suggest it takes longer and is more hassle over-all.

If in a Tristar, of course it makes sense - and I do like that service. Likewise, if in your own car when someone is dropping you off then it makes sense. But to do all the faffing around on the forecourt (and all the pre-arrival preparation - calls to VS, calls to Purple Parking to organise etc)...

Errr... Nah, I fear it's more pomp, circumstance and "look at me" than substance.

[preiffer]

PS - Oldboy.
Nowadays, it's not possible to have the Purple Parking guys meet you at the wing. You have to do all of that faffing around on the forecourt to get the "reward" of using the wing. Honestly, not worth it. Just walk to check-in and save yourself time and prior hassle.

PS - Oldboy.
Nowadays, it's not possible to have the Purple Parking guys meet you at the wing. You have to do all of that faffing around on the forecourt to get the "reward" of using the wing. Honestly, not worth it. Just walk to check-in and save yourself time and prior hassle.

I think it's well worth the hassle. Saves me the trouble of inching into the general drop off area and ending up at the farthest lane, then having to go in search of a trolley and pushing the trolley back to the car, loading my 3 32kg bags onto the trolley and fighting the trolley all the way to the UC check in area where at times there can be a queue especially in the evening. There have been times when I was asked to check in upstairs

Personally I agree with Paul, even when we have 7 bags between the two of us, they are all so easy to move that we don't need a trolly, even if we do there is always one nearby.

I have made clear I don't like the DTCI, especially with recent horror stories from friends, ranging from being trapped in between the pillars and no one in the wing was about to notice, to getting up to the top with no staff there and having to wait around and eventually go downstairs to get some attention.

Plus you hear of several people a day going down the works entrance to T2 who then have to be fully searched, car and luggage, escorted around the airport, out of a different entrance, phones and cameras checked to make sure no photos were taken and the escorted back to DTCI. Just make sure you don't go up the curved ramp for T2 works entrance only.

I've never had an issue with DTCI - always staffed, always ready, always good. I think DTCI is well worth the effort for something a bit extra!

Errr... Nah, I fear it's more pomp, circumstance and "look at me" than substance.

Yes, and your point is...?

Having weighed up the options I have booked a deal in terminal 3 short stay car park & will take the short walk to the standard UC check in.

oldboy

[preiffer]

Good call

Hopefully the new DTCI will be more worth it for private cars in 2014.