When to leave the LHR Clubhouse?

On a recent trip report, someone left the CH at first call for their flight but got delayed at the gate and noted (heavily paraphrased) "you were right with your tip, V-flyer, never leave the Clubhouse on the first call!"

I've searched around for a discussion of this tip but came up with nothing, so I wanted to get the opinion of you heavy CH users (I only fly once a year)..

I'm a pretty paranoid person at the best of times so tend to leave at the very first call to ensure I don't miss the flight. But when, realistically, should I leave? Are there always a set number of calls I can count against or should I base it on time? Or should I just stick to my current policy and be first onboard in UC each time

I see no reason to ever leave the Clubhouse.

It's not just VS, the number of times I have gone through at boarding, thinking I was late, just to join a queue at the door of the 'plane.

I'm with DocRo in never leaving

It differs from CH to CH as to how many calls they put out, I would say leave on the second or final one if you must leave at all

With LHR they are usually quite good and give you three and a half .. the third is called as the Last boarding call with another 'Final' boarding call following a couple of mins after.

I have heard them announce for pax by name that have gone walkabout before, it is better to locate the passenger than offload I guess, so don't worry too much, there will be plenty of chance given y)

It used to be three calls at LHR but then it changed to two. Although recently I heard a third one slip back in again.

I think the lesson to draw from this is that if you are anxious, leave at the first call.

I tend to start thinking about leaving at that point, but I don't rush as there is usually a bit of time to spare and I am not keen to spend longer on a plane than I absolutely have to!

I'm a bit weird in that I tend to leave the CH probably just after the gate open sign comes up. By this point I'll have been in the CH for 2-3 hrs - connecting flight schedules mean that for the VS21 I have come down the night before.

And I tend to get anxious about this time (not about flying but more anxious to get off).

I'm generally one of the first in UC to make an appearance on the plane.

Of course it has to be at the first call. There's no point in pitching up at the gate and finding there's no one to notice the fact that you're using the priority queue.

That's if the priority lane is actually there in the first place!
Blacky

That's if the priority lane is actually there in the first place!
Blacky

True, but my albeit limited experience there has always been one for any flight I've taken from LHR or LGW.

When me and jr went to NY in jan there was only one queue ,I can't remember the gate but it was pretty run down and in need of a lick paint

As I have arranged mobilty transport for the wife guess we will have to wait for that to turn up,unless they supply a wheelchair at check in which I will push her around in!

At the latest moment!

Never, ever go for the first call as you will end up in the queue for priority boarding, unless you require extra time to make the 10 - 15 minute transit time to the Gate, or enjoy standing in your own priority line.

First boarding is usually called whilst I'm enjoying a steam-shower; plenty of time to collect your polished shoes, tip, and progress through the airport before boarding, bumping the last few economy passengers on the way, and, thereafter, enjoying a couple of glasses of Champagne before wheels-up.

NV