Best way to transit LHR T1 - T3? (+first UC flight!)

Hi all

Long time lurker here but first post so a quick thanks to everyone here for the invaluable information that means I'll be taking my first UC flight (first time ever not in Y) to SFO on Tuesday 8D .

I have got a question though about how to maximise my time in the Clubhouse:

I'll be getting a Little Red flight down from MAN to T1, and obviously have to get to T3. I'm wondering if it makes most sense to go through flight connections and clear clear security that way, or go landside at T1, go to T3 and go through UC check-in there to take advantage of the private security channel?

Any advice on which makes most sense? And if that would have any affect on my baggage getting transferred straight from the MAN to the SFO flight?

Cheers ?|

[mitchja]

Welcome to V-Flyer.

If I was you I'd avoid flight connections altogether and go land-side once you arrive in T1 to get to T3. It's about a 25minute walk down through the depths of LHR and through the tube-station but is well signposted and has travelators in most parts.

That way you can experience the Upper Class check-in and the Upper Class Wing at LHR. Flight connections can also be busy as well.

I'd also just get your bags checked to LHR at MAN. Quite often when you connect, your checked luggage looses it's priority status during the connection at LHR (though now your are connecting VS>VS this might be different?)

I thought VS was organising a bus for transitting passengers from T1 to T3 avoiding connections and getting them straight to T3 departures.

Have used the Connections Centre many times and that is what I would do again.

I thought VS was organising a bus for transitting passengers from T1 to T3 avoiding connections and getting them straight to T3 departures.

Yup, passengers will be asked if they are connecting onto a VS international flight, if so they will be directed to a dedicated bus for VS transfer pax.
The bus will then go a very long route (to see the VS aircraft and avoid the BA ones...) to an infrequently used "gate" where pax will walk up the steps and then take a walk to get to the departure area.

This all avoids going through security again. To how long it will last, no one knows.

The bus will then go a very long route (to see the VS aircraft and avoid the BA ones...)

Seriously?! That is a bit daft isn't it?!

Many thanks for all the quick replies!

I thought VS was organising a bus for transitting passengers from T1 to T3 avoiding connections and getting them straight to T3 departures.

Yup, passengers will be asked if they are connecting onto a VS international flight, if so they will be directed to a dedicated bus for VS transfer pax.
The bus will then go a very long route (to see the VS aircraft and avoid the BA ones...) to an infrequently used "gate" where pax will walk up the steps and then take a walk to get to the departure area.

This all avoids going through security again. To how long it will last, no one knows.

This certainly looks like the easiest option if it does bypass security for a 2nd time. If it's available I'll take it and let people know how I get on!

Cheers

Wha... how does VS do this? Does it mean every other airline (including VS on a transfer from a non-VS flight) is making people re-clear security just for kicks?

Wha... how does VS do this? Does it mean every other airline (including VS on a transfer from a non-VS flight) is making people re-clear security just for kicks?

The reason why you normally have to re-clear security is because at transfers domestic passengers who have been screened to UK standards, mix with passengers who have come of international flights, not screened to UK standards. This makes them "dirty" and they have to be screened again.

Virgin are avoiding this because they are paying for their own buses to transfer their connecting passenger, before they mix with "dirty" transfer passengers. I guess it's limited to VS-VS transfers because it costs VS a lot of money, they will need to keep numbers down as they only have permission for a limited number of trip across the airport roads and aprons. Plus it's a USP.

I think it would be kinda interesting getting to see some of the "guts" of Heathrow y)

David