How to keep a secret a secret

I have booked a trip for my girlfriend and I to Barbados in July and have also treated us to an upgrade to UC.

I'd like the keep the destination and if possible the UC a secret until the day - figure it would be nice to tell her only when we are waiting for our plane in the CH. So I need to avoid her finding out via a check in desk sign or a check in desk agent letting it slip in casual conversation.

So we are travelling from Manchester to Heathrow on Little Red (shouldn't be a problem there as VH had to book the Heathrow flight as a standalone flight (it has a separate manage my booking code etc) so the agent shouldn't have knowledge of the end destination.

The fun starts when we get to Gatwick. We are staying over at Gatwick Hilton (£20! Well done VH) so I was going to use twilight check in. Question - Is twilight check in specific for a certain flight (I.e. will have to go to specific barbados desk with a big tell tale sign) or is it generic for all of the next morning flights in which case as long as I ask the check in agent not to mention the destination or any UC references to my gf then all will be ok.

Anything else I need to be careful of? Obviously will have to get gf to not look at the boarding pass whilst going through security etc and again ask the person checking tickets at CH entrance not to mention destination. You guys probably think I am crazy by now.

You guys probably think I am crazy by now.

Not at all! I managed to keep the destination secret for last summer until I broke at the at CH entrance when they asked where we were headed. Best of luck with the plan.

Twilight check in is generally flight agnostic, though last year when the BGI flight was cancelled they did make specific calls for those on that flight to offer a combined flight (with ours) or a flight the next day.

We have just got back from MCO for my friends 50th that we booked 8 months ago! My advice to you is to decide whether you feel your cover may be blown at the check-in desk or CH and if so, perhaps tell her over a romantic dinner for two at the Hilton We decided to tell our friend prior to rolling up at LGW as he would've smelt a rat...omg he was blown away with the surprise as he thought he was going to London for the weekend ^)

Whatever you choose to do, I hope all goes to plan y) y)

You should be fine as long as when you're asked where you're going at check-in and CH reception you reply with "I couldn't possibly tell you that, it would spoil the surprise for my gf!" and simply hand over your passports/boarding cards.

I'm sure the VS staff will be happy to play along, they must get it all the time. You'll only come unstuck if you run up against some jobsworth security guard or something.

Good luck!

Nice surprise for the other half, you could always be a gentleman and use OLCI and print your boarding passes then offer to take bags to twilight checkin while she freshens up and check them in as yours I did this with no problem last year with just a nice little remark of "that's a pretty suitcase sir" and a wink.

Then you're clear right up until the CH door and as gumshoe suggests about not wanting to spoil the surprise, in fact it worked so well that the only time Mrs H had to show her Passport was upon boarding the plane.

Good luck and enjoy.

Dominic

Welcome to V-flyer riong405

This post gave me a lump in my throat as it's so romantic. What a lucky girlfriend.

Do keep us posted as to how your plans unfold, I'm excited on your girlfriend's behalf. You may be able to use the flight number as this won't give away your destination.

Enjoy keeping your secret but you can share it with all of us as you're girlfriend doesn't know about us.

If you have not visited Barbados before then may I suggest the flower caves on the northern tip of the island.

Keep us posted

TTFN

Roxy-popsy

Thank you all for your welcome and the advice.

I have so far kept this a secret for 2 months and got two months left to go but I think I can pull it off.

Good idea Hull. If I use OLCI then I am simply using twilight check in as a baggage drop and she may not be required to be present.

Petmadness - yes I read your TR on the MCO trip. Sounds amazing. I bet your friend loved it.

Roxy-popsy - yes it's nice to share it with you guys and thanks for the recommendation. Never been before but it should be good.

Take care guys

Will she like a surprise? I would hate it. Not being able to pack appropriately etc etc. not being able to chose where i spend my precious holiday time. you know her but is there a risk that she won't appreciate a surprise? I imagine it is her precious time off as well - does she know that you have booked a surprise trip just not the destination? I am obviously not a romantic but I would be considering showing anyone who did this to me the door!

Hi Barnaby

She knows that we are going on holiday and she knows when and for how long. The only thing she doesn't know is the destination. She quite likes the idea of a surprise.

In terms of what to pack - I was going to provide the guidance of hot weather with a potential for some rain (it will be stormy season).

I've also considered the need to book certain things in advance balanced with keeping things flexible so she can complete say on what she would like to do / see.

I completely see your point of view and I know people that would also hate the idea for the very reasons you've mentioned. I'm very confident that she will love this though.

That's great then. For me planning a trip is one of the most enjoyable parts. I don't like surprises (I know baa humbug). I would hate it if someone else packed for me (but she is getting to do that herself). I would need to know how dressy to be in the evening (I hate to feel under dressed).

Sounds like you are both romantics and will have a great trip.

My father often doesn't know where he is going on holiday. Not because it is a surprise but because he doesn't really listen and has never booked a trip or packed a suitcase himself! He spends many months each year abroad and often he is in blissful ignorance until he arrives (especially on cruises).

In terms of what to pack - I was going to provide the guidance of hot weather with a potential for some rain (it will be stormy season).

You might want to get one of your girl friends friends to give you some advice on what to pack for her in terms of outfits and what goes with what and what can be mixed and matched etc

You might want to get one of your girl friends friends to give you some advice on what to pack for her in terms of outfits and what goes with what and what can be mixed and matched etc

Oh goodness, I'm not packing for her. That would be an absolute recipe for disaster. B)

I am giving her indication on the climate and then she will be able to pack in a more informed way. I may also tell her there is a beach. I've already told her that she will need some summery dresses too.

With UC you get 3 cases each with a 23k allowance per case so i think she could probably pack every item of clothing she owns into that if needed

When I say summery - I mean evening dresses that she won't be too hot in but can be worn out to posh meal etc.

With UC you get 3 cases each with a 23k allowance per case so i think she could probably pack every item of clothing she owns into that if needed

don't tell her the limit is actually 3 x 32KG then !

Ah yes my mistake. That is a lot of luggage.

You need to be going for a long time to use nearly 100 kilos of luggage allowance.

You need to be going for a long time to use nearly 100 kilos of luggage allowance.

Really ??? ): ):
DL

You need to be going for a long time to use nearly 100 kilos of luggage allowance.

Really ??? ): ):
DL

You know I was thinking "I'm sure DL would have a view on this" and what do you know up you pop !

You know I was thinking "I'm sure DL would have a view on this" and what do you know up you pop !

Ha ha tonty ) .
I'm certain Jacki shares a similar view too ...... .
Not sure just how I'm going to manage on a FR flight next week .. :0
DL

I think the surprise idea is great but you a better man than me.... I always Blab.

Am sure the suggestion of just asking Check in staff for discretion as it a secret would work perfectly..... It certainly would at the CH as staff there are always so obliging. Personally I think the CH is a great place to break the news. Look forward to the Journey report and more interestingly how the charade goes.... keep us posted

Does she know it's UC?
Why not make that a surprise too. Say someone has given you an invite to the Clubhouse!

Does she know it's UC?
Why not make that a surprise too. Say someone has given you an invite to the Clubhouse!

Well I can actually keep that a surprise fairly easily Sealink because she doesn't know that the clubhouse is only available to UC passengers. She doesn't know anything about clubhouses so I can just tell her that I'd like to go to breakfast in the VA clubhouse and she won't suddenly realise that we are flying UC so I can tell her everything in one go once the Buck's Fizz has arrived

[honey lamb]

I did exactly this many moons ago. OK, so it was a niece and not a girlfriend but the excitement will be the same y)

Really enjoyed your TR honey lamb. Actually my first (and only) UC experience was a heathrow to Joburg flight which was a work trip in 2010.
The whole UC experience was amazing to me and I've wanted to repeat it ever since. The heathrow clubhouse is fantastic.

I read a lot of posts from well seasoned UC passengers on here who notice cost cutting and other ways in which UC isn't quite what it used to be and I suspect that changes are easy to spot if you are using it a lot. At first I was concerned that it isn't going to be as good as my last in 2010..... and then I remember back to last year where my gf and I flew to lake Garda on a more economical airline and I was literally told off by the CC for ordering my very expensive sandwich at the wrong time.....and I figure that even a UC experience which may now be a bit more cost conscious will still be incredible compared to this experience and my gf is going to be blown away in the same way your niece was (I hope)