LHR UC Lounge exit

This is going to seem like a stupid question, but is it obvious when to leave the UC lounge to get your Virgin flight? Is there far to go in T3 to get to the gate? Do they call the flight?

Thanks. Stevey

Yes they call the flights in the CH.

The gates can vary so it's not possible to give a definitive answer as to how far it is to the gate for a particular flight but they will call in time to allow people a reasonable time to get to the gate.

There will be a first, second and final call.

V-flyer tradition is that first call is the time to order one last drink and start to get ready to leave and then to actually leave on the second call.

[mitchja]

Yes, they call all VS flights from the Clubhouse. The general V-Flyer rule is wait for the second call.

It's usually about a 10-15 minute walk to the gates. VS tend to now use gates 13-22.

Or sometimes gates in the 30,s as per my two last flights

That's good to hear
The last time I was at LHR T3 I don't remember hearing any calls in the duty free/regular departure area.

[honey lamb]

That's good to hear
The last time I was at LHR T3 I don't remember hearing any calls in the duty free/regular departure area.

You don't hear them in the public departure lounge as there would be a continuous stream of announcements and no-one would take a tack of notice. You are instructed to check the boards. Going into the gates area from the public area it is not uncommon to see VS staff with boards announcing the flight. I've often seen it when exiting the area on the way to the CH and have had a mild wobbly when I realise it is my flight they are advertising as I haven't even had brekkie, but then I realise they are beginning to round up passengers early to expedite an on-time departure.

sjcraythorne, you will hear the announcements in the CH and they will tell you how much time it takes to reach the gate. Don't panic if they say it takes 20 minutes unless you have mobility issues, in which case get the concierge to order one of those beeping truck to take you to the gate. The 20 minutes time frame is for those who amble along at snail's pace. As other's have said, you have plenty of time at the second call. On one occasion we missed the first call because they called two flights at the same time and we were in a part of the CH where the PA is a tad indistinct (and I am a tad deaf according to my son who mumbles everything to me ii) ). We walked straight on to the aircraft but certainly were not the last to board. On another occasion we left on the second call, got held up on the way to the gates while they closed the corridor to allow a recently arrived plane to disembark and listened to Virgin's "last and final" call to our flight only to find they had not even commenced boarding.

Thanks HL
I thought they uses to announce in public departure area but what you said is right for sure
I will try to convince the missus to leave at the 2nd call
Will that give me time to change in to sleep suit before push back ?

[Neil]

Thanks HL
I thought they uses to announce in public departure area but what you said is right for sure
I will try to convince the missus to leave at the 2nd call
Will that give me time to change in to sleep suit before push back ?

Yes, no issues at all. We left on the second (and final call), went the wrong way! , and still boarded well before doors were shut and push back so plenty of time to change if you wanted to.

Thanks for the info Neil

Thanks for all the replies - appreciate it!

Just bear in mind that the old system of three calls changed a while ago, and now you sometimes only get two calls, sometimes three. It varies. What I do is to start to think about leaving on the first call, and by the time I've finished my drink, faffed about, etc., it's time to head to the gate.

I know it's nice to go on holiday but it couldn't be all that bad spending two weeks in the CH......

Back in the day, we practised 'mojito boarding' - I believe it was Mike-Smashing who coaxed me into such behaviours..

On first call, order a mojito.
By second call, it will have arrived..
By third and final call, slurp the remainder and power walk to the gate...

And yes, we were the last to board. Ooops...