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#870011 by Bretty
07 Apr 2014, 13:02
Well my trip to NRT in May is approaching and I've been using this forum as a mine of information once more and got a fantastic deal on the Sofitel at T5. I'm travelling UC on reward upgrades so was thinking about ground transportation. There's a good deal on 2 return HEX tickets at the moment so I've got those to get me from central London, but wondered how I was gonna get from T5 to T3.

After reading sooo many people rave about DTCI, one of my fellow v-flyers gave me the number to call and I got a quote to book a CDC via VS, booked it and my DTCI slot and am now suffering with ants in my pants cos I wanna go now!!! :D :D

DTCI appeals to my ego, 8D which is what my OH will say, or something similar, when he finds out that we're not going HEX or bus to the terminal or walking to the check-in desk. But my plan is he won't find out until the car pulls up to collect us, and even then I might not tell him about DTCI until it's happening! ):

Thanks to all who have provided me with tips, I'm looking forward to my next UC flight, and then I get to focus on the next one in October (why do they have sales, it's a killer for people like me!!)

Cheers
#870015 by Blacky1
07 Apr 2014, 13:29
Dtci is a must john ,as you would of read recently in my TR I got a car round from the sofitel costing £35 ,what has yours cost through VS ? Is it money or miles ?
#870020 by pjh
07 Apr 2014, 14:41
Even MrsPJH, not a woman noted for her tolerance of frippery, loved her first use of the DTCI...and all subsequent uses, to be fair. :D
#870023 by NV43
07 Apr 2014, 15:03
DTCI every time.

Time efficient, no walking in the rain, potential queues at the UC desks and, no more than 8 - 10 minutes from drop-off to ClubHouse.

Additionally, if you have claustrophobia, you don't have to use the lift!
#870024 by NV43
07 Apr 2014, 15:04
gfonk wrote:i wouldnt tell him about DTCI. it will be such a surprise!!!


Don't; it will be.
#870027 by Bretty
07 Apr 2014, 17:20
Lol, thanks folks. I'm not gonna tell and see what he says. He's getting used to the high life just lately and where once I struggled to get a holiday each year cos he doesn't like going away, we've now 3 booked this year cos he wants to get away all the time!!

Blacky it was a bit less than double that. The VS customer services agent drew a breath when I told her the pickup location and said I could use DTCI with any car, which of course I know, but I don't want the hassle of trying to get the driver and car reg details to ring ahead, which is probably not that much hassle anyway. Plus it would spoil the surprise for 'im indoors, so I splashed on the CDC. I've saved money elsewhere so I can't complain.
#870028 by Blacky1
07 Apr 2014, 17:28
It was really simple john to be honest , the sofitel concierge desk is on the right as you walk in the hotel and I booked it the night before and went back in the morning to get the car reg etc , they even ring the upper class wing on their phone and hand it over to you when they answer but as long as your happy with how you've done it that's all that really matters , bet you can't wait can you !!
#870036 by marshy11
07 Apr 2014, 19:05
I say book and don't look back.

I can't keep a secret though, so always tell!
#870038 by ultreen1
07 Apr 2014, 19:18
Keep it a secret for as long as possible!
I'm itching to go now...and I'm going away in June so I know how your feeling.
I like when these topics come up because I'm still unsure what I can and can't do when it comes to dtci. And now I've got simon convinced about its "merits" I want to do it but will I be ok booking a taxi from the raddison the night before and then phoning the reg thro in the morning?
#870040 by Blacky1
07 Apr 2014, 19:42
ultreen1 wrote:Keep it a secret for as long as possible!
I'm itching to go now...and I'm going away in June so I know how your feeling.
I like when these topics come up because I'm still unsure what I can and can't do when it comes to dtci. And now I've got simon convinced about its "merits" I want to do it but will I be ok booking a taxi from the raddison the night before and then phoning the reg thro in the morning?


Yes you will but make sure you book your slot with the upperclass wing before hand
#870047 by Bretty
07 Apr 2014, 20:22
Marshy that's my problem especially when it comes to spending money, I often can't help blurting it out. I did that last year with our first UC trip. We'd booked PE and then I saw what I thought was a good upgrade price on the MMB page and had some spare money he didn't know about (it had been a good year at work) so spent it with the intention of keeping a secret until check in. That meant keeping the secret about 6 months. I think I lasted 2 weeks!!

At least in this instance I've only got to hold it 4 weeks.

Ultreen, as Blacky says, just book your slot at the UC Wing first, can book up to about a month out, then book your cab.

I was a bit tickled this morning when talking to VS as when we were going through the booking she said the system is coming up with a suggested pick up time of 10:50am (flight is 13:05). I said can I have a pick up at 08:15, I want to be in early! ): T'was no problem :) I want to get my treatment booked, I'm after a proper gentleman's shave.

Counting the days, hours and minutes...
#870059 by ultreen1
07 Apr 2014, 22:27
Thanks both, I'll book as soon as I can!
I only know to well about upgrading through MMB and trying to keep it schtum...didn't work! Simon checked our booking and I get the wasting money lecture over the phone and in work!
Of course he now loves flying upper...has put a limit on how long we can fly in Y (5h) and like you bretty has decided that a 8am arrival at the CH for our 12:30 flight is needed!
I'm not complaining y)
Darren
#870060 by Bretty
07 Apr 2014, 23:00
ultreen1 wrote:Thanks both, I'll book as soon as I can!
I only know to well about upgrading through MMB and trying to keep it schtum...didn't work! Simon checked our booking and I get the wasting money lecture over the phone and in work!
Of course he now loves flying upper...has put a limit on how long we can fly in Y (5h) and like you bretty has decided that a 8am arrival at the CH for our 12:30 flight is needed!
I'm not complaining y)
Darren


Lol, well I'm fortunate that my Bryan isn't very good with his computer and leaves all bookings and stuff to me. And likewise, if the flight is longer than 5 hrs he wants to know if there's business class and a seat that turns into a bed. I'm just convincing him re PJs now as the NRT flight is long. I've got mine sorted but he's gonna use the VS sleep suit (afraid the words "trussed up chicken" come to mind when I put one of those on!). v( v(

All good fun and it's all making travel fun and enjoyable again, whereas I used to love the actual holiday part but not the travel. Now I'm excited about both and VS (and this forum) did that for me. y)
#870078 by pjh
08 Apr 2014, 08:28
Bretty wrote:All good fun and it's all making travel fun and enjoyable again, whereas I used to love the actual holiday part but not the travel.


That's my view, and now, after some initial resistance, MrsPJH's view also. We've kind of come full circle there. When the children were smaller the whole travelling thing had to be made to be exciting for them even in Y (and at the time it was on VS, with seatback TVs, Kids Packs etc) and we kind of got caught up with it. That diminished as they got older, but at the point where the holiday budget only had to pay for two, rather than four, adult fares we could then start to spend more on the travelling, first in PE and then Upper and treating the journey as part of the holiday.

Paul
Virgin Atlantic

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