First UC flight..

Well we're very excited here about our upcoming UC flight to MCO in Feb. (18 sleeps!) I do have a few questions that are niggling at me though and though I have looked, I promise, I just can't seem to find the info I'm after so I'm hoping you good folk will help me out.

1. I'm staying at the Hilton at LGW overnight. Is it worth doing the twilight bag drop or, as we'll be using the UC check in desk, is it just as easy to do it in the morning? My thinking being that if there is no dedicated UC desk at twilight check in the queue might be worth avoiding?

2. Clubhouse. I'm going to aim to check in by 8am and then bimble over to the CH. Does this sound about right?

3. Boarding. Does priority boarding operate at LGW? Should I get to the gate as soon as they announce boarding? If I'm a bit late, should I walze up the line like some spoiled brat waving my UC boarding pass or just join the line?

I'm sorry for so many questions but I think I may have developed a case of OCD where this is concerned! At least for my UC flight to NYC in July I'll be an old pro!

I have done UC from Gatwick by staying at the Hilton.
We didn't do twilight bag drop as we keep one case open at the hotel for change of clothes etc.
We have walked over in the evening to check in, but have also done from the hotel on line.
If you have an executive room you can use the internet in the exec lounge. Also there is a free bar. It cost me £30 to upgrade last time and we definitely consumed more than that at the bar. There is also snack food so we didn't bother with a meal at the Hilton.
8 am check in and CH sounds fine. You can breakfast at the Hilton (wasn't impressed even at 6 am some of the food was cold) or wait till you get to the CH which I think we will do next time. (in 10 days after you)
Yes there is priority boarding. Upper will be called first.
If you have picked 6A&K then I'd get up the front as there are no overhead lockers and some other passengers get a bit possessive about the locker above their seat, so get in there first, or just hand your bag to the cabin crew and they will find somewhere.
Enjoy your trip and give a report.
Dick D

Exciting!

My opinions:

1) Don't bother with twilight check-in; it's a bit of a faff and UC check-in in the morning tends to be very quick.

2) Sounds about right!

3) I can't remember what happens at LGW (and it might be the reverse of other airports), but elsewhere UC is called to the gate quite late (i.e. after most/all the other pax have boarded), but is still described as "priority boarding". So you tend to find an empty gate, or just other UC pax.

Hi. We flew UC to Orlando a couple of years ago, we checked used twlight check to get rid of the bags as we are a family of 5 so lots of bags hanging around. UC desk was open at twlight which was great as large que around 8pm when we were there. In the club house the next morning we went on the second and final call to board which I highly recommend as all the aircraft loaded waiting for you to turn left. Enjoy the fight and holiday hope this helps

I think when I flew UC from LGW we were at the gate before the flight started boarding, im usually nervous about these things even when flying upper One benefit it does give you is, other than getting called up first, being able to relax in your seat with a glass of bubbly whilst the rest of the flight is boarding. Might even have time for a top up before take off!

As all your questions have been answered I just wanted to wish you a happy and enjoyable first flight in UC. I still remember the thrill of mine

I have never bothered with Twilight check in at Gatwick, I prefer to hold on to my cases overnight & can then put the previous days clothes in them, never had to wait for more than a few minutes at UC check in.

8 am in to the Clubhouse sounds good, stayed at Hilton Gatwick on several occasions but have never bothered with breakfast, not with bubbly & eggs benedict waiting

I normally leave clubhouse on second call, never had a problem, on last flight we were in 6A & K & although probably the last passengers to board we had no problem finding space in the overheads for our hand luggage.

Have a great trip

We also stay at the Hilton (get the exec upgrade well worth it), don't bother with twilight check-in we've never had to queue at UC check-in in the morning, 8am sounds good for lounge (I'd have breakfast there instead of the Hilton). Personally we like to get to the gate at the start of boarding & get settle into 6a&k with the bubbles whilst everyone else is getting stressed in the queue! Enjoy the experience!

We flew UC for the first time last year and left the CH as soon as the flight was called. By the time we were at the gate everyone else had boarded, so I am glad we didn't leave it any later!

We were in the CH for 7am for a 10:45am flight. UC check in and security were dead quiet at that time so we were in the CH quickly.

As long as you've left before they put final call on the board it's ok, our last flight we left the LHR CH 40 minutes before it departed and people were still boarding in Y

We prefer to use twilight check in (what else is there to do in Gatwick of an evening?), carry a change in hand luggage and have no bags to schlep back with in the morning.

If you can get an Exec lounge upgrade at the Hilton for £30 for a room then, if you drink and don't mind indifferent snacks, go for it. The wi-fi is useful too. Steer clear of any temptation to breakfast at the Hilton, and head for the CH.

Wait for the call in the CH. There will be a priority line at the gate, but once you're on the jetbridge you're just another passenger in a queue (though I have heard of the the very brave waving their boarding cards and shouting "Let me through, I have priority!"). The call in the CH is made when the queue has died down; when we flew last summer we almost missed the gate as there were no passengers there!

I still remember my first UC flight - was from Manchester, but the start of an expensive habit of turning left at the boarding door!

As has already been said, it's down to personal preference whether to bother with Twilight check-in. Personally, if I wasn't overloaded with bags & had done OLCI, I'd not bother. The queue at the Upper Class desks in the morning will not be long.

You'll get access to the "Premium Gatwick" security lane, so should be through there pretty fast. Head up the Clubhouse & enjoy! As others have said, avoid the ripoff Hilton breakfast and eat in the Clubhouse - they take no offence if you repeat order food, think we had 3 bacon / sausage cobs each.

When it comes to flight boarding time, once you're in the "gate area" [after they have scanned your boarding pass] any priority goes out of the window. I had the dreaded SSSS on my boarding pass on the last flight I did from Gatwick. They called Upper Class to board, I got the "red light" and had to wait to be screened - by the time I got to the jet-bridge, they had called most of the aircraft to board, so it was a long queue. I was the last passenger into the Upper Class cabin.

Enjoy the Clubhouse & your first Upper Class flight - but be warned... it's a fun, but expensive habit!

Well, 18 sleeps, I'm excited for you!

We always stay at the Hilton, purely for the ease and the lounge. We do twilight. One downside is that if you get their when it opens, it is usually busy and afaik they are agency staff.

I take a 'go bag' with mini or 'on their last legs' toiletries....we ditch what we don't want after the morning shower and use the bag as an inflight holder.

Get to the CH early, don't eat in the Hilton. My feelings are that you should sit in the CH and if you want to nip out and watch how the less fortunate travel, you can. Just because you are in there doesn't mean you have to stay in. Book your treatments early and savour the experience. Make yourself feel as special as Virgin want you to feel. Be decadent, drink champagne at 7am, why not!

As for boarding, we have never heard a call in the CH, but probably more through distraction than cause. We've always turned up when everyone else has boarded, but they do offer priority but you will have to force your way through after the first call!

Do what you want, when you want. But most of all, enjoy it!

[honey lamb]

I haven't done twilight check-in mainly because on the two occasions I used LGW, my connecting flight arrived after it had closed but I never had a problem with crowds at UC check-in - well, except for the time that a cravatted gentleman and his family arrived at the security point for UC/PE at the same time as me and Aer John. The lady there took one look at us even though we were on the UC side and then turned to the gentleman and asked "Travelling in PE, are we sir?" He assented and she processed him and then, turning to me with my teenage son, and asked in patronising tones usually reserved for the old and bewildered, "Flying in economy, madam?" When I told her I was in UC, she immediately became all sweetness and light. Too late, baby! You've already blotted your copybook!

On one occasion, I left before the call for the flight. Big mistake! We were stuck in the queue on the jet bridge. The next time we had learned our lesson and we were straight on!

Oh, and don't go to breakfast in the Hilton. Wait until you get to the CH!

I have no idea what the Gatwick Hilton breakfast is like but when I was faced with the choice between having breakfast there vs champagne breakfast at the clubhouse, the decision didn't take very long at all to reach.

The Hilton breakfast isn't great, but it's complimentary in the lounge if you pay the £30 upgrade

I haven't done twilight check-in mainly because on the two occasions I used LGW, my connecting flight arrived after it had closed but I never had a problem with crowds at UC check-in - well, except for the time that a cravatted gentleman and his family arrived at the security point for UC/PE at the same time as me and Aer John. The lady there took one look at us even though we were on the UC side and then turned to the gentleman and asked "Travelling in PE, are we sir?" He assented and she processed him and then, turning to me with my teenage son, and asked in patronising tones usually reserved for the old and bewildered, "Flying in economy, madam?" When I told her I was in UC, she immediately became all sweetness and light. Too late, baby! You've already blotted your copybook!

On one occasion, I left before the call for the flight. Big mistake! We were stuck in the queue on the jet bridge. The next time we had learned our lesson and we were straight on!



Oh, and don't go to breakfast in the Hilton. Wait until you get to the CH!

Same experience as honey lamb for us in Gatwick.
We didn't bother with twighlight check in but got the "look" and "question" when we tried to check in in the UC area. He did try and make up for it after...but you don't get a second chance to make a good first impression.
We left the clubhouse when we were called, priority boarding was all over the place and we had to queue!!! Yes! gasp! Queue to get onboard. We pushed through for as long as we could but we got stuck with the rest of the UC cabin on the jet bridge.

But I'm sure all this is very rare and still rate my LGW experience highly.
The CH is amazing, eat there, drink there, relax there...enjoy it.
As others have said its a very expensive habit turning left...but we all love it and I'm sure you will too.
Darren

Thank you all for your replies, I feel much happier now!

If you have picked 6A&K then I'd get up the front as there are no overhead lockers and some other passengers get a bit possessive about the locker above their seat, so get in there first, or just hand your bag to the cabin crew and they will find somewhere.

I have indeed grabbed them so I think I will follow your advice and get there in time to be called so I can grab my 'bin space'

One benefit it does give you is, other than getting called up first, being able to relax in your seat with a glass of bubbly whilst the rest of the flight is boarding. Might even have time for a top up before take off!

I think I may have to indulge, and have my son's too as he's only 9!

As all your questions have been answered I just wanted to wish you a happy and enjoyable first flight in UC. I still remember the thrill of mine

Thank you! I actually think I'm more excited about the flight than the holiday!. Does that make was weird??

I have never bothered with Twilight check in at Gatwick, I prefer to hold on to my cases overnight & can then put the previous days clothes in them, never had to wait for more than a few minutes at UC check in.

Exactly my thinking. I don't really want to have to carry much onboard. I usually take the smallest bag I can get away with!

Personally, if I wasn't overloaded with bags & had done OLCI, I'd not bother.

I'm planning on doing the OLCI as soon as it opens, from the seatmap it looks like there are four seats left, 3 together and one on its own. I would have to get moved about so that two people can be upgraded and sat next to each other.

they take no offence if you repeat order food, think we had 3 bacon / sausage cobs each.

Good to know, I'll try not to be shy!

Make yourself feel as special as Virgin want you to feel.

Exactly my intention! This is probably the only time this holiday that I'll get pampered and won't be rushing round theme parks until I drop so I plan on extracting every last bit of goodness out of the experience!

I haven't done twilight check-in mainly because on the two occasions I used LGW, my connecting flight arrived after it had closed but I never had a problem with crowds at UC check-in - well, except for the time that a cravatted gentleman and his family arrived at the security point for UC/PE at the same time as me and Aer John. The lady there took one look at us even though we were on the UC side and then turned to the gentleman and asked "Travelling in PE, are we sir?" He assented and she processed him and then, turning to me with my teenage son, and asked in patronising tones usually reserved for the old and bewildered, "Flying in economy, madam?" When I told her I was in UC, she immediately became all sweetness and light. Too late, baby! You've already blotted your copybook!

My evil side would love this to happen because I have been known to make someone feel about an inch tall when they patronise me. It doesn't help that I'm scruffy at the best of times so I'm sure I'll look completely out of place. (reminder to self: make sure son wears scruffy hoody and doesn't brush his hair)

We pushed through for as long as we could

This I could do. Don't know why!

Excuse the mistakes in the above post, you'd never know I was a writer!

If you are a writer, then bring on the Trip Report!

If you are a writer, then bring on the Trip Report!

Hehe :-)

I write about murder and violence, I'm hoping there will be none of that!

If you are a writer, then bring on the Trip Report!

Hehe :-)

I write about murder and violence, I'm hoping there will be none of that!

Well we have had a couple of posts recently where disembarking has been delayed due to 'medical emergency'
Who knows.
Dick D

a cravatted gentleman and his family arrived at the security point for UC/PE at the same time as me and Aer John. The lady there took one look at us even though we were on the UC side and then turned to the gentleman and asked "Travelling in PE, are we sir?" He assented and she processed him and then, turning to me with my teenage son, and asked in patronising tones usually reserved for the old and bewildered, "Flying in economy, madam?" When I told her I was in UC, she immediately became all sweetness and light. Too late, baby! You've already blotted your copybook!

I really do dislike this kind of snobbery, for that is what it is. I have experienced it is some shops, though never at the airport so far. I agree with AJC, they would get a very terse reply if they tried that line with me

Why the hell did she try and guess what cabin people were booked in to? Why not start with a cheery "May I help you?".

You'd never get such attitude on British Airways

If you are a writer, then bring on the Trip Report!

Hehe :-)

I write about murder and violence, I'm hoping there will be none of that!

Well we have had a couple of posts recently where disembarking has been delayed due to 'medical emergency'
Who knows.
Dick D

I can see it now. The cluedo-esque mystery of the case of the swapped seats at ONCI resulting in a fist fight at 30000 feet……throw in a couple of DYKWIA or Zlisters and The Daily Mail, could be a best seller.

I can see it now. The cluedo-esque mystery of the case of the swapped seats at ONCI resulting in a fist fight at 30000 feet……throw in a couple of DYKWIA or Zlisters and The Daily Mail, could be a best seller. [/quote]


I'm thinking Murder On The English Rose .... I may have to start outlining!