How long have you managed to keep UC a "secret"

Slightly fun post - I have bit the bullet and upgraded from PE to UC return to GND (will be the OH's first time in UC )

It's a surprise (honeymoon) - so I am trying to keep it a secret for as long as possible

What is the longest anyone here has managed to keep such a thing a secret - has anyone got as far as it being a secret until boarding when you are both asked to "turn left" - clearly many factors could give it away (check-in at UC, CH etc but I MIGHT be able to explain these away as pre-paid/FC status privileges etc....)...slightly geeky post I know!

Some years ago, I managed to keep SQ F a secret right up until boarding!

The hardest part is not the check-in, lounge or boarding passes... It is hiding your own excitement!!

- These days the missus is too knowledgeable to keep secrets from!

This year I think I managed about two seconds.
I made the booking quite early in the morning and ran into the bedroom, arms outstretched as if I was a plane shouting "we're in Upper."
We both get pleasure looking forward to the trip. Personally I wouldn't hide it.
Dick D

This year I think I managed about two seconds.
I made the booking quite early in the morning and ran into the bedroom, arms outstretched as if I was a plane shouting "we're in Upper."
We both get pleasure looking forward to the trip. Personally I wouldn't hide it.
Dick D

I am with Dicky D, anticipation of the trip is a big part of the fun for me.

oldboy

[buns]

I managed to keep the secret from my godson and his family right until we were on the aircraft and walked through Premium into the UC Cabin

Mrs a Buns and I had spun the line that as we were Golds we could get them into the Clubhouse at Gatwick and very kindly the staff there helped by not letting on whilst we were there.

Needless to say that once realised, there were tears of joy

buns

Each to his own, but I share DickD & oldboy's view that the anticipation is very much part of the experience. But YMMV.

First time we flew UC we had originally booked PE and about 6 months before our flight, after paying my income tax so it was January, I had spare cash and decided to upgrade us. The plan was to keep it a secret until the flight but my own excitement couldn't keep it. I lasted about a month I think and then blurted it out.

My OH wasn't really fussed or impressed until we got to the Clubhouse at LHR, but it was the flight and the seat that did it.

Now he expects it! It's a nice surprise if you can keep the secret.

This year I think I managed about two seconds.
I made the booking quite early in the morning and ran into the bedroom, arms outstretched as if I was a plane shouting "we're in Upper."
We both get pleasure looking forward to the trip. Personally I wouldn't hide it.
Dick D

What an enduring image!

I'm with the 'enjoy looking forward to it' brigade.

I would like to know in advance, but not too far in advance. Perhaps being told a day or two before so I could do a little research and a chance to enjoy the fizzing anticipation before it faded.

It stayed a secret for about 2 weeks till Simon saw it on the MMB page...he called me in work acusing me of wasting thousands of pounds...now he refuses to fly any other way and doesn't want to use our Amex PE upgrade vouchers!!! Such a snob!!

[honey lamb]

I managed to keep it a secret from my niece some years ago but that was relatively easy as I live in the south of Ireland and she in the west so we didn't meet up until our respective planes arrived in LHR. I managed check-in and the lounge by virtue of my gold card but decided to tell her on the way to the flight. Unfortunately it was near the end of a moving walkway and she stopped dead in her tracks from complete shock with the result that we were both tossed off the said walkway and staggered around clutching each other trying to stay upright! We looked like a couple of drunks thrown out of a pub on a Saturday night!

For MrsPJH until walking towards the terminal having got out of the car....when she guessed.

For #1 daughter (On Emirates, but bear in mind she had a car provided) until the check in agent looked at her booking and said "why didn't you use the business queue?"

It stayed a secret for about 2 weeks till Simon saw it on the MMB page...he called me in work acusing me of wasting thousands of pounds...now he refuses to fly any other way and doesn't want to use our Amex PE upgrade vouchers!!! Such a snob!!

I remember you saying that before about the waste of money, I was worried for your life

Now I'm in a quandary too, I have the Amex PE vouchers to use, and have hit the spend for 2 more this year. I keep saying we've got to use them or lose them but am loathe to move back a cabin when I've fallen in love with the pointy end and all it offers.

As they saying goes, "once you've turned left..."

Untill the chauffeur turned up at front door

Well I have a jaunt booked for November to Barbados and returning via Antigua and we have upgraded to upper both ways for my niece and nephew. Three months ago. They think it's just me and the wife and when we see them we remind them they are in Riff Raff class .

We are planning to tell them the night before at the Hilton Gatwick.

Thanks all- I think the OH would be keen to know (she has mentioned it before a few times how she would love to fly Business) - I might try the end of the walkway trick.....but then I don't fancy a broken leg lol

I think I will reveal all when we have sunk a few glasses of Cloudy Bay at the Hilton the night before!

about 10 years ago I booked Air Canada Club Class seats for my family and didn't tell them - they thought we were doing our usual Economy trip.

When we got to the airport I saw the massive queue at Economy Check in and said "I am NOT going to join THAT queue while the 'privileged few' get to go straight to the Desk" - and proceeded to march up to the Club Class Check in desk.

I could feel my teenage kids hoping the floor would swallow them up and save them from their embarrassing Mum.

When I was warmly welcomed at Club Check In and assigned our seats - I looked around and laughed and the expression on their faces was priceless !

I think I would like to know before packing, to utilise the extra baggage allowance

I kept the UC bit and more interestingly the destination of our holiday to Barbados secret from my gf until we'd been in the clubhouse for about 20 mins and had eaten breakfast and got a glass of champagne.

A combination of her not knowing what the CH is plus using Twighlight check in (no destination board) with her out of ear shot plus asking every staff member who looked at boarding pass to keep quiet did the trick.

I booked a holiday last August to Orlando. We're going at the end of July this year and my children (who will be aged 14 and 11 when we fly) have no idea that we're going to Florida let alone that we're going UC!
Hmm, now when shall I tell them?

We are travelling UC for the first time on 29th August but our twin daughters (21) think we are in PE as usual. My husband wanted to surprise them at the airport but as a previous poster has said that wouldn't give them time to enjoy the anticipation so he has agreed we will tell them the day before we fly. We booked this trip back in October so it has been a long time not to let it slip.

if you don't mind me asking, which airport/flight?

for LHR in particular make sure you get there early as possible to enjoy the clubhouse

tbh i'd still be tempted to wait until check-in, or if it is LHR, go the whole hog and use DTCI, but again wait for the car to pull up and watch their faces

hope you have a great time!

If the above poster is replying to me we are flying from LGW so no DTCI. I have booked the taxi slightly earlier than usual to make sure we get time in the clubhouse.

the LGW clubhouse is nice too, bijou, certainly fine to while away 2-3 hours, food and service are good, and of course the endless supply of bubbly

if they will be trying out the spa treatments, after entering the CH head straight to the spa desk to check for a time slot in case it's a busy day, this is the spa 'menu' in case you hadn't seen it...

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/content/ ... W.pdf.html