jr17 wrote:(To those that are in the know)
Once you return to the UK (I.e Gatwick) before you fly back to DUB, are you cases and luggage put onto the collection belt as normal? Then allowing you to either go and check in for the DUB return, or just simply slip out of the airport?
And then if you do choose to slip out, you'll still get all the applicable VS miles and TP's? Do you get a normal VS online reference number to do ONCI and the like as you normally would too?
Thanks 
If you onward connection is LGW-DUB, then your bags will be checked through, no need (or opportunity) to collect them. In this case, you will need to continue to Dublin.
This is what Vegascrazy has mentioned by booking the final sector from a different airport e.g. LHR-DUB as opposed to LGW-DUB, this forces you to have to collect bags as they cannot be transferred between LGW-LHR - leaving you free to go home.
You'll receive the VS miles and TP's applicable to the sectors you have flown as normal.
Depends who you book with for your PNR (booking ref) On Expedia you'll get your VS Ref on the confirmation. For Opodo, you may have to look the booking up on the VS site, easy to do and allows instant ability to pick seats etc.