First Redemption & First Upperclass

Well, finally took the plunge. After all the advice on here and much deliberation about destinations I have just booked 2 UC return reward flights LHR - NYC for bank holiday weekend in Aug.
Looking forward to finally seeing the inside of the amazing clubhouse.
Fully plan on making the most of ever aspect. We could have flown from MAN as we live about 20min from the airport, but I have decided to drive to LHR, drop Mrs Shifty off at the DTCI, the. Drop the car at meet & greet which I believe is near the bottom of the DTCI ramp.
Partly booked the return flight based on the metal. Flight out is on the A340, i have only flown once with virgin, that was PE on the A340 2yrs ago and I thought the plane was dated then. As I didn’t want to do both legs on a dated plane, I opted for a late flight back on a 787.
Had a minor glitch with the website initially where it wanted to charge me £179,120.44 for the flights......
All sorted now though. 170 days and counting!

Enjoy it when the time comes!

Given the special nature of the occasion, the distance you're travelling and the state of the motorways, have you considered splashing a bit more cash on a hotel at LHR the evening before?

[mitchja]

I agree with pjh.

The car journey down isn’t going to be too bad but ask yourself do you really want a 2-3hr drive home after stepping off an TATL flight?

Either do as pjh suggested or even better IMHO would be to fly down and back up or use the train. I find a 1st class train journey to/from London much more civilised than a BA domestic flight these days and it’s a similar price as well if you book your train ticket far enough in advance.

I have considered flying down, I have enough Avios for return BA Business seats and there is availability but would I be able to check our bags right through or would we have to collect and check them in again with them being on seperate bookings?
We are on the 1545 flight out so we have plenty of time to get their during the morning.

[mitchja]

Being on separate PNR’s it’s doubtful BA would check your bags through onto the VS flight so you would need to collect them at LHR.

The same applies on the return journey as VS also probably won’t check your bags all the way to MAN either.

BA won’t even through check bags between their own flights on separate bookings, so they certainly won’t do it for a VS flight.

I have considered flying down, I have enough Avios for return BA Business seats and there is availability but would I be able to check our bags right through or would we have to collect and check them in again with them being on seperate bookings?
We are on the 1545 flight out so we have plenty of time to get their during the morning.

BA won't even check luggage on to another BA flight if it's on a different booking. Anecdotally I've heard it can happen but I would say chance of them doing it on VS on a different booking is zero.

Maximise your time in the Clubhouse- it's a fantastic space. Revivals on return is worth a look too, much smaller but showers, a decent breakfast etc are offered.

We are on the 1545 flight out so we have plenty of time to get their during the morning.

If you follow the route google maps suggests (M6 /M40) allow plenty of time for the tiny bit of the M25 between the M40 junction and LHR as it’s a notorious bottleneck. We live 70 miles north and east of LHR with a route that involves mostly dual carriageways / motorway. Just the once we managed the trip in 90 minutes, the last two times it was twice that, due to that single stretch.

If, on the day, you find the journey straightforward and you’ve over budgeted on the time, it just means more time in the Clubhouse..

The luxurious Heston Services Travelodge is about ten minutes drive away from T3, has free parking and is usually about £40 a night. It's as glamourous as the name suggests but as somewhere to rest your head the night before an early flight it's as good as anywhere. Well as good as anywhere if you've got a car anyway.

Thanks for the advice guys. I have taken it and decided to book in at Holiday Inn Express the night before with 4 days parking included. Will just get a taxi to the DTCI from there. Will have loads of time in the clubhouse then.

Thanks for the advice guys. I have taken it and decided to book in at Holiday Inn Express the night before with 4 days parking included. Will just get a taxi to the DTCI from there. Will have loads of time in the clubhouse then.

I think you’ve made the right decision. More time in the airport thinking “another champagne or some more of that sourdough from the deli?” beats sitting still on the M25 (or any of the other diversionary routes) watching google maps turn red.