V-Flyer

Upper Class customers and Flying Club Gold members can use the US Airways lounge at LGW when arriving on a VS flight.

There is a lift to the lounge immediately opposite the exit to the customs hall.

Facilities include showers, tea, coffee, juice, tv and a business centre.

[y]:D

Great news[y]

thanks

David

FINALLY the poor LGW UC relations to LHR gets revivals facilities.

Thanks for that information Jetstreamer[y]

Does that mean LGW won't get its own arrival lounge?

At long last!

But then to be fair, there was until now only one 'arrival' lounge, and gettign hot water there was a bit hit and miss....

Thanks,
Richard

Excellent[y][y][y]

Many thanks for the info Jetsreamer - I take it this facility is airside[?]

buns

I flew out of LGW for the first time in 6 years last week and the overall experience and level of service is simply inferior to LHR.

Long time coming, but great news - thanks Jetstreamer [y]

Originally posted by buns4vs
Excellent[y][y][y]

Many thanks for the info Jetsreamer - I take it this facility is airside[?]

buns

The US Airways lounge is landside. As you exit the Customs Hall there is a lift directly opposite. It will be possible to visit the limo desk to re-schedule pre-booked onward transfers if necessary.

Originally posted by manymiles
I flew out of LGW for the first time in 6 years last week and the overall experience and level of service is simply inferior to LHR.

Can you provide a link to your trip report from your recent LGW experience?

Did you find it simply inferior to LHR due to the size of the crew? [:?]

The facilities are dated when compared to LHR and the LGW fleet doesn't have an IFBT or a modern IFE BUT the staff I have met have been brilliant (certainly not on the large side[:p])

Originally posted by Jetstreamer

Originally posted by buns4vs
Excellent[y][y][y]

Many thanks for the info Jetsreamer - I take it this facility is airside[?]

buns

The US Airways lounge is landside. As you exit the Customs Hall there is a lift directly opposite. It will be possible to visit the limo desk to re-schedule pre-booked onward transfers if necessary.

Jetstreamer

Thanks for the clarification

buns

This is excellent news. Hope to try the lounge out sometime this year, assuming I finally manage to fly VS this year! I look forward to the first report on this lounge.

Thanks Jetstreamer.

Originally posted by manymiles
I flew out of LGW for the first time in 6 years last week and the overall experience and level of service is simply inferior to LHR.

I guess this depends on which class you're flying and level of service you're expecting. As an Economy passenger the service on the VS flights is much the same as on LHR flights (save for V:Port).

As to the airport itself, it's the same circle of hell experience redeemed slightly by easier parking and not having to drive between junctions 21a and 15 on the M25.

Paul

Originally posted by Jetstreamer
Upper Class customers and Flying Club Gold members can use the US Airways lounge at LGW when arriving on a VS flight.

Well, this is quite true - though I think there's still some confusion on the US Airways side (mainly as to whether it's just UC or FC Au as well) given that it's a new-ish arrangement.

It's a nice lounge, if a tad on the small side ("compact" I think estate agents would call it ). Done out with a fair bit of wood, a la traditional 1st class stylee, and the showers look really nice (didn't get much time to try them out today though). Non-smoking throughout, but if you ask nicely, the lovely lady on reception will open the doors outside and you can smoke out there

Tea/coffee/soft drinks/juices available (and it looked like some alcohol too), along with a selection of fruit/nuts/biscuits - but no hot food. Sky News on a nice plasma screen at the end.

BTW, be warned folks, the arrivals lounge closes at 12noon (at least, it did today!).

Anyway, it's just nice to have some decent facilities to get into on arrival at LGW [y]

Cheers

Michael

Michael

Thanks for the first "Road Report" of the facility[^][^].

I will make sure I make use of it the next time I return through LGW[y].

buns

Everything Mike said - ditto!

It's decked out in that traditional American way, with cherry wood and plenty of recessed lights. Bit like the Continental President's Club lounge at LGW. I quite like that, and the shower rooms look a little bigger than those at Revivals.

The service at lgw shouldnt be any differnt to lhr considering all vs crew are based at both LHR and LGW bar thE crew at MAN

Hmmm, I do think the whole "service ex-LGW" discussion is a bit OT considering we're supposed to be talking about the new arrangement for an Arrivals facility at LGW (split?).

Also please be clear about airport or onboard service, since there are 2 distinct parts to the journey. Remember that the check-in staff at LGW are not VS staff too, and that can make a big difference (I can personally attest to that from very recent experience!).

Originally posted by Airbus340
The service at lgw shouldnt be any differnt to lhr considering all vs crew are based at both LHR and LGW bar thE crew at MAN

I don't think that's totally the case is it? I believe that there are other bases for staff around the globe, the UK not having a monopoly on this.

Cheers

Michael

Originally posted by mcuth
Well, this is quite true - though I think there's still some confusion on the US Airways side (mainly as to whether it's just UC or FC Au as well) given that it's a new-ish arrangement.
Michael

I found out about this facility from one of my villa renters. Decided to email VA to get the full details.

Here's their full response.


Thank you for your email and apologies for the delayed response.

Upper Class passengers and Gold Card holders arriving at London Gatwick can take
advantage of the US Airways arrivals facilities, located on the lower level in
the Arrivals Terminal. Those passengers entitled to use this facility are listed
below:

-Any revenue passengers travelling in J, D, G or Z class
-Any passengers who have been downgraded from Upper Class (voluntary)
- Flying Club Gold members travelling in any class

Details are as follows :

- The opening hours of the US Airways lounge are 0600 ‰ÛÒ 1200.
- It is situated just a short walk away from the Arrivals area, passengers will
need to take the lift next to Costa Coffee to the ground floor, where the US
Airways lounge is situated immediately opposite.
- Passengers will need to check in at the reception when they arrive.
- If a chauffeur driven car has been booked passengers must call at the Limo
desk first to arrange the pick-up before they visit the lounge.
- Passengers will need to return to the Limo desk afterwards to meet their
driver.

The lounge offers the following facilities:

- Shower facilities
- A continental breakfast buffet
- Business centre
- On-site valet service (where you can get clothes pressed or repaired)
- Shoe shine

Guests aren't allowed, however entrance to the lounge can be purchased for
å£25.00.

Jilly

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I'll be passing through Gatwick in the next few days, and just wanted to check whether we still have access to the US Airways lounge. There's no mention of it that I can find on the VS site, so does anyone have recent experience? If not, I'll check it out as I come back through LGW, and post an update.

Best wishes

David

Originally posted by DavidM
Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I'll be passing through Gatwick in the next few days, and just wanted to check whether we still have access to the US Airways lounge. There's no mention of it that I can find on the VS site, so does anyone have recent experience? If not, I'll check it out as I come back through LGW, and post an update.

Best wishes

David

David I was in there in mid July and the service and facilities were all as previously stated.

I've used it 4 or 5 times now and have found the staff very pleasant and helpful - the showers are great too.

Take the lift near Costa Coffee and go down - the same one that takes you to the Yotel.

HTH
Jilly

Many thanks, Jilly. Since I couldn't find anything on the VS site about it I suspected that it might have been 'enhanced' away. I wonder why there is no mention of the service on the website - I should have thought it was something VS would have wanted to advertise, but hey-ho, such is life.

Best wishes

David