V-Flyer

Hi all, and apologies for the newbie question from a Virgin virgin (though a BAEC Gold card holder so have reasnoble grasp of how this all works).

I'm travelling to Orlando for New Year LGW - MCO and have a couple of questions, I have scanned all the stickies for answers so my apologies if I've missed them somewhere.

27/12/08 | MCO-LGW VS015
10/01/09 | MCO-LGW VS027

First question, the flight is showing as full in all classes, however I understand that there are some PE seats which are allocated at check-in only ? If this is the case does anyone have a view of the cost to upgrade from an Economy ticket to a PE seat at check-in ? I've no idea if I'm in Q,X,V or N, or Y,B,L or M as the nice people at Virgin Holidays have looked after all that. I presume that flying from LGW if I ended up on Upper Deck chances are I'm getting an 'Original' PE seat, if I'm downstairs I'm getting the 'Wash' PE seat ?

Second question : How does the LGW Club House compare with the BA Galleries Lounges at Heathrow (which is what I'm used to). Do I get any other advantage paying 35pp to use the clubhouse such as fast-track security etc ? We're staying over the night before we fly, and I thought that this might make a relaxing morning before boarding the flying creche to Orlando

Hope they're not too newbie questions

Ed

PS. Any suggestions for what to do on New Year's Eve appreciated !

Hi Ed and welcome to V-Flyer.

If your flight is full in all classes then the option to upgrade at check in is probably unlikely. You are right in what you are saying in that certain PE are not available for pre-selection/allocation until airport check in, but that doesn't mean that they are not sold. Exit Rows and bulkheads have to be allocated at the airport so this is the reason these are not allocated, but they still sell the seat in advance for allocation at the airport.

If you are looking to upgrade then I suggest you try and do it sooner rather than later, the price is pretty standard for VH bookings and can be found on their website. If there are upgrades available on the day then quite often the offer special prices, which will be on the check in desks.

As you say you are staying the night before have you thought about using the twilight check in at Gatwick? This is a good queue buster in the morning.

Buying access to the LGW Clubhouse through VH has become very difficult since Virgin opened the VRoom for VH pax. The VH site still advertise that you can buy CH access but 99% of the dates I have played with just come back with no availability. The LGW (although never frequented it myself) gets excellent reports from most on here. Details of both the VRoom (which has an adults only section) and the LGW CH are on the VS site.

Neil

quote:Originally posted by Neil
Buying access to the LGW Clubhouse through VH has become very difficult since Virgin opened the VRoom for VH pax. The VH site still advertise that you can buy CH access but 99% of the dates I have played with just come back with no availability. The LGW (although never frequented it myself) gets excellent reports from most on here.

Neil

Hello teamstorm and welcome.
VH only have a very small allocation of purchasable CH entries and once they've been bought that's it .I would ring VH ( or FVC if you're a member ) and speak with someone directly (at the same time as the upgrade if you choose to do that too).
FWIW I personally love the LGW CH (as do a few of us here)[:)].
DL

Hi Ed, loads for your flights at the moment are showing as follows:-

27/12 - VS 15 - Seats available - J / 2 W / 4 Y / 11

10/01 - VS 28 - Seats available - J / 1 W / 0 Y / -2

Hope you have a fab time in MCO!

Thanks for the input guys - does access to the Club House also include Fast-Track security ? I loathe Gatwick Airport at the best of times, so anything that minimises my exposure to it is a bonus !

As for the loads on 10/01.... Y /-2 doesn't sound too good that's a very full flight coming back !

Ed

quote:Originally posted by teamstorm
Thanks for the input guys - does access to the Club House also include Fast-Track security ? I loathe Gatwick Airport at the best of times, so anything that minimises my exposure to it is a bonus !

As for the loads on 10/01.... Y /-2 doesn't sound too good that's a very full flight coming back !

Ed


Buying access to the CH will not get you fast track security. You get it if you are an Au card holder, flying UC (or PE ex LGW) only.

As your flights look very full then I would certainly suggest using OLCI as early as you can to try and ensure your seats.

Neil

If you have booked through VH, you can buy a pass to the V-Room. I understand that the ticket V-Room also gives access to Fast Track.

Nick