Terminal 3 revamp: New check in, drive thru.

[Pete]

Released today (with images now on V-Flyer!) - the plans for the check in, kiosk and drive thru areas of Terminal 3

News Story

[preiffer]

Looks pretty swish [y]

I know the new gates are "cleaner" at that end (left from one of them last month). The drivers have been "updating" me each time I go through the existing DTCI with progress of what's happening - but none of them have been able to explain it quite as well as a picture

I do miss the "old way" for now though - upstairs, straight to the fast-track entrance... [:(]

[Pete]

I have higher-res versions of both the images which I'll upload to the Photo Library (the news pages would be a bit wide if I put them in there!)

Pete

[HighFlyer]

Very groovy!

I have to pick fault with this bit though:

The airline expects that 80% of its passengers from Heathrow will be using Online Check In and Kiosk Check In by the end of 2008.

More like, the airline hopes that 80% of its passengers ... Surely I'm not the only person here who does not want to see the check-in desks replaced with hoards of self check-in machines. I, for one, enjoy speaking to a human being when checking in for my flight.

Thanks,
Sarah

i agree i dont think that check in would be the same without the human interaction. they can give good information as well such as how full the flight is etc.

So will the other 20% be using drive through check in? I LOVE drive through check in

Originally posted by HighFlyer
More like, the airline hopes that 80% of its passengers ... Surely I'm not the only person here who does not want to see the check-in desks replaced with hoards of self check-in machines. I, for one, enjoy speaking to a human being when checking in for my flight.

Thanks,
Sarah

Agreed, although I like online check in, I still prefer talking to a real person and asking them questions about the flight. You get a much better feel, in my opinion, when you interact with a nice check in person.

Thanks for posting the pics and the new pete.
Great news, especially as Virgin's area of T3 is currently like one of the 9th plane of Hell.

I aggree Sarah, as I'm paying so much for my ticket (and very rarely have the luxury of a J or D drive thru) I would much prefer to speak to someone at check in (and get the benifit of the UC check in, even if I'm not travelling that).

Dean

A valet parking option for UCS (& Au) customers who self drive - would this be feasable?

[preiffer]

Can I just check something...

Top left of this photo. Is that a DISCO BALL?! [y][:w]

[Pete]

Yeah, baby.

[preiffer]

[8D] <--- I shall dust these off, all ready to go...

Hi

I'm very new here, have been reading and lurking around for a while now, this is my first post and am slightly nervous cos don't know all abbreviations you all use and also not sure which area to post in.

Anyway have posted here cos I have question re drive thru check in, we are going to New York UC in July and our tickets did not qualify for Chauffeur, only going Upper due to sale and also flew UC to Dubai earlier in year, and now got the bug, anyway I digress. I am getting my own chaufeur, well a dedicated taxi service in a fairly posh car to take me to airport, question is can he drive me to where Virgin limo drivers go, or is it just restricted to the cars organised by Virgin.

Hope this makes sense?

Lynne

[preiffer]

No Lynne, I'm afraid you won't be allowed to use DTCI (Drive Thru Check In) with a car you organise yourself. Only VS (Tristar) cars are able to use the facility.


Welcome to the site though [y]

I've only ever used OLCI a few times and have to say I much prefer using a check-in desk with a real person rather than a computer screen.
I think VS is going to have a tough time improving T3. Also, in my opinion, they seem to be putting a little too much focus on drive-thru which isn't going to benefit that many people.[:?]

45.

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by billybob
Hi

I'm very new here, have been reading and lurking around for a while now, this is my first post and am slightly nervous cos don't know all abbreviations you all use and also not sure which area to post in.

Hi Lynne and welcome to the site.

With regard to the abbreviations, if there are dots underneath them just hover your mouse over them and they will tell you what they stand for.

[preiffer]

More images on VS' dedicated page now too.


And this is a pretty bold statement [:0]

"We estimate that it will take the majority of our passengers under 15 minutes to check in and get through to the departure lounge and even less time for our upper class passengers to get to the clubhouse," Ridgway said in the statement.

A bold statement indeed! It took me around 15 minutes yesterday to get through "fast" track. Only one arch + Xray open of course GRRRR [:(!]

Originally posted by preiffer
More images on VS' dedicated page now too.

It seems like this link will provide more images.