How early should we check in at LHR?

Please help this Virgin Virgin who hasn't travelled since May 2001 and will now have a toddler in tow, so it makes our decision of how early to check in a complicated one. We're flying PE but my parents are with us in E, and I think Virgin recommends at leat 2 hours for us and 3 hours for them.

But it seems as though many of the Virgin FFs on v-flyer arrive upwards of 4 hours in advance (to enjoy the clubhouse, shopping, etc.)

I've never been to LHR, so please help if you can.

As it is, we'll be leaving our hotel in Windsor at 7 am to get to LHR by 8 for the LHR-SFO flight that leaves at 11 am. Leaving our hotel at 7 am means we have to skip the hotel's breakfast. Are there good places to eat inside T3? (It IS T3, right?)

THANKS in advance for your help.
~kat

check in desks are open from 4am or something at heathrow for all flights or something

half seven will be fine, theres a TGI fridays in T3 departures and there's a food court of sorts landside.

there's also a few random coffee stops placed around various points throughout the terminal.

There are lots of places to get breakfast in T3. I particularly recommend the scrambled eggs on toasted brioche from Chez Gerrard

There's information about what you can find at http://www.baa.com/main/airports/heathrow/shopping_eating_frame.html

Hi kat,
if you want your hotel breakfast you could always check in online on the virgin website..
that way you dont have to rush to the airport.

I like to get to the airport early for the clubhouse..but if I didnt have access to it I wouldn't rush!

But thats just me!

quote:Originally posted by Blythy
check in desks are open from 4am or something at heathrow for all flights or something

Actually, I believe it's 0630hrs

Oh, and on the subject of food, I like the O'Neills full English breakfast - although it's the best of a bad bunch....[V]

Cheers

Michael

[Bazz]

Ahh yes, O'Neills full English, that's the one that comes with two pints of best bitter isn't it [?]

quote:Originally posted by Bazz
Ahh yes, O'Neills full English, that's the one that comes with two pints of best bitter isn't it [?]

LOL - I think it used to, but it doesn't anymore (and it wouldn't be "best" - only Caffreys or Worthingtons ) [V]

Cheers

Michael

Brekkie at Chez Gerrard is pretty good, but you don't want to be in a rush for your flight, service there can be a little on the slow side.

It seems to follow the French service model, everything ok until it gets to the point where you want to pay, that's when you suddenly turn invisible. A couple of times I've been in there, thinking I had plenty of time, and ended up having to rush to the gat.

VSlf

[Decker]

""rushing to the gat"