T3

Has anyone else on here had the misfortune of travelling through Econ or PE? and having to deal with that vile departure lounge?

Unless you want to buy Harrods tourist tat, 2000 on a watch, the only 'normal' shops is Boots,Dixons and duty free..

As the UK's premier airport surely it needs facilities to cater for a wide variety of people- the shops in their are more suited to Upper Class passengers! and given a choice of the club house or that mad house with no seats I know where I wouldn't be going!!

LGW south terminal is so much more travel friendly- more seating, better variety of shops- just a shame about its location and everything else about this airport! Why can't BAA get anything right?

Although they seem to be better than SFO airport operators I must say (well any USA airport operator!!)
Sorry rant over!

I suppose it's because they're tailored for the international market and as VS and BA (at least until the T5 mess is sorted out) are the only UK airlines to use the terminal. Think about all those foriegn tourists who have money to burn before they get home.

LGW south has a lot more UK based airlines (EZY, VS, Thomas Cook, Monarch, XL) so have probably tailored it to the UK flyer.

First time I have heard LGW south described as friendly! Yes it has a Next and similar tat shops, but you normally cant move for fat tracksuited chavs and Hen Do Slappers. It is the most abhorrent place I have been in a long time. [:D]
And as for food, [:$] MacDs or nothing, basically. At least T3 has a bagel place.

T3 is fine - probably the best of the London terminals I can recall.Yes there are high-end shops, but also Ted B etc. And who goes to shop anyway? If you dont have clubhouse access, no need to arrive more than 90 minutes early - esp with OLCI etc

Also, on my last flight, I was delayed for 8 hours, stuck in the confines of T3. (Couldn't be bothered to take a trip in to London.) However, as I love people watching, my wife and I found a nice row of seats, made ourselves comfy, got our books/laptop and ipods out and watched the world go by.

Just wished they had a fat face shop!

Originally posted by Professor Yaffle
First time I have heard LGW south described as friendly! Yes it has a Next and similar tat shops, but you normally cant move for fat tracksuited chavs and Hen Do Slappers. It is the most abhorrent place I have been in a long time. [:D]
And as for food, [:$] MacDs or nothing, basically. At least T3 has a bagel place.

Thank you for a morning chuckle [:p].

The big issue for me is how VS bleat on about how they are improving the customer experience.

Well no. They may be for their Upper Class passengers, but they seem to have made the check in area a right mess with no proper queueing for the bag drop area. They don't show any interest in improving the experience for economy pax. They don't make enough money for the airline and will keep coming whatever they do or don't do, is the message that VS gives their Econ or PE pax.

Originally posted by locutus

They don't show any interest in improving the experience for economy pax. They don't make enough money for the airline and will keep coming whatever they do or don't do, is the message that VS gives their Econ or PE pax.

It's probably the case for Y but every PAX has a choice, if they go for the cheapest flight and then you should expect a service fitting for that price.

My approach is that when I get a cheap flight, my expectations are really low. I still go back to VS, over other airlines because I feel they still provide a better service than the ones I received elsewhere.

Can't really comment about PE, as I'm aspiring to that level and above. [:D]

My approach is that when I get a cheap flight, my expectations are really low. I still go back to VS, over after airlines because I feel they still provide a better service than the ones I received elsewhere.

AGREE TOTALLY

we flew on a family holiday with First choice last year
the delays were long and the in flight food and service just rubbish
although the seats were a tad roomier than virigin economy
but it was a short flight and we weren't expecting much and it was cheap

Scarlet

WRT the OP - I have to say I think SFO is one of the better US Airports and the experience of travelling through the International Terminal is complete bliss in comparison to most UK airports, especially LHR.

On LGW South, Professor Yaffle has it spot on. The worst place in the world IMO - having commuted through it twice a day for three years - and that was just landside!

Originally posted by locutus
they seem to have made the check in area a right mess with no proper queueing for the bag drop area. They don't show any interest in improving the experience for economy pax.

This is my biggest complaint of VS now. I travelled through the 'new' checkin area last month for the first time and it is shambolic. There may have been queues in the old set up, but atleast it had a resemblance of organisation. There is no sense to its layout. There is no management of queues. The machines are placed in the middle of the queues so that you have to fight your way to them. A total disaster especially during the morning rush.

It is not a 'cost' issue. It can be better organised and not cost anymore.

Mrs AF and I have now booked our next few trips via the continent or on CO via EWR to the UK regionals as VS's service (in Y) doesn't warrant dealing with LHR any more.

AF

Originally posted by AtlanticFlyer
WRT the OP - I have to say I think SFO is one of the better US Airports and the experience of travelling through the International Terminal is complete bliss in comparison to most UK airports, especially LHR.

As you say SFO is great! Although I did have the misfortune of flying US Airways from SFO last year. That terminal was a dingy hole!

Originally posted by Professor Yaffle
And as for food, [:$] MacDs or nothing, basically. At least T3 has a bagel place.

Isn't there a Garfunkels at LGW South? Oh yeah, as you said, nothing [}:)]

I was at SFO at Easter and I thought it was a really pleasant, quiet clean airport, would much rather be there than at either LHR or LGW, unless I was in the Clubhouse. Also any airport with a Sephora in it, is worth a visit in my book!

Lynne

Well when I got to LHR, the bag drop was smooth, My seat allocation had been changed for some reason so arrived early to get an aisle seat, although had already battled for one at the booking stage.

Got to Security and through my job have access to fast track, chose not to use it as regular security queue was much less and by the time I walked to the front where you are called forward, was actually called forward.

Then came the 2 hour delay, which I knew of the previous day as knowing someone within VS confirmed where Mustang Sally had flown to the previous day and knew that flight was at least 4 hours late departing LHR on the previous flight.

So having to arrive early because of the seat mix up and coupled to the delays There was nothing to eat, yes there was a bagel and that is actually what I had, the other choices ranged from fish panini's to ham baguettes(or a massive fry up at o'neils). So the Scrambled egg and sausage bagel was the most attractive- needless to say two mouthfuls was all I could stomach, so too kill time I chose to shop... hmm Dixons... regular(expensive) duty free and err o'neils bar...

At least in Gatwick there is 5 eating options plus a costa coffee, Dixons,Next, a range of duty free shops, specialising in Wiskey's and the cheaper duty free shop next to the club house. They also have a ted baker, caviar shop, book shop(not just boots with a 20 minute queue)

Overall for the average none UC pax Gatwick is more suited and appeals to a wider range.

As for SFO, Check in was easy, although bag drop lanes where not as clear as the could be. Security was a nightmare- so busy compared to LHR- you would think at 8am LHR would be heaving!! and duty free had one person on the tills. Food options where a pizza/salad bar option right at the end or a coffee shop. Not pleasent.

Originally posted by ilikebluesmarties
yes there was a bagel and that is actually what I had, the other choices ranged from fish panini's to ham baguettes(or a massive fry up at o'neils)

Erm, isn't there a Chez Gerard, a Caviar and seafood house, a TGI Friday's, plus the bagel place and O'Neills ... plus an Eat and a Starbuck's, oh and a Yo Sushi, another coffee shop by the new gates and a coffee shop in the main lounge ... do we visit the same place cos I make that seven places to eat plus smaller options?

Having said that - I don't necessarily disagree with your main thesis, which is that T3 v Gatwick South has a more high end range of 'entertainment' options (i.e. food and shopping).

The TGI's is great - especially when the Air India flight is boarding at the gate behind it - always makes you glad to be on VS [:0]