Connecting to LHR via IAD - Straight to Gate ?

A question to those experienced in this method, I know I have asked this before, but a colleague managed something on Saturday I talked about but was told not possible.

When I head to Denver via DC, upon my return I exit the airport and checkin with Virgin at the main Checkin Desk, head back through Security and walk to the Lounge. This was suggested to me the only procedure some time ago.

Fortunately on Thursday night, around 8pm this took me 20 mins, although it has been known to take 2 hours.

My colleague returned on the 23:20 flight on Saturday, and went from his United flight straight to the Gate, whereby they issued him with a boarding pass.

Could I have done the same by going straight to the Lounge ?

The luggage was checked through as normal, so did not need collecting.

Also, he is a Silver member, and one of the cabin crew made contact and asked if he was Mr S and once confirmed, was told he was instructed to look after him. What's all that about ?

Mark

[honey lamb]

I did that before 9/11 when gate-check in the US was the norm and my bags had transferred through. The last time I came in on a UA flight I did what you did but part of me missed gate-checking. However as the inbound flight would only just have landed there would not have been staff at the gate to do that.

I have in the past come off an internal flight and gone straight to the IAD clubhouse and checked in there for the VS flight to London. I don't know whether this is still allowed post 9/11. I'm pretty sure gate checkin has completely gone.

Chris

The lounge staff were there last week because of the two flights a day during the summer. Although they are stopping (or stopped) for the winter, last week we were on the 23:20 flight. You are correct that arriving on a connecting flilght around the time of checkin would lead to no staff at the lounge or gate for a while.

Interestingly enough, very little jet lag as a result of taking the late flight.

Next week as the IAD flight has stopped, I have to head home via LAX

I did gate check-in at IAD in April 2007. The agent at the time said that they don't get many people doing it anymore - they were supprised as there were 6 or 7 people that day.

We did have to wait until about an hour before the flight before they would issue the boarding cards - a pain as we wanted to get duty free!

That said, only 2/3rds of my luggage which had been checked all the way through made the flight back to LHR - even though we/it had a 2hrs 15 connection!

My bags always make it back to LHR, they just rarely make it to Denver when I go via IAD. Currently a 75% failure rate.

Have come back 3 times through IAD and first 2 times bags never made it back. Last week I went to the check in at the business desk and mentioned this fact. they rang down to the bag handlers and told them to be on the look out for my bag. Got a call while in the club house (hoping it was an op-up [8D]) to say the bag handlers had located my bag and it was on the plane. So in future I will always be asking them to explicitly check when at IAD.

The last time transiting iad for me was May this year with a connection from DAY on UA. I did not have to go landside, and to be honest you wouldn't want to what with the mobile lounges and security. However I did have some things on my side: carry on only, UC, and I'd OLCI'd.

H

Imust have gone through IAD around 6 times in the last 2 years, and 4 times on the way out United stuff up the bag delivery to the Denver plane.

On the way back, Virgin and United have managed a 100% success rate. Although I do always say at checkin that the bag should be with them in their bag room soon.