Clubhouse entry as guest

Hi,

My parents are flying Upper Class from Gatwick in a couple of weeks and as they're Virgin "Virgin's" I'm putting together a factsheet for them on where to check-in, Clubhouse etc....

Now, I'm going to put down that they can take another couple with them into the Clubhouse ( as in, they see another couple in PE / EC queue and ask them if they'd like to use the Clubhouse ).

What's the way they should do this? Not the asking the couple if they want to use the Clubhouse, more:

1) Do they have to ask the check-in agent for additional invites?

or

2) Do my parents check-in, see the couple, then at the Clubhouse the staff will let the other couple in when my parents identify them as being their guests? ( Flying Virgin same day etc )

I suspect it's (2), but interested to know people's experiences on how to do this right...

Thanks,

David.

Hi David,

You say that your parents are Virgin "virgin's" so I assume that they are no Au holders.

I thought that guest priviliges were restricted to Au holders - I am not sure that you can bring a non-UC passenger in simply because you are travelling in UC. I stand to be corrected.

Generally I use 2 when travelling as invites normally have to be presented with tickets or card anyway.

Phil

I was doubting myself for a minute then as well.... I just found the info on the Fare Class Codes page, which says that for Z/D/J Fares:

"A ticket in this class will allow you to utilise the Clubhouse/Shared lounge on your journey for you and one guest flying with you."

So I think that covers it, it's how you should actually do it that I'm unsure of. Not being a Gold I've never had to take a guest into the Clubhouse before ( and when flying Upper last June I forgot about taking a guest in [:#] )

Thanks,

David.

With Guests before (at LHR) I have simply presented them at the clubhouse. Of course that means the guest needs to be with you through out security/shopping/etc. If they are strangers this may be a bit of an issue. I have always taken a colleague/partner to the clubhouse.

Another way of identifying potential guests maybe to look round departures (after security) for pax with VS/VH tags on their hand luggage. The problem with this would of course be that VS doesn't always put a tag on the hand luggage (sometime they put an "accepted as hand luggage" tag on, but in my experience this is not always the case). Also you may look like a bit of a weirdo wandering round inspecting people's bags!

To be honest I would be very wary of inviting a stranger into the CH -some people are like chewing gum - they leave an unpleasant taste after a while and are difficult to unstick from yourself. And you are kind of responsible for their behaviour in the CH - again some (otherwise delightful) people exposed to the stress of an airport combined with access to free booze can become problematic. I guess the final thought in my mind is that people might react negatively to being approached by an unknown, 6'4, 16 stone Sailor inviting them to a private lounge with him![:o)]

Just found this....

Topic

Which gives lots of information and confirms 1 guest per Upper Class passenger.

Thanks,

David

Originally posted by sailor99

To be honest I would be very wary of inviting a stranger into the CH -some people are like chewing gum - they leave an unpleasant taste after a while and are difficult to unstick from yourself. And you are kind of responsible for their behaviour in the CH - again some (otherwise delightful) people exposed to the stress of an airport combined with access to free booze can become problematic. I guess the final thought in my mind is that people might react negatively to being approached by an unknown, 6'4, 16 stone Sailor inviting them to a private lounge with him![:o)]

lol! I'll be sure to copy and paste the above into my factsheet "access to free booze" usually being my failing!!

Seriously though, I think you're absolutely right. I will advise caution.

Thanks,

David.

[Scrooge]

I used to use the look for the good looking lady in the economy line that was flying by herself routine [:I][:w]

David, you could alway post your folk itinerary on this board and open invites out to V-Flyer users.

Paul

Originally posted by sailor99
I guess the final thought in my mind is that people might react negatively to being approached by an unknown, 6'4, 16 stone Sailor inviting them to a private lounge with him![:o)]

LOL, that picture in my mind is so funny. I am sure there is a sketch there for Little Britain... Hmm, now wondering is mssrs Lucas and Walliams are V-Flyers!

Paul

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by p17blo
David, you could alway post your folk itinerary on this board and open invites out to V-Flyer users.

Paul

[^][y] now that is the way to do it and of course when we make our trip over in dec we will be doing that very thing.

[RichardMannion]

Funny you should ask i was writing a new section for the next version of the V Book that details Clubhouse/Shared Lounge access policies much more clearly.

Thanks,
Richard

Originally posted by p17blo
I am sure there is a sketch there for Little Britain... Hmm, now wondering if mssrs Lucas and Walliams are V-Flyers!

"I'm the only sailor in the airport you know".

Originally posted by p17blo
David, you could alway post your folk itinerary on this board and open invites out to V-Flyer users.

Paul

Will do shortly Paul, no chance of anyone from here drinking copiously in the Clubhouse [:p]

David.

Hi experts!

I'm flying on UC on 27/1 as a miles reward flight. For some reason I always believed that if I fly on UC on whatever ticket class, I can take a guest in who travels on the same flight. When a couple of weeks later I learned that by pure coincidence a friend is travelling on the same flight (N class), I kind of told her that I could get her into the clubhouse (oh the vanity)...

My boyfriend asked me to make sure, so I called the FC just now (which kept me waiting for at least 15mins until someone picks up, by the way!). They then transferred me to UC reservations, and told me:

1. I get access to the clubhouse
2. NO I CAN'T take a guest in (???!!!)
3. No I can't upgrade her to UC.

Now I'm really freaking out - will I have to go back to her and say "Sorry ain't happening, you'll have to make do with the departure hall while I stretch out in the Clubhouse!"

Someone please help and confirm!!!

Thanks!!

Cheers,
Fish

[preiffer]

Well, number 3 is correct - an N class fare is not upgradeable.

However, I always thought you could take a guest in on an Upper Class ticket. (You can certainly go in).

I've taken guests in before, who've not been in Upper - but that was also with a Gold card, so not sure which was the deciding factor. I'm 99.9% sure that you can bring a guest travelling on the same flight with you though.


ISTBC, however... [:|]

What Paul said, with the addition that your guest only has to be flying VS on the same day (i.e. doesn't have to be the same flight)

Cheers

Michael

Phew!! Thanks!!

Another thing my boyfriend said was "Triple check with v-flyer because v-flyer will know more than the people working at the call centre".

I've calmed down now. Phew!~

Thank God for V-flyer and Paul and mcuth!! (heh heh...)

Cheers,
Fish

Of course, your boyfriend is wise & astute

BTW, this is also covered in the relevant FAQ section

Cheers

Michael

Thanks Mike again,

It was just that the person who took my call said that I couldn't take a guest in that made me panic...

I suppose I could waltz in to the airport that day and ask them give my friend an invite to the clubhouse?

(I plan to arrive at the airport with my friend and forget about OLCI)

Cheers,
Fish

^ You wouldn't be given an invite, all you need is the upper class boarding card.

Plus all the invites are now wrong thanks to the BAA having to much time and money on their hands and have renamed where the lounges are.

UC ticket whatever fare code admits PAX plus 1 guest flying VS same day.Sometimes guest can get a treatment sometimes not.

Speaking of clubhouse guest entry - I have a guest space open to someone on the 12th Feb (departure to BOM so in the evening sometime). Anyone interested - if not I will have to use jetwets "good looking girl in the PE/Econ" approach [:w]:)

Very civil of you to offer.[y] If you were to look into the itinaries section of the site you will be able to see who's flying that day. You could even pop in your travel details and that you have a CH space spare.

Originally posted by sailor99
Very civil of you to offer.[y] If you were to look into the itinaries section of the site you will be able to see who's flying that day. You could even pop in your travel details and that you have a CH space spare.

Ah yes, I keep forgetting about the itinaries feature [:I] Details now added (seems I am the only one flying out on the 12th at the moment)

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by jaguarpig
UC ticket whatever fare code admits PAX plus 1 guest flying VS same day.Sometimes guest can get a treatment sometimes not.

The exception here is if you were op-upped to Upper, then you (and no guest) get access to the CH; unless of course you have access via another means.

I have also written a new updated section for the forthcoming new version of the VBook, that covers gaining access to the Clubhouses and Shared Lounges.

Thanks,
Richard