LHR Virgin Upper Wing & Lounge opening times?

[HornetBrad]

We’re booked for a Virgin Upper flight that takes off at 8am on a Sunday!

Couple of questions (as Google is throwing up different answers and can’t get through to Virgin):

1. Can we access the private security lane if we DON’T use the Upper Wing, ie if we get public transport? I seem to remember it only being accessible from the Wing but not sure if it can also be accessed from general departures? I don’t mean Fasttrack, but rather the dedicated Virgin Upper security channel.

2. What time does the Clubhouse lounge actually open – Google/Virgin website suggests 6:30, which won’t leave us a lot of time for breakfast before we board, surely it opens earlier for the first flights? Virgin website says the Wing opens at 5:30, so seems strange if the lounge doesn’t open for a further hour?

Thanks as always, Brad.

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

Yes you’ll be able to use the private security lane.

Staff at the UC desks will direct you. But essentially there is a lift just to the right of the check in desks, take that up one floor and the entry to the wing in mere feet away.

[Andrew J]

Answer to question 1 is yes. You can checkin at the Upper Class desks in the checkin area when arriving by public transport, and then to the right of the Upper checkin desks there’s a dedicated lift which takes you to the Wing, scan your boarding pass and the door will open and that’s the back of the drive-thru lobby and you use the Wing private security lane.