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Not related to points, but hope someone could answer my question about the upper class wing (the check in building, not the lounge).
I’m planning to send off my friends next week, and they are flying upper class for the first time. We are taking a taxi to Heathrow.
From VA’s website, it says that the upper class wing has a “one way” system and only allows drop off.
I was wondering whether we should just check in using the main terminal at T3, or if there’s a way for me to go back to the main terminal/tube station after they check in at the upper wing.
Thanks!Get the taxi to continue to the main building after dropping them off?
Hi John. When you arrive via taxi you check in & also go through passport control. Then walk through to the airport… few steps & then the lounge. Beauty of this is hassel free.
Why dont you just stay in the taxi & leave?
The UC wing can only be accessed by car, so you can’t walk back.
They could check-in using the UC desks in the main terminal, and I believe there is a lift that takes you to the security lane, but then they miss out on the novelty factor of using the UC wing to check-in.
Could just ask the taxi to drop you to the main terminal as they exit.
It certainly used to be possible to walk through the Upper Class wing, out via a connecting door, and into the main terminal, where you can then go to the tube station as normal. All landside, so you could drop your friends and then leave by foot.
I did this once (pre-COVID) when for some reason the queues for security in the Upper Class wing were exceptionally long.
Unsure if this is still possible, but I imagine it might be. There is certainly a door going the other way (access to the Upper Class wing from near the Virgin check-in desks in t3).
It certainly used to be possible to walk through the Upper Class wing, out via a connecting door, and into the main terminal, where you can then go to the tube station as normal. All landside, so you could drop your friends and then leave by foot.
I did this once (pre-COVID) when for some reason the queues for security in the Upper Class wing were exceptionally long.
Unsure if this is still possible, but I imagine it might be. There is certainly a door going the other way (access to the Upper Class wing from near the Virgin check-in desks in t3).
Thank you! That’s what I thought too, there must be a way to go to the main terminal in case the queue at the upper class wing gets too long.
The whole process at the wing is very rapid. They want the car in and out very quickly. It’s not the place for a long lingering good bye. If that’s what you want then use the ordinary desks.
And because there are no further checks in the wing between the main entrance and the security challenge it would be possible for a non passenger to enter the terminal and they really don’t want that to happen.
You can take a lift one floor down from the upper class wing which will drop you off next to the regular VA check in area. Then you can just walk to the tube as normal
Related question – if flying upper on an award ticket can you use the upper class wing? If so and you arrive by train I assume no choice but to use the standard desks?
Related question – if flying upper on an award ticket can you use the upper class wing? If so and you arrive by train I assume no choice but to use the standard desks?
Yes you can use the upper class wing with an award ticket but only if arriving by car.
Only USP of the wing is having porters who assist with luggage transfer from kerbside to check-in desk. If arriving by train presumably with less luggage, not sure much value added.
Related question – if flying upper on an award ticket can you use the upper class wing? If so and you arrive by train I assume no choice but to use the standard desks?
Yes you can use the upper class wing with an award ticket but only if arriving by car.
Only USP of the wing is having porters who assist with luggage transfer from kerbside to check-in desk. If arriving by train presumably with less luggage, not sure much value added.
thanks
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