Virgin Atlantic Flying Club - "Virgin's Security Verification process"?

What is this process? My OLCI confirmation says this:

Simply go to the Virgin Atlantic Check In area and follow signs to the Bag Drop desk. Drop off your luggage and collect your boarding card; go through security screening and head to departures as usual. Please note the Bag Drop desk will close 60 minutes before your flight's scheduled departure time, however we do recommend you arrive at the Bag Drop least 2.5 hours prior to scheduled departure. All passengers without checked in baggage must clear Virgin's Security Verification process at the check-in area prior to making your way through TSA security.

Is this some sort of interview thing like on El Al? I do not have any bags to check and I was not able to print a boarding pass last night, which made me wonder if there's some SSSS thing. (I'm booked in G class, flying Upper Class on an award ticket.)

Thanks in advance.

What is this process? My OLCI confirmation says this:

Simply go to the Virgin Atlantic Check In area and follow signs to the Bag Drop desk. Drop off your luggage and collect your boarding card; go through security screening and head to departures as usual. Please note the Bag Drop desk will close 60 minutes before your flight's scheduled departure time, however we do recommend you arrive at the Bag Drop least 2.5 hours prior to scheduled departure. All passengers without checked in baggage must clear Virgin's Security Verification process at the check-in area prior to making your way through TSA security.

Is this some sort of interview thing like on El Al? I do not have any bags to check and I was not able to print a boarding pass last night, which made me wonder if there's some SSSS thing. (I'm booked in G class, flying Upper Class on an award ticket.)

Thanks in advance.

Sure sounds like an interview, couldn't tell you for sure as I haven't been on a VS flight since last summer.

Someone just asks you for your travel docs (e-ticket, passport etc), could your bags etc have been tampered with, and then slaps a sticker on the back of your passport.

Personally I find Virgins check in proceedure far to complicated, with BA you just turned up at a check in desk, give them you passport, answer a couple of security questions and thats it (although some pax seem to be able to make even that take half an hour).

Baps

Turns out it was just a few questions of the sort the American carriers used to ask when you got to the gate: Did you pack your own bags, any sharp items, any electronics (when I said yes, he wanted to know if they've been in my control).....standard stuff.

The check-in process was not terribly organized at all. The folks behind the counter milled around a lot and were slow getting started, and the agent who handled me forgot to give me a Clubhouse pass until I asked for it—he handed me the boarding card and said "Enjoy your flight" and I said "Could I have my Clubhouse pass, please?" He seemed rather sheepish and went and looked for it and couldn't find it, so he had to go in the back and get one. A bit frustrating, but not a big deal in the end given that tonight's flight will be delayed. It seems the inbound VS055 from LHR had to divert to Newfoundland with a medical emergency. Ah well, more time to sample the clubhouse.

Thanks for the help on the "security" thing.

Didn't think you needed a CH invite at LHR if you have a UC ticket?

Baps.

Didn't think you needed a CH invite at LHR if you have a UC ticket?

Baps.

I don't recall every having received a Clubhouse pass at LHR, either, although my memory could be faulty. As I recall, one just turns up with one's UC boarding pass. I definitely have received lounge passes at Clubhouses in the US, however (like IAD, for example).

Turns out it was just a few questions of the sort the American carriers used to ask when you got to the gate: Did you pack your own bags, any sharp items, any electronics (when I said yes, he wanted to know if they've been in my control).....standard stuff.

The check-in process was not terribly organized at all. The folks behind the counter milled around a lot and were slow getting started, and the agent who handled me forgot to give me a Clubhouse pass until I asked for it—he handed me the boarding card and said "Enjoy your flight" and I said "Could I have my Clubhouse pass, please?" He seemed rather sheepish and went and looked for it and couldn't find it, so he had to go in the back and get one. A bit frustrating, but not a big deal in the end given that tonight's flight will be delayed. It seems the inbound VS055 from LHR had to divert to Newfoundland with a medical emergency. Ah well, more time to sample the clubhouse.

Thanks for the help on the "security" thing.

I don't find the VS security interview any more or less complicated than those of other carriers at most major Western European airports.

Didn't think you needed a CH invite at LHR if you have a UC ticket?

Baps.

I was at IAD, not LHR. At IAD they give you one. At LHR (where I am now) they do not. I think LHR are more used to such things.