lounge question during LHR connection from VS TO AZ
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Palm Springs ca
Programs: aa lifetime platinum
Posts: 747
lounge question during LHR connection from VS TO AZ
I scored a 70k business class award from lax-fco with a connection of 4 hours at London Heathrow. arriving on virgin Atlantic from LAX to LHR . The transatlantic is in virgin upper class but the Alitalia from London to Rome came through as coach . I didn't question it because I felt lucky to get the virgin upper class for the long flight.
will I be able to access the lounge due to my incoming flight on virgin or does the Alitalia coach segment onward to Rome negate lounge access? have no status on delta at the moment except for the delta reserve card.
thanks everyone.
will I be able to access the lounge due to my incoming flight on virgin or does the Alitalia coach segment onward to Rome negate lounge access? have no status on delta at the moment except for the delta reserve card.
thanks everyone.
#2
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
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VS arrives into T3 and AZ use T4.
VS isn't a member of sky team so a UC ticket won't get you into the ST lounge at T4.
You will however be able to use the VS arrivals lounge in T3 but you'd have to clear UK immegration to use it and then take the landside connection to T4.
Your CC may get you access to the ST T4 lounge but I;m not up to date with all the different ones that allow it with ST lounges.
VS isn't a member of sky team so a UC ticket won't get you into the ST lounge at T4.
You will however be able to use the VS arrivals lounge in T3 but you'd have to clear UK immegration to use it and then take the landside connection to T4.
Your CC may get you access to the ST T4 lounge but I;m not up to date with all the different ones that allow it with ST lounges.
Last edited by UKtravelbear; Aug 12, 2017 at 6:49 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: LHR / BHX / MAN / ATL
Programs: DL DM 2MM - IHG Diamond
Posts: 4,052
The OP's 4 hour connection at LHR will go by a LOT faster than he/she realizes, even more so when changing terminals. Immigration can take time, especially at certain periods of the morning (although OP should get FastTrack as a J pax?) The shuttle buses at LHR can take a ton of time. While I have not taken the shuttle between T3 and T4, the "airside" shuttle that I took between T4 and T5 exited the airport and then re-entered the airport. It took nearly 30 minutes and then we had to go through security again at T5 (although the line was relatively short).
As many hear can verify, the OP should not worry about being in Y for the LHR-FCO leg. Intra-Europe F is merely regular coach with the middle seat blocked off - def nothing to write home about.
As many hear can verify, the OP should not worry about being in Y for the LHR-FCO leg. Intra-Europe F is merely regular coach with the middle seat blocked off - def nothing to write home about.
#5
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SJJ/AMS
Posts: 4,645
G
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Palm Springs ca
Programs: aa lifetime platinum
Posts: 747
thanks everyone for all the tips.
my arrival on virgin is too late in the day to take advantage of the arrivals lounge.
will we still have to go through immigration and security even though this is a thru ticket on the same PNR and the bags will be checked thru to FCO ?
Since I have amex platinum, I presume I get priority pass with that and they have a lounge airside at terminal 4. I'll just pay the guest fee for my partner. anyone experience this lounge- called the number one lounge?
my arrival on virgin is too late in the day to take advantage of the arrivals lounge.
will we still have to go through immigration and security even though this is a thru ticket on the same PNR and the bags will be checked thru to FCO ?
Since I have amex platinum, I presume I get priority pass with that and they have a lounge airside at terminal 4. I'll just pay the guest fee for my partner. anyone experience this lounge- called the number one lounge?
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,035
The OP's 4 hour connection at LHR will go by a LOT faster than he/she realizes, even more so when changing terminals. Immigration can take time, especially at certain periods of the morning (although OP should get FastTrack as a J pax?) The shuttle buses at LHR can take a ton of time. While I have not taken the shuttle between T3 and T4, the "airside" shuttle that I took between T4 and T5 exited the airport and then re-entered the airport. It took nearly 30 minutes and then we had to go through security again at T5 (although the line was relatively short).
As many hear can verify, the OP should not worry about being in Y for the LHR-FCO leg. Intra-Europe F is merely regular coach with the middle seat blocked off - def nothing to write home about.
As many hear can verify, the OP should not worry about being in Y for the LHR-FCO leg. Intra-Europe F is merely regular coach with the middle seat blocked off - def nothing to write home about.
#10
#12
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: UA:1k; MR: PLT; Hilton: Gold
Posts: 1,324
Did this exact route/flights 2 years ago a except C was open for the LHR-FCO hop.
Transit times from T3-T4 was quick. Waited a few minutes for a shuttle but no lines at the security check. Probably 30 mins and I was in the T4 ST lounge. Not bad, but certainly not great. Very crowded at that time.
The worst part of the journey was actually clearing immigration at FCO at the late hour. Was completely disorganized with just a mob of people pushing to the front (shocking, I know) with only 2 people working. Getting a Taxi outside was equally frustrating. But if you've spent any time in Italy, you've probably experienced it already.
Transit times from T3-T4 was quick. Waited a few minutes for a shuttle but no lines at the security check. Probably 30 mins and I was in the T4 ST lounge. Not bad, but certainly not great. Very crowded at that time.
The worst part of the journey was actually clearing immigration at FCO at the late hour. Was completely disorganized with just a mob of people pushing to the front (shocking, I know) with only 2 people working. Getting a Taxi outside was equally frustrating. But if you've spent any time in Italy, you've probably experienced it already.
#13
Join Date: May 2013
Location: RMS
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Posts: 8,782
For OP: If you don't have a Priority Pass card, register through your Amex Plat card ASAP. If you don't get the physical card in time, you should be able to still create an account to login to the app where you can get a digital membership card. Both of those lounges in T4 show Digital Card Accepted on prioritypass.com.