Originally Posted by The Saint
I'm taking my first CO flight this Sunday from EWR down to Nassau. I'm in J, but have no status with CO (unless Virgin Atlantic Gold counts for anything).
Flight is at 8.45am. This thread has made grim reading about the likely experience.
What time should I get to the airport? Can I use the elite line? Is there a lounge to which I have access?
Many thanks in advance for the help.
This flight is an "International Business" flight, for which the full fare class is C rather than J. Your boarding passes will have "EliteAccess" emblazoned on them. You will have access to the elite security line, as well as the BusinessFirst (I think) and international elite check-in lines. In addition, you will be able to access the Presidents Clubs - simply present your boarding pass to the lounge attendant and inform the attendant that you're flying in International Business (they should know simply by looking at your boarding pass).
If you want to be overly cautious, I would suggest arriving at the airport no later than 6:30 or 6:45 am. It is likely that you will not even need two hours to get through check-in and security, but you if you make it through early, you can just relax in one of the Presidents Clubs until your flight is ready for boarding. Just use whichever Presidents Club is nearest to your gate - both clubs in the C terminal are nice.