Welcome to Heathrow Airport's best kept secret...
Apr 7, 2011, 5:13 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: London
Posts: 3,459
Welcome to Heathrow Airport's best kept secret...
BAA's answer to complaints about being bussed to the gate/aircraft.
A brochure arrived in the post today. See http://heathrowbyinvitation.com/
A brochure arrived in the post today. See http://heathrowbyinvitation.com/
I can't see many people using it barring celbs or the ultra ultra wealthy! Even if it was 10% of the cost it wouldn't appeal to me....
Apr 7, 2011, 5:34 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Northern Europe
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 373
Interesting - rate is GBP 1500 but that is for a group of up to 6 people so that amounts to 250 pounds per person. Not that the target audience for this service probably care about 1500 pounds...
I would like to arrive by the aircraft by private car, though. Maybe I could get the driver to honk his horn as we approach, so everyone notices?
I would like to arrive by the aircraft by private car, though. Maybe I could get the driver to honk his horn as we approach, so everyone notices?
Apr 7, 2011, 5:34 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: BA GGL, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,314
10% would be interesting I think but definitely with you on 1.5k, definitely a small market at that price
Apr 7, 2011, 5:39 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
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I've got an invite for this as well via WorldPoints. We have a 25,000 point balance at present - not sure what the cut-off point is!
By the way - before 30 June you get the return FREE when you book the outbound. And you get WorldPoints on the fee!
By the way - before 30 June you get the return FREE when you book the outbound. And you get WorldPoints on the fee!
Apr 7, 2011, 5:41 am
#7
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The LH F service offers all this and more, even on reward flights. You get picked up from the steps of your London flight in Frankfurt (or Munich, which also offers it), driven to the First Class Lounge (one of the plushest in the world), put through a private passport and security channel and then driven to the steps of your onward flight.
It's very cool and worth doing once in your life, although I try to do it once per year
.
Apr 7, 2011, 5:55 am
#8
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Definitely not aimed at the FT patronage since the USP of this product is that nobody will actually know you are using it....
Apr 7, 2011, 6:14 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London
Programs: A variety of precious-metal themed cards; MUCCI
Posts: 602
Hmmm. £1,500 for complete anonymity - unless, of course, there are any other punters in the special lounge, in which case it's £1,500 for the car-to-plane service.
It's a slightly odd thing, really. After all, if you are so famous that you are likely to be mobbed at Heathrow, then in all liklihood you will be pushed through the VIP channels 'for your own safety' anyway.
Even at this price point, there's probably a market for this.
It's a slightly odd thing, really. After all, if you are so famous that you are likely to be mobbed at Heathrow, then in all liklihood you will be pushed through the VIP channels 'for your own safety' anyway.
Even at this price point, there's probably a market for this.
Apr 7, 2011, 9:08 am
#11
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Join Date: May 2007
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,046
Imagine you are buying 4 F MFUs from CW at GBP 2,000 a pop. The total cost of your flights is GBP 8,000 and many people here on FT would consider that you are getting something of a bargain and would not blink an eye.
I am sure that for a significant minority of posters on this site GBP 3,000 (GBP 1,500 each way) is perfectly affordable, especially when using miles instead of cash for a large proportion of your air fare.
I am sure that for a significant minority of posters on this site GBP 3,000 (GBP 1,500 each way) is perfectly affordable, especially when using miles instead of cash for a large proportion of your air fare.
Apr 7, 2011, 9:39 am
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 11,969
Everything has fallen into place. This has nothing at all to do with anonymity.
The more stressful BAA purposefully makes LHR, the more attractive the idea of this becomes for the small number that can just about afford it but wouldn't pay for it if LHR were more civilised.
It's just about logical for a relatively small number of genuinely vip pax who regularly travel longhaul (on shorthaul they might travel private) and for a smaller number who might stump it up for a special occaision. BAA's cunning plan is to make it even more attractive and even more profitable by making LHR an even nastier place to travel through.
The more stressful BAA purposefully makes LHR, the more attractive the idea of this becomes for the small number that can just about afford it but wouldn't pay for it if LHR were more civilised.
It's just about logical for a relatively small number of genuinely vip pax who regularly travel longhaul (on shorthaul they might travel private) and for a smaller number who might stump it up for a special occaision. BAA's cunning plan is to make it even more attractive and even more profitable by making LHR an even nastier place to travel through.
Apr 7, 2011, 9:51 am
#14
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Apr 7, 2011, 9:53 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,046
There is in fact a similar option at DOH for either arriving or departing passengers.
You get a special lounge and a car to to from the aircraft. I believe that it costs about GBP 500 per passenger each way. So GBP 2,000 for a family of 4.
This is in addition to the Premium Terminal.
You get a special lounge and a car to to from the aircraft. I believe that it costs about GBP 500 per passenger each way. So GBP 2,000 for a family of 4.
This is in addition to the Premium Terminal.