Priority screening at LHR as BA Gold/OWE vs VS Upper Class?
#16
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Effectively grounded
Programs: BA GGL for a little while longer
Posts: 844
Yes the security staff are Heathrow staff and are I believe (as with all UK airports) tested every so often by the Department For Transport (aka DAFT) for their competency. Somebody goes through with banned items in their carry on bags and if these aren’t spotted by security then those people lose their jobs.
Where failings are identified, the member of staff is subject to a progressive performance review process, with the opportunity to receive further training / coaching and for a period to be monitored on the job to varying degrees. This process can eventually result in termination, but that's quite rare and the whole point of the process is to help the individual concerned reach the agreed performance targets.
We do not have the "fire at will" culture of the USA !
#18
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Spitalfields, London
Programs: BA Gold, *A Silver, VS Silver, ITA Volare Premium, KFC 'The Colonel's Club' Palladium tier
Posts: 1,769
+ VS UC wing has kerbside drop-off, the bag lugging distance is mere feet
+ VS UC wing is quieter
+ VS UC wing available to all J pax, not just elite status
+ BA F wing has more natural light
+ BA F wing goes direct to F lounge
On balance, and given the superior lounge, I would give it to VS.
+ VS UC wing is quieter
+ VS UC wing available to all J pax, not just elite status
+ BA F wing has more natural light
+ BA F wing goes direct to F lounge
On balance, and given the superior lounge, I would give it to VS.
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2022
Posts: 98
Not at all.
Where failings are identified, the member of staff is subject to a progressive performance review process, with the opportunity to receive further training / coaching and for a period to be monitored on the job to varying degrees. This process can eventually result in termination, but that's quite rare and the whole point of the process is to help the individual concerned reach the agreed performance targets.
We do not have the "fire at will" culture of the USA !
Where failings are identified, the member of staff is subject to a progressive performance review process, with the opportunity to receive further training / coaching and for a period to be monitored on the job to varying degrees. This process can eventually result in termination, but that's quite rare and the whole point of the process is to help the individual concerned reach the agreed performance targets.
We do not have the "fire at will" culture of the USA !
+ VS UC wing has kerbside drop-off, the bag lugging distance is mere feet
+ VS UC wing is quieter
+ VS UC wing available to all J pax, not just elite status
+ BA F wing has more natural light
+ BA F wing goes direct to F lounge
On balance, and given the superior lounge, I would give it to VS.
+ VS UC wing is quieter
+ VS UC wing available to all J pax, not just elite status
+ BA F wing has more natural light
+ BA F wing goes direct to F lounge
On balance, and given the superior lounge, I would give it to VS.
I thought UC Wing is available only to VS and DL J passengers? BA can use it too?
Once I become OWE, I would like to try CX and BA F in T3 so I can compare. The VS lounge was absolutely fantastic! My only regret was not waking up earlier to go to Heathrow! I was staying at the Hilton T4, which is absolutely inexcusable for me to get to VS lounge so late! I actually got up at 6 AM and wasted too much time having breakfast at the Hilton T4! Big mistake! Hopefully, it won't happen again! When flying VS or DL, I'm going to make as much effort to spend as much time at the VS lounge prior to the flight! Absolutely an amazing lounge that I recommend everyone to try one day!
#20
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Krakow
Programs: BAEC Silver, Miles and More(FTL), IHG(Platinum), Accor, HHonors(Diamond), SPG, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 4,512
Is there fast track though? What was transfer time with fast track like pre-COVID? I wish Heathrow would have a more seamless ways to move between the terminals airside!
Sorry, but I'm confused.
lol! I don't think the US have subway strikes like what is happening in London at the moment! Seems like there are more of a concept of job security in the UK than in the US. Workers' rights!
How does one use the curbside drop-off? Never heard of it before. Yes, I do remember seeing that the entrance to the security entrance is really short, which is awesome!
Sorry, but I'm confused.
lol! I don't think the US have subway strikes like what is happening in London at the moment! Seems like there are more of a concept of job security in the UK than in the US. Workers' rights!
How does one use the curbside drop-off? Never heard of it before. Yes, I do remember seeing that the entrance to the security entrance is really short, which is awesome!
I thought UC Wing is available only to VS and DL J passengers? BA can use it too
What the poster was saying is VS J can use UC Wing
BA J cannot use BA First Wing unless they are OWE. BA F can use BA First Wing. BA J use regular fast track
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: From ORK, live LCY
Programs: IHG Gold, BA Silver, EI Silver, HH Silver, Accor Silver, ABP, Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci
Posts: 13,583
Yes the security staff are Heathrow staff and are I believe (as with all UK airports) tested every so often by the Department For Transport (aka DAFT) for their competency. Somebody goes through with banned items in their carry on bags and if these aren’t spotted by security then those people lose their jobs.
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: LON, ACK, BOS..... (Not necessarily in that order)
Programs: **Mucci Diamond Hairbrush** - compared to that nothing else matters (+BA Silver)
Posts: 14,254
Not at all.
Where failings are identified, the member of staff is subject to a progressive performance review process, with the opportunity to receive further training / coaching and for a period to be monitored on the job to varying degrees. This process can eventually result in termination, but that's quite rare and the whole point of the process is to help the individual concerned reach the agreed performance targets.
We do not have the "fire at will" culture of the USA !
Where failings are identified, the member of staff is subject to a progressive performance review process, with the opportunity to receive further training / coaching and for a period to be monitored on the job to varying degrees. This process can eventually result in termination, but that's quite rare and the whole point of the process is to help the individual concerned reach the agreed performance targets.
We do not have the "fire at will" culture of the USA !
That's not correct, a failure to spot contraband on an audit will result in a potential disciplinary and retraining, as well as potential increases in the percentage of bags/people that need to manually screened at that terminal for a while. There would need to be several failures by an individual for it to escalate to losing their job.
My memory conflated the ICTS with staff, apologies for any confusion caused.
#23
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Spitalfields, London
Programs: BA Gold, *A Silver, VS Silver, ITA Volare Premium, KFC 'The Colonel's Club' Palladium tier
Posts: 1,769
Details here, basically your taxi drives up to a barrier, the driver gives your destination and name, the bollard drops, they drive up the ramp and you get out a few feet away from a dedicated check-in desk. It's pretty rock star!
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2022
Posts: 98
Details here, basically your taxi drives up to a barrier, the driver gives your destination and name, the bollard drops, they drive up the ramp and you get out a few feet away from a dedicated check-in desk. It's pretty rock star!