DL fully moving to T3 at LHR
Aug 30, 2016, 10:57 am
#46
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Atlanta & San Francisco
Programs: DL 2MM DM & My Wife is a DL 3MM DM
Posts: 2,784
What about that snazzy upper level check-in area for flights on VS metal when traveling in Upper Class. Am I correct in assuming that DL metal flights have a separate check-in area, even if in Delta One/Biz?
The T4 check-in area for DL was abysmal, so I can't imagine this could possibly be worse.
The T4 check-in area for DL was abysmal, so I can't imagine this could possibly be worse.
Aug 30, 2016, 11:01 am
#47
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: New York, western US
Programs: DM/3MM
Posts: 4,246
What about that snazzy upper level check-in area for flights on VS metal when traveling in Upper Class. Am I correct in assuming that DL metal flights have a separate check-in area, even if in Delta One/Biz?
The T4 check-in area for DL was abysmal, so I can't imagine this could possibly be worse.
The T4 check-in area for DL was abysmal, so I can't imagine this could possibly be worse.
Aug 30, 2016, 11:05 am
#48
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,050
What about that snazzy upper level check-in area for flights on VS metal when traveling in Upper Class. Am I correct in assuming that DL metal flights have a separate check-in area, even if in Delta One/Biz?
The T4 check-in area for DL was abysmal, so I can't imagine this could possibly be worse.
The T4 check-in area for DL was abysmal, so I can't imagine this could possibly be worse.
If arriving by public transit or not caring to bother, and for elite members, there is a priority check-in line on the ground floor. VS has a dedicated area that is shared by DL that is relatively nice by LHR standards, but not really anything to write home about. Business class passengers and PMs/DMs are still able to use the private security channel, which is the nicest part of the Upper Class Wing experience. (Despite what Virgin's marketing heavily implies, the Upper Class Wing and private security channel do not connect directly into the Clubhouse.)
If I was traveling on a business trip without checked bags, even if arriving by car I wouldn't bother to use the Upper Class Wing, but it is fun to experience once.
Aug 30, 2016, 11:16 am
#49
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Atlanta & San Francisco
Programs: DL 2MM DM & My Wife is a DL 3MM DM
Posts: 2,784
If departing T3 in VS or DL business class and arriving by car you are entitled to use the Upper Class Wing check-in, which is mostly style over substance but can still be a nice little touch. It is especially nice if traveling with checked bags, as the bags are taken out of your car by a porter and brought to the check-in desk hotel-style and you never have to handle them at the airport at all.
If arriving by public transit or not caring to bother, and for elite members, there is a priority check-in line on the ground floor. VS has a dedicated area that is shared by DL that is relatively nice by LHR standards, but not really anything to write home about. Business class passengers and PMs/DMs are still able to use the private security channel, which is the nicest part of the Upper Class Wing experience. (Despite what Virgin's marketing heavily implies, the Upper Class Wing and private security channel do not connect directly into the Clubhouse.)
If I was traveling on a business trip without checked bags, even if arriving by car I wouldn't bother to use the Upper Class Wing, but it is fun to experience once.
If arriving by public transit or not caring to bother, and for elite members, there is a priority check-in line on the ground floor. VS has a dedicated area that is shared by DL that is relatively nice by LHR standards, but not really anything to write home about. Business class passengers and PMs/DMs are still able to use the private security channel, which is the nicest part of the Upper Class Wing experience. (Despite what Virgin's marketing heavily implies, the Upper Class Wing and private security channel do not connect directly into the Clubhouse.)
If I was traveling on a business trip without checked bags, even if arriving by car I wouldn't bother to use the Upper Class Wing, but it is fun to experience once.
^ We have a totally great driver we have used for years to get us to/from LHR.The porter was great, the check-in and security calm and quick. From our perspective, it was a total winner. Compared to the T4 DL check-in we did this year, the same difference as any of us running 200 meters against Usain Bolt.
Aug 30, 2016, 1:50 pm
#50
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: LAX
Programs: Fallen DL DM (PM) 2MM
Posts: 4,783
I had a non-status friend with me (we had just done a bicycle tour together) and he was on the non-stop LAX VS flight (with a DL ticket) and I was on DL metal thru JFK. They had no problem with him using the Upper Class security line with me, but when we got to the Clubhouse they wouldn't let me guest him in -- said my guest had to be on the same flight. He is a very good friend -- but not that good
-- I went in and left him to the joys of the concourse.
Aug 30, 2016, 1:56 pm
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,202
Guest has to be on the same flight as the host whereas it used to be as long as the guest was flying VS that day.
Probably done to reduce some of the numbers in the CH and stop some of the shenenigans re guesting that have occured in the past (if not with VS then certainly with other airlines)
Aug 31, 2016, 11:18 am
#53
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, 1MM
Posts: 3,784
I think it was a matter of the VS arrivals lounge getting overcrowded, and presumably there wasn't really any way to make it bigger, so DL just added its own to create more capacity for the partnership.
Though I think the DL arrivals lounge is quite a bit smaller than the VS one, so the additional DL flights in T3 may raise concerns about the capacity of the DL arrivals lounge. Presumably, since moving the other DL flights to T3 has been the end plan for quite a while now, the DL arrivals lounge was built with the full schedule in mind, but who knows. Perhaps if the DL lounge does get overcrowded they can set up an arrangement to send individual overflow passengers back up to the VS lounge as needed and when the VS lounge has capacity. (The VS arrivals lounge managed to handle reasonably well when it was doing VS + some DL before the DL arrivals lounge opened, so presumably now that it is doing VS only, it has at least a bit of excess capacity.)
Though I think the DL arrivals lounge is quite a bit smaller than the VS one, so the additional DL flights in T3 may raise concerns about the capacity of the DL arrivals lounge. Presumably, since moving the other DL flights to T3 has been the end plan for quite a while now, the DL arrivals lounge was built with the full schedule in mind, but who knows. Perhaps if the DL lounge does get overcrowded they can set up an arrangement to send individual overflow passengers back up to the VS lounge as needed and when the VS lounge has capacity. (The VS arrivals lounge managed to handle reasonably well when it was doing VS + some DL before the DL arrivals lounge opened, so presumably now that it is doing VS only, it has at least a bit of excess capacity.)
Aug 31, 2016, 12:14 pm
#54
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,050
DL has 11 showers: http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...ls-lounge.html
I am not sure but I'm pretty sure I've had shower room number 17 or 18 in the VS revivals lounge, which was down near the end, so I would guess there are a total of 18-20ish showers in the VS lounge.
Sep 1, 2016, 10:38 pm
#55
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: ATL
Programs: Bonvoy Ambassador, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, AA EXP, UA Silver, former DL DM
Posts: 2,001
DL is apparently closing its LHR Arrivals Lounge on Sep 20 and will send arriving passengers to the VS Revivals Lounge instead. While the VS Revivals Lounge is very nice, it is too small to accommodate arriving DL passengers in addition to the arriving VS passengers. (The overcrowding issue was the very reason that DL opened its own Arrivals Lounge next door.)
Closing the DL Arrivals Lounge feels like a mistake on the part of DL management -- they spent a small fortune developing the Arrivals Lounge, and now that there will be more DL passengers arriving at T3 than ever before, they decide to close it! I hope there is more to the story, like an imminent expansion of the VS Revivals Lounge, but somehow I doubt it.
Closing the DL Arrivals Lounge feels like a mistake on the part of DL management -- they spent a small fortune developing the Arrivals Lounge, and now that there will be more DL passengers arriving at T3 than ever before, they decide to close it! I hope there is more to the story, like an imminent expansion of the VS Revivals Lounge, but somehow I doubt it.
Sep 2, 2016, 7:24 am
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,204
Yeah I don't understand this move at all. DL consolidates all arrivals into T3, but closes their arrival lounge at the same time? Seriously DL this is a big boner move.
Sounds like they don't want to bother with the expense at all, so by making the VS lounge way overcrowded they'll have less pax able to utilize it and so less entrance fees charged to DL from VS.
Way to have a 'premium' D1 experience into LHR.
Sounds like they don't want to bother with the expense at all, so by making the VS lounge way overcrowded they'll have less pax able to utilize it and so less entrance fees charged to DL from VS.
Way to have a 'premium' D1 experience into LHR.
Sep 2, 2016, 7:36 am
#59
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,050
I was thinking that as well, the VS revivals lounge is directly above the DL arrivals lounge, so it might be possible to build a staircase to connect the two. Hopefully that's the plan, or else revivals will be very overcrowded at peak times.
Sep 2, 2016, 7:52 am
#60
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,772
DL is apparently closing its LHR Arrivals Lounge on Sep 20 and will send arriving passengers to the VS Revivals Lounge instead. While the VS Revivals Lounge is very nice, it is too small to accommodate arriving DL passengers in addition to the arriving VS passengers. (The overcrowding issue was the very reason that DL opened its own Arrivals Lounge next door.)
Closing the DL Arrivals Lounge feels like a mistake on the part of DL management -- they spent a small fortune developing the Arrivals Lounge, and now that there will be more DL passengers arriving at T3 than ever before, they decide to close it! I hope there is more to the story, like an imminent expansion of the VS Revivals Lounge, but somehow I doubt it.
Closing the DL Arrivals Lounge feels like a mistake on the part of DL management -- they spent a small fortune developing the Arrivals Lounge, and now that there will be more DL passengers arriving at T3 than ever before, they decide to close it! I hope there is more to the story, like an imminent expansion of the VS Revivals Lounge, but somehow I doubt it.
