checking in at Gatwick?

[wendydis]

We are planning our first trip and as none of us have flown before, we were wondering if anyone could tell us the procedure for checking in etc?
Also we have been looking at the baggage allowances for Virgin and i think our cases will be too big, they say cannot be any bigger than 158 cm and ours are 162 cm, are the checkin people really strict or do they not bother if you are over with regards to size?

 

[richard3330]

Hi Wendy,

Have you thought about using Twilight Check-In? If you're staying at Gatwick the night before you can check in all of your luggage etc. the night before your flight from around 2.30pm until 9pm. This is a great way to trya nd ensure seats together if you haven't pre-booked and the queue's are often shorter!

In regards to sizes of suitcases, I'm not entirely sure. I would think that they would be quite strict.

Richard

 

[UKDEB]

The procedure for checking in is quite straightforward. The Virgin desks are in the South Terminal and you will have no trouble finding them. What class are you flying? If you're flying economy, you will need to enter the queuing system where there will normally be someone checking your documents (passports and tickets) and asking you some security questions.

When you reach the front of the queue, you wait for the next available check-in clerk to become free and then approach the desk. Everyone in your party must be present with all baggage for the hold. You will again need to present your documents. They will then assign seats, unless you have pre-booked, and issue your boarding cards, telling you what time boarding will start. You then need to check the screens periodically to check for your boarding gate.

They will not take any notice at all of cases 4cm over the limit. Are your suitcases really 5.5 ft though? That's huge! What you might find is that, because they are so big, they may be over the weight limit - they don't like heavy suitcases because the handlers have to lift them. In addition to restricting each passenger's allowance, there is also a restriction on weight of individual cases. We are frequently over the weight limit on one case because it is a large, hard case (heavy even when they're empty). We've never been charged extra.

 

[sharon78]

CONGRATULATIONS Wendydis
We are also planing our first trip to the world it is sooo exciting,
and you havnt flown before,boy have you picked a great first flight!
Were traveling down the night before our flight and staying at the Hilton at gatwick airport we shall also be using twilight checking as were flying with Virgin.

 

[wendydis]

thanks for all the advice everyone, with the twilight do you have to check in everything including hand luggage and do you leave everything there?( i apologise for sounding abit dumb) as we are planning to stay at the Ramada Plaza at Gatwick it sounds a very good idea.

 

[UKDEB]

You check in all your bags <i>except</i> hand luggage. Your checked luggage will then be taken away and you will be re-united with it in Orlando! Again, everyone in your party needs to be present.

 

[wendydis]

hi again, thanks Debbie i got the size of the suitcases a bit wrong!!!, they are the 30" ones that you can buy anywhere, we have 2 between 2 adults and 2 children, i added all the dimensions together as instructed by the Virgin website they quote that when all dimensions LxHxD are added together they cannot exceed 158cm? sorry for the confusion, but i do not want to get to checkin and they either charge us or not allow us to take them?

 

[UKDEB]

LOL, Wendy - I had this vision of a family at check-in with wardrobe-sized suitcases! I'm a bit slow, aren't I? I should have realised you meant total dimensions! You <i>definitely</i> won't have a problem with your cases.

 

[wendydis]

thanks for that i was imaging having to buy some more cases, it was only when you said they were so big that i thought i,d worded the question completely wrong.Thanks again

 

[Ware Bears]

Hi Wendy

We are from Bournemouth too.

When are you going?

We are flying with Virgin also on March 31st and plan to use twilight check-in. This is also our first visit to USA, we have only flown to Europe (before children). It is SOOOO EXCITING!!!!!

Elaine

 

[bluecdr]

Hi Wendy and have fun at Disney. My only suggestion is to empty out those cases. We always go light, buy loads in Florida because it can be very cheap especially with dollar rate at $1.90=£1 you can't help finding bargains in the malls especially Beltzs Factory Outlets. All those designer labels dicounted down.

Went at Christmas and had to buy 3 extra cases while we were there. Usually have to find a Pack and Ship store to send back those bargains.

 

[wendydis]

hi Elaine
we are planning for 2005 so i am getting all the feedback i can so when go i will be fully prepared for everything, i can't wait to go either as i have always wanted to go and see the mouse in Florida, have been to see him in Paris 3 times now but this will be i hope a completely different experience,

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

It's true - you really do only need to take half of what you think you might need You will be so tempted to but t-shirts and other clothing over there - as well as all sorts of other things - that you'll come back with half of your stuff still neatly folded and not needing washing

Virgin are now putting their "Heavy Luggage" stickers on even moderate suitcases - don't worry about it, at check-in last October the check-in lady told us they do it for most suitcases now over 25" . . . just to warn the baggage handlers (I'm sure they know what size the suitcases are ).


Wendy and Elaine . . . hello from just down the road in Lymington

 

[wendydis]

Thanks again for your response, it seems silly that they say these are 'heavy cases', as we could take 2 pieces of luggage per person,so really we could take 8 suitcases, instead we are taking 2 it just confuses me( does'nt take much!), but as i said in my previous reply i don't want to get there and they say they are 2 big, another question,sorry, how much weight can i take for 2 adults and 2 children?, just checking.
That's sounds a good idea only taking a few items and buying stuff over there, however the hotel we are hoping to stay at have washing facilities so i will be taking my Fairy tablets and do a spot of washing while over there!

 

[UKDEB]

Originally posted by wendydis
it seems silly that they say these are 'heavy cases'

My brother is a Customs Officer and had to have a hernia operation last year. He suspects it was caused by constantly lifting heavy cases, so I guess they are trying to look after the handlers. We've taken some pretty heavy cases in the past - like I said, the hard cases are heavy even before you fill them. We're changing all ours to smaller, soft cases so that we don't have the problem. We've bought a couple which have handles and wheels, but look like over-sized backpacks.

All that said, you really won't have any problems with the cases you describe (unless you intend to fill them with lead!). We find that the heaviest items are shoes and toiletries, so we try to spread the load.

 

[wendydis]

thanks again for your reply to my questions, we too have soft cases.

 

[dawsy]

Hi, does anyone know if BA have a twilight checkin???

I do hope so

 

[Melcatfish]

I am fairly sure only Virgin offer twilight check in.
Regards
Mel