Twighlight Check-in at Gatwick

[Craig Adams]

We are going back to Florida 1/11/03.
We live in Derbyshire but are flying from Gatwick.
Due to everyone's saying it so much better we are going to book into the Hilton but we just wanted to know what time we could use the twighlight check-in with Virgin so we can make our travel arrangements down to London.
Please help
Craig

 

[floridalol]

Craig

Twilight Check-in is 15.30-21.00 every day.

Very good it is too and staying at the Hilton makes a great start to the holiday.

FloridaLol

 

[signtalker]

I spoke to vIrgin 2 days ago, their twilight checkin times are now 3-9 the day before you fly.

Jules

 

[harryhornet]

My DW is concerned about the twilight checkin! She is worried that our luggage will go missing because it is being left overnight. I have tried to convince her that this is no more likely than if we check in on the day.
Can someone please give me some more positive feedback on this service.
We are staying at the Hilton the night before.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Be positive about . . . ok, we use it every time we go to Florida - wouldn't think of doing anything other than staying the night before we fly at the Gatwick Hilton, using Twilight checkin.

We even stayed overnight at the Gatwick Hilton when we went to Edinburgh for the weekend back in February with friends - are we mad or what I just got so depressed when we passed through the terminal on the way of our EasyJet flight to Edinburgh and there were all those lucky Florida and Caribbean bound people checking in It'll be us again soon


If you use Twilight Checkin and stay overnight, it's like starting your holiday a day early.

Especially if you book through Virgin holidays - you get to use the Hilton's own car park which is right next door to the hotel.

We just roll up at the Hilton's main doors, offload the luggage, check in to the hotel, dump everything in the room, go park the car (or DH does ) then head over to South Terminal. This is literally a few mins away via a walkway through the back of the Hilton. We've never had ore than one family ahead of us at Twilight check-in (in fact last October we had to wait for the Virgin crew to come back from a tea break it was so quiet ). You can then spend the rest of the evening relaxing, filling in the dreaded green immigration visa-waiver forms (always get spares if you're like me ), getting some food in the hotel or airport - or even using the Hilton's swimming pool and fitness centre.

The next morning there's no rush to get up early, just up and over to the terminal for breakfast and some mooching around the shops until you need to go to the departure lounge and on your way to Orlando - bliss

Ooh - PS - your luggage is probably safer this way because it's all kept together over night - many people use Twilight checkin. It's probably easier this way than the mad rush of about 6 Virgin flights checking in for US/Caribbean each morning

 

[jwhiting]

It really is the best thing since sliced bread.

On our first trip to Orlando in 1999 (our honeymoon) we were confronted by an hour and a half queue at check-in (despite getting there early) and more annoyingly when we finally did get to the front there were no seats left together.

Not a good start to a honeymoon I'm sure you will agree.

Therefore ever since we have gone for twilight check-in and it is a breeze. We mainly opt for this so we stand a chance of the exit seats but also to avoid the hassle we experienced in 1999.

It really is a cracking way to start your holiday.

Go for it.

Julian.

 

[neo's white rabbit]

Originally posted by Mrs Dazzle

Ooh - PS - your luggage is probably safer this way because it's all kept together over night - many people use Twilight checkin. It's probably easier this way than the mad rush of about 6 Virgin flights checking in for US/Caribbean each morning

Sounds like a very good point to me!

 

[floridalol]

Mrs Dazzle has explained everything I was going to say (a lot better than I would have done as well!). We just would not consider going to Florida without an overnight at Gatwick Hilton and the Virgin Check-in facility - I hope it's never cancelled - that would be a nightmare!

 

[harry the spider]

I USED THE TWILIGHT CHECK-IN LAST SEPTEMBER AND FOUND IT SO MUCH EASIER ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE KIDS WITH YOU.
IT JUST STARTS THE HOLIDAY OFF EARLY.
WE HAD NO PROBLEMS BUT WE DID HAVE TO WAIT IN LINE FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES- I GUESS WE HIT A BUSY PATCH.
WE ALSO STAYED AT THE HILTON AND WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET A FAMILY SUITE FOR £116 FOR THE FRIDAY NIGHT.
WE ATE AT GARFUNKELS IN THE EVENING IN THE AIRPORT AND IT WAS SO NICE TO JUST TAKE A 5 MINUTE WALK BACK TO OUR ROOM.
I'M GOING WITH TRAVELCITY DIRECT THIS TIME SO I'LL MISS OUT ON MY BIT OF LUXURY BUT WE WILL BE STAYING THE NIGHT BEFORE SOMEWHERE.
IF I CAN GET A GOOD DEAL AGAIN AT THE HILTON, THAT WILL BE GREAT.
LIN
( STILL GOT 10 MONTHS TO GO- HURRY UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

 

[IceQueen]

We are making use of twilight check in. Staying at the Ramada Plaza at a cost of £115 with 2 weeks parking.

 

[cslogg]

Can anyone supply a link to Twilight Checkin please?
I have looked on the Virgin site but cannot find one.
Must be getting old.
Thanks

cslogg

 

[neo's white rabbit]

This is the best I can find cslogg

http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/florida/flights/checkin.shtml

I'm presuming it's open to all, not just those on Virgin Holidays. I would never have heard about it but for these boards - which is saying something considering the number of times I've flown with them!

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Originally posted by neo's white rabbit
This is the best I can find cslogg

http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/florida/flights/checkin.shtml

I'm presuming it's open to all, not just those on Virgin Holidays. I would never have heard about it but for these boards - which is saying something considering the number of times I've flown with them!

NWR - Twilight Check-in is only there for Virgin flyers travelling to the US/Caribbean. It is such a shame the other airlines haven't replicated this service because it really does make all the difference

 

[neo's white rabbit]

I suppose I should have said 'open to all flying with Virgin to Florida...' as we're flying with them but not on one of their packages.

And you're right, if more airlines split the check-in on busy routes like this it would cut down on those queues!

We only live 25 mins from Gatwick, by train, but will be using this service and staying at Le Meridien (couldn't find a deal on the Hilton for a family room) as it will be far less stressful than getting up very early to allow for checking in as well as getting on the crowded commuter train that has no room for luggage!

 

[cslogg]

OK it looks like its the Gatwick Hilton for me.
Where is the best place to book it,direct through the hotel or somewhere like Expedia?
There are five adults in our party.

cslogg

 

[neo's white rabbit]

I couldn't find a family room at the Hilton for our date below £211.50 for a family room sleeping 4.

We've booked through

www.holidayextras.co.uk

at Le Meridien for £136 for a room sleeping 5. Admitedly in the North terminal but it's not hard to hop on the monorail for a few mins to save £75.50

The above site lists all the the airport hotels and does parking also, they're the same company as ABC Holiday Extras.

 

[cslogg]

Neo's White Rabbit,
I checked the La Meridien Site but it says only three adults are allowed in a family room.Have just checked the site you mentioned and they can do a triple and double room at the Hilton for £180

cslogg

 

[neo's white rabbit]

Did you check the Le Meridien site or the ABC/Holiday Extras site? I couldn't find the family rooms at the Le Meridien site and I'm a member of their frequent guests programme. Came across these rooms via Hotel London but found one cheaper still with ABC.

Availability of room types does seem to vary with date though.

Our room for 5 is a dbl bed, 2 sgls and a sofa bed.

You could maybe check

www.hotel-london.co.uk under airport hotels.

Rooms for 4 a hard enough to find for some reason, let alone 5, for no good reason really!

Hope you can find what you need.

 

[harryhornet]

We booked a triple room for £85 through Holiday Extras at the Hilton. It also includes a voucher for breakfast.
Arriving at Gatwick by train, it works out a lot cheaper having an overnight stay, than paying for car parking for 3 weeks.