LHR standby policy?

Hi folks,

We're thinking of doing a long weekend in LHR this weekend (hurray for the redeye from YHZ)... I have heard from others that non revs have to standby at the checkin area rather than the gate - is that true? If so what are our chances of making it through security and to our gate in time to catch our flight?

I've only ever had to standby at the gate before... Just making sure there's no surprises waiting for me at the counter!

Thanks everyone http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/smile.gif

Nancy

If so that would be completely asinine - how are you supposed to make your flight?

Maybe so, but check out this policy regarding Beijing:

<snip>
Air Canada has now moved from Terminal 2 to the new Terminal 3 in Beijing...Due to Chinese immigration regulation, all airlines, including Air Canada, are not permitted to issue a boarding pass to a passenger unless a seat is available. This means that employee standby passengers must remain in the check-in area until a seat can be assigned which can ONLY be done after the final weight and balance information is received...<snip>

Can ya blame a girl for asking? http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/wink.gif

I have dealt with that at most airports overseas.
Most recently, when I was in Rome-FCO, I had to wait at the counter for clearance. They will usually clear you with enough time.
I was cleared an hour before departure and then was at the gate about 20 minutes before departure.

Oh, it happened to me at DXB too!
That was the worst!
I had to sprint to the gate and barely made it.
I missed out on all the great shopping at DXB!

Guess I&#39;d better wear the comfy shoes!

I have had to deal with that at Terminal 2 at LHR.

This was when I was going to the previous Paris Air Show, so it was summer 2005. I was flying LHR-CDG on AF (Terminal 2) and since my carry on was over 7KG they tagged it for checking. They told me I had a good chance (off-line nonrev, I work for American Eagle Airlines) but couldn&#39;t clear me until close to departure time. So they told me to wait near the ticket counter where I could hear them if they yelled my name.

At 25 minutes prior to departure they called my name. I gave them my bag very quickly and ran for security. I missed all the shopping! It took at most 10 minutes to get through security, so I got to the gate in time to join the crowd that was already boarding. When I took my seat on the A320, I noticed that it was only 50% full. They could have easily cleared me earlier than they did.

Here&#39;s the bad news. The carry on bag that I had to check (and VS allowed me to carry it on their JFK LHR A346 flight) was lost for 4 days. I couldn&#39;t understand why it was lost because AF only flew to CDG from LHR at the time.

Anyway, that&#39;s my experience.

I am planning to nonrev on BA out of Terminal 5 sometime soon to see how the SMS messaging works for clearing you on the standby list, and to see what it&#39;s like in the new terminal.

I heard that departure taxes from the UK were really very high? Anybody know for sure?

Departure taxes are huge. Ours is $80CAD per person but I don&#39;t know if that changes depending on the country you&#39;re flying to.

Hopefully we won&#39;t have any baggage issues. We&#39;re only going for the weekend so we&#39;re going to have super light carryon.

What&#39;s the scoop on the SMS messaging?

So, looks like you definitely wait at the checkin counter. Good to know, thanks folks!

So just figured I&#39;d close the loop on this one. AC let us stand by at the gate (not at checkin). Too bad we got stranded! Ended up not getting home until the next day but all&#39;s well that ends well I guess.

http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/smile.gif

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NancyAnn @ May 23 2008, 03:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

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AC let us stand by at the gate (not at checkin). Too bad we got stranded! Ended up not getting home until the next day but all&#39;s well that ends well I guess. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/smile.gif[/b]

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On the bright side, with stand-by at the gate you do get to wave goodbye to the plane. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/wink.gif