Swiss International Airlines - LHR: fast track? Which lounge?

I am flying LHR-ZRH. I am HON.

Which is the best lounge to use? I read a lot about different lounges here (Star, bmi), but after the many posts I am more confused than before.

Thanks

I am flying LHR-ZRH. I am HON.

Which is the best lounge to use? I read a lot about different lounges here (Star, bmi), but after the many posts I am more confused than before.
If you are flying on LX I don't think there's a fast track for security. LH/TP/LO/OU have a separate check-in area (formerly BA's Zone R) with a First Class/*G check-in counter and fast track security.

The more convenient lounge would be the Star Alliance lounge with a First Class/HON section. According to an old report HONs will need to get an invitation at check-in for the First Class/HON section. There's a better selection of food in this lounge compared to the bmi lounge. Some prefer the latter because it's less busy and there's a good view of the runway.

To get there you have to walk towards the domestic gates to the opposite end of the departure area from most gates for European flights, go up an escalator and turn sharp left. It will be a good 10 mins walk to your departure gate.

Both lounges are supposed to offer free wifi but whether it's working is another matter.

T1 security can be a breeze depending on the time of day. If catching the LX345 you'll encounter an average security wait time of 30 seconds. Mid morning and early evening can be hell. There is a fasttrack but it's only for United customers. Even as an HON you won't be able to use it.

Lufty have there separate check-in area in what is an annex to T1. Walk through to it, flash your HON card, and they will take you to the head of the queue for security. Which you use then depends on how busy the main T1 security is.

The BD international lounge is much better in my opinion, although it really is down to personal taste. It's located on the far left of the terminal and your flight will leave from the far right. Walking time between the two is ten minutes. The BD lounge is well sign posted and it needs to be, as you do feel you're walking down corridors well off from the main terminal. It looks like it could win/be in some type of good living/perfect home magazine. The ambience is far superior to the *Lounge. The food however suffers in comparison.

I find the *Lounge better located but just a soul destroying sea of brown, black and white colours. The showers are better here though. An HON card will not give you access to the first-class side, unless you have an invitation. You are entitled to this, but following check-in, you'll need to go to the ticket counter to receive a written invitation. I question whther it's worth bothering with.

What I do like about the BD lounge is the LH FCT type lounging chairs positioned to overlook the runway. And that's why it wins for me. It's inconvenient, has poorer food, looks much better, and has a view out over the airport.

Hope this gives you some perspetive.

Lufty have there separate check-in area in what is an annex to T1. Walk through to it, flash your HON card, and they will take you to the head of the queue for security. Which you use then depends on how busy the main T1 security is.
Do you mean you can use the Zone K security when flying LX which is in a separate check-in zone? Will it work when flying other carriers such as BD by flashing a SEN/HON card? That would be nice. ;)

I used the First Class/*G check-in area in Zone K the other day and it was a mistake. There was only one agent and I got stuck behind a couple with 6 oversize bags to check. It would have been quicker to go through the ordinary check-in/security lane. :mad:

I agree with this description of the bmi International lounge. :D
It looks like it could win/be in some type of good living/perfect home magazine.

Thanks a lot for all the hints. Let me quickly report back.

I did the trip yesterday. I checked-in without problem at the LX Business Counters in area F (or G?), wait time ten seconds for someone to finish up in front of me. The check-in agent proposed to go over to Zone K and to use the fast track there. The lady at the fast lane looked at my boarding pass, saw HON printed on the BP and let me through. The normal lane had about 40 people waiting, the fast lane had one person.

Lounge-wise I went to the Star Alliance lounge. I had received an invitation to the F side. Indeed, a brownish hole. But plenty of space (this was the afternoon, so most longhaul flights had left), food was generous.

I had read hints about the BD lounge in other threads, but I should have read them more carefully, because when I stood in front of the sign indicating two lounges I was confused. Sure, one of them said "domestic flights only", but with hints found on Flyertalk I couldn't be sure whether someone had found some trick to still use that lounge for international flights.

I had read hints about the BD lounge in other threads, but I should have read them more carefully, because when I stood in front of the sign indicating two lounges I was confused. Sure, one of them said "domestic flights only", but with hints found on Flyertalk I couldn't be sure whether someone had found some trick to still use that lounge for international flights.
Do you mean this sign?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2636/4057783883_69df2b1dba_m.jpg

The two BD lounges are quite separate. In order to get to the international lounge you go up an escalator as I mentioned earlier and as described more thoroughly by VC10 Boy. In order to get to the domestic lounge you have to go through another security check where they ensure all domestic pax have left the "Common Departure Lounge". Since you entered the "Common Departure Lounge" as an international pax you wouldn't have been able to go through the second security checkpoint to go to the BD domestic lounge.